Teeny, tiny temptations tolerated today
Wear at one’s weakened will.
Pride prepares in him a presumptuous point-of-view,
While sloth saps his spirit’s strength.
And he falls.
He races to rake up rationalizations,
Determined to defend his doubtful cause.
He explains away entire episodes of ego and
Jumps to justify his injurious judgments.
And he fails.
Wreck and ruin wreathe his wretched life,
While he shakes his fist at a holy God,
Who only patiently pursues him in spite of all,
Until he comes to the end of himself.
And he turns.
And he confesses.
And he believes.
And God forgives
And then cleanses,
And also restores.
Then the man revels in renewed revelation
Of glorious grace and goodness granted him.
Triumphantly, he is transported from tempestuous temper
To valorous victor in Christ.
And he worships.
And God receives with pleasure
The praise of the man
And bestows upon him
All rank and privilege
Of the adopted son.
“If you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by Whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:13-18 ESV).
