One morning I was preparing for our volunteers (whom we love and appreciate) to come into gift wrap 150 devotional books. So I set out to prepare things in an orderly manner so as to make the process as efficient as possible (that’s the Human Factors engineer in me – my first career). So – I set out the stacks of books and put a tape dispenser at each work station. When I got all set up, I proceeded to pre-cut the gift wrap into the size that would fit the book. I cut the first one (which was just right) and used it as a guide for the second. Then I used the second to cut the third, and the third to cut the fourth, etc. After cutting about 20-25 sheets I took a book and attempted to wrap it.
That 25th sheet of gift wrap was 2 inches too big and made wrapping the book clumsy and awkward; much too large to do a neat job.
I then realized my error. I did not keep using my original sample sheet to cut all the other 24 and gradually, over time I unknowingly added 2 inches to the width of the paper.
Apparently what happened was that with each new sheet I added just a tiny bit to the width which seemed so insignificant, but over time – it was significant.
I immediately thought of our walk with Christ – unless we regularly check or align ourselves with the Christ, the One True God, we will adapt and adjust, compromise as it were, imperceptible amounts until over time we are significantly off our target.
Are you sticking with the truth? Are you regularly reading the Word? Are you looking to Jesus Christ for your standard of righteousness or are you comparing yourself to others and getting drawn off course a little at a time?
Think About This: “We are in a wrong state of mind if we are not in a thankful state of mind.” – Charles Spurgeon
The Daily Bible Reading: Exodus 21-25| You can download our 2020 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here.
This Week’s Verse to Memorize: If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is [d]for you, but you should rule over it. -Genesis 4:7
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the doctrinal and theological views held by America’s Keswick.