Pastor's Corner

for Sunday February 27th
Joni Erickson Tada who was paralyzed from the neck down in a diving accident wrote about facing temptation in her book “Secret Strength”, Joni writes, “I was in my late 20’s, single, and with every prospect of remaining so. Sometimes lust or a bit of fantasizing would seem so inviting and so easy to justify. After all, hadn’t I already given up more than most Christians just by being disabled? Didn’t my wheelchair entitle me to a little slack now and then?” Joni goes on to ask her readers; “When God allows you to suffer, do you have tendency to use your trials as an excuse for sinning? Or do you feel that since you’ve given God a little extra lately by taking abuse that He owes you a ‘day off’?" Hard times often lead to the temptation of indulging in pleasure to numb the pain. It’s so easy to justify our bad behavior with, “I’ve been having a REALLY bad day!” This is where the Apostle Paul’s words are important, “So don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.” (Gal 6:9) In the middle of the battle we get tired but we must keep fighting. The day will come when we will be able to lay our swords down – but not today, today we must fight, today we must not give up.
Pastor Don.