Painful Correction

Posted on June 20, 2016 by Graeme Wilson in Victory Call

I love food. Plain and simple. Ordering pizza? Get me extra-cheese. We’re passing a McDonalds? I’ll have the quarter pounder and fries. In fact, I’m convinced that if I drove to the Chinese place down the street and told the cashier to “give me the usual” they would get me the beef-and-broccoli combination plate with plain lo-mein with no hesitation.

Here’s my problem, though. I can feel it the next day. My stomach will hurt all morning and sometimes all day. My doctor told me about some internal medical problems I have that fatty foods really bother. Without going into detail, I’ll just say I can’t eat those types of things very frequently at all. With unhealthy foods comes an unhealthy body. As much as I love to indulge in the greasy and fatty foods, I know that it will come with consequences.

It’s the same with sin, isn’t it? When we allow ourselves to indulge in it, we may be happy for a moment… but there’s that small voice inside saying “everything is good now… but this isn’t what you’re supposed to be doing. You won’t feel happy tomorrow.” Sin comes with conviction and correction, and that correction can be painful. But it’s necessary so we know better next time.

I’ve been reading through John and I found a specific passage very interesting.
“Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, ‘Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.’ He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put in it.”  – John 12:3-6

Jesus knew what Judas was doing, he was aware of the sin in his heart and what Judas allowed himself to “indulge” in. But He didn’t correct him then and there. He knew that there would be consequences for Judas’ sin. Other cases include Pharaoh, who experienced physical pain and then lost his son after not listening to God. We can also include David, who had many sins on his resume and consequentially, he experienced pain and hurt.

God gives us free will, and because of our human nature and our constant battle with the flesh, sometimes we allow ourselves to “indulge” in sin… but as daughters of the King, we can be certain that there will be correction and that correction can be painful.

Is there any area of your life where you are allowing yourself to “indulge” in sin? Gossip? Food? Lack of forgiveness? Bitterness?  You can pray and ask Jesus to reveal any area of your life that needs a bit of “reconstruction”. Just like we need to fill our bodies with healthy things instead of bad, we need to fill our spirits with healthy things, like scripture and prayer, instead of sin.

Erin

Erin Culleny serves as a Marketing Assistant and Staff Writer. She had served on Summer Staff since 2011, and in 2015 had the unique opportunity of co-directing Children’s Ministry with one of her best friends. She is very excited to continue to build relationships with the guests and be very involved in the ministry.