MAY 17

Psalm 119:133

DO NOT LET SIN CONTROL YOU!

Cindy tried to slow her bike when one of the neighborhood kids turned right in front of her, but her front wheel skidded and she toppled onto the hard gravel. After a moment of stunned fright, she stood up. Her bike was okay, but her right knee was not. Small pieces of gravel had pierced her and were imbedded in the cut. Slowly, she wheeled her bike home. She told mother, "Look at my knee, Mom," said Cindy. "It hurts! at Jason makes me so mad! He cut right in front of me, and I fell."

"I’m sure he didn’t mean to make you fall," said Mom as she examined Cindy’s knee. "I’m afraid we’ll have to do more than wash this. We’ll have to get all the bits of gravel out of the cut. Otherwise it may fester, and the sore spot might get infected."Mom sterilized some tweezers and carefully dislodged each tiny piece of gravel. Cindy winced and felt her eyes fill with tears, but she clenched her teeth and didn’t complain. She was glad when Mom finished and the cut was bandaged."Your knee may be sore for a few days,"said Mom,"but it should heal just fine." Cindy studied her bandaged knee. "Well, I’m never going to play with Jason again," she declared. "It’s all his fault."

"Whoa!" cautioned Mom. "Be careful! Don’t let anger or bitterness fester. They’re like gravel." "Like gravel? What do you mean?" asked Cindy. "Sins such as bitterness and anger–even so-called little sins–are like the gravel in your cut," Mom told her. "If we don’t do anything about our sin, it can lead to more sin... like germs lead to an infection. So when you sin, what should you do about it?"

"Ask God for forgiveness," said Cindy promptly. "We should also ask forgiveness of anyone hurt by our sin."She looked thoughtful. "Last Saturday, I... ah... I said I felt sick because I didn’t feel like helping Dad wash his car," she confessed. "I wasn’t really sick, and it’s bothered me all week."

"How can you get rid of that ‘gravel’?" Mom asked gently. "Well...I did tell God I was sorry, and I guess... oh, I know! I’ll tell Dad I’m sorry for not helping," said Cindy. "And first thing Saturday morning, I’ll go help him."

Thought: Have you checked for sin in your life that needs attention? It may be painful to examine your sin and ask for forgiveness, but if you ignore, it will be even more painful later. Get rid of sin quickly before it causes an "infection."
Prayer: Heavenly Father, there have been times when I have been angry and bitter about people. And perhaps times when I have sinned against you, in small ways, but I know they are still sins. Heavenly Father, please forgive me and help me never to commit them again. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.