Doing the right thing
9 ….The decrees of the Lord are firm,….
11 By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from wilful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.
Psalm 19: 9, 11-13 [NIV]
Could you go a whole day without doing anything wrong?
It can be very difficult to avoid wrong doing. Sometimes the effort to keep away from trouble seems too much to make. Sometimes we ignore our conscience; we take short cuts believing no one else will notice. Sometimes we convince ourselves that it doesn't matter.
I once took a class of children to the Jain Temple in Leicester and whilst I knew Jains were vegetarian, I was astounded to learn that some very strict Jains wear masks over their mouth and nose to avoid inadvertently harming insects or microbes by inhaling them. That's taking principles to new heights. How far will we go to avoid "falling into sin"?
One thing I have discovered though, is that it is easy to enter a downward spiral with wrong doing. Wrongdoing leads to guilt. Guilt leads us further from God's love as we start to doubt and loathe ourselves.
God, help us to escape the hold of evil and to keep a positive mindset, because with you every day can be a new beginning.
Mairi Mowbray | |
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