Hot Potato and Tug - Of - War
I remember these games from school. Do you remember them ? I remember the big red ball from Hot Potato the best. As soon as someone threw the ball to me and it fell into my hands, I had to release it to someone else as quickly as possible because it was suppose to be hot and if I held it too long I would get burned.
So the idea was to release it to someone else just as quickly as possible and they would in turn just as quickly release it on to someone else.
Now Tug - of - War was another story. When we got a hold of the rope we held on with all we had in us and tugged and pulled and held out for as long as we could to keep the rope with us, on our side, without letting go.
Two complete opposite games. Two complete opposite goals. One to release as quickly as possible. One to hold on as long as possible.
As much as I don't like to admit it, sin in my life seems to have both effects for me as playing both of these games.
Some things I recognize as sin and release to Jesus so fast because I don't want that thing to stay in my life for another second. So I release it quickly as possible, like a hot potato, to Jesus.
Then there are other things I hang on to like playing tug - of - war. I hang on one end and Jesus is at the other end trying patiently and lovingly to get me to let go and release it to Him.
But I don't. I hang on and tug and tug and tug until finally I am completely wore out from the thing and I finally give in and give it over to Jesus.
Sound familiar? Are you with me ? Do you see yourself in both these two stories from time to time ?
Well we are not alone. We are in good company. I think Paul felt the same way when he explains in Romans 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Like always, Jesus has an answer for us. In 1 John 1: 9 we are promised if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Paul knew the answer. Just a few verses later in Romans 8:1 He tells us There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit.
So hang in there. Whether you are playing Spiritual hot potato with your sins or your hands are getting rope burn from playing Tug - of - war, remember, Jesus is there to help you, guide you, love you, and best of all, to forgive you if you ask Him.
LORD JESUS WE ASK YOU PLEASE HELP US TO RECOGNIZE OUR SIN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND GIVE IT OVER TO YOU. UNTIL WE RECOGNIZE WHAT WE ARE DOING IS SIN, WE WILL KEEP DOING OR FEELING THE WAY WE DO. YOUR HOLY SPIRIT CONVICTS US OF OUR SIN AND WE ASK YOU FOR THAT IN OUR LIVES. HELP US TO LIVE AS WE ARE PLAYING HOT POTATO WITH OUR SINS INSTEAD OF TUG- OF – WAR. BUT IF WE DO HELP US TO COME TO YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO ASK FORGIVENESS AND GET THE SIN OUT OF OUR LIVES. THANK YOU FOR BEING SO PATIENT WITH US.