Too Great Expectations

The television program Dateline recently carried the story of a Baptist couple in Rome, Georgia who married, divorced, and remarried and whose second relationship ended up in a marital affair that led to one of the men being murdered. The two men were best friends, and both of them had important ministry positions in their church. How can such things happen to Christian people, we wonder? In this case there may have been many reasons of which we are unaware. The wife involved had a troubled childhood history. The couple had had repeated marital problems. But, no matter how much we speculate, we really can't know.

What we do know is that sincere Christians are subject to the same kinds of troubles as other people. It's hard to see confessed Christians who seem to be doing as well as saying all the right things get into scandalous behaviors--adultery, prostitution, felony theft, and the like. But when we look at King David's troubles over Bethsheba in the Bible, it's obvious the most devout people of God are still human. There was a good reason Jesus, when the disciples asked him how we should pray, included these words: "Lead us not into temptation" and "Deliver us from evil." And Paul advised the Corinthian church, "If you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone" (1 Cor. 10:12-13 NRSV).

Is there some way we can avoid such problems? I'd like to think so. We have this assurance, that Jesus is able to keep us from sinning (Jude 24, my paraphrase). If we walk hand in hand with him, day and night, we are not as likely to stray.

So happy walking. Be faithful. Be steadfast. Love your Lord constantly,
Margaret

P.S. Sorry to be late. This editing service was not available most of the day.