The Lost Battle

Bible Reading: 1 Timothy 6:11-12; Hebrews 12:1-4

“Why so quiet, Ashtyn?” Mom asked. “Is something bothering you?”

Ashtyn sighed. “I’ve tried and tried to act like a Christian, and I just can’t seem to do it. I told a lie today, and last week I lost my temper. Christians don’t tell lies or lose their tempers.”

“Oh, Ashtyn, that’s not true!” said Mom. “It sounds like you have some apologies to make, but telling a lie or losing your temper doesn’t mean you’re not a Christian. You’re a Christian because you trust in Jesus and have His Spirit living in you.”

“I know, but I just can’t live the way a Christian should,” Ashtyn replied. “I might as well give up. I’m just a big failure!”

Instead of arguing the point, Mom had Ashtyn set the table for dinner.

After they gave thanks, Ashtyn watched in surprise as her mother took huge helpings of potatoes and gravy and various other foods. “Mom! I thought you were on a diet.” Ashtyn had been so proud of her mom as she had lost pound after pound.

“I was,” Mom said as she buttered a large roll, “but today I ate a piece of cake. I cheated on my diet.” She sighed. “Last week I had ice cream. Dieting is too hard!”

“But you were doing so good!” said Ashtyn.

Mom shrugged. “Yes, but it’s taking too long. I can’t get used to not eating all the sweet stuff I like so much, and I’m tired of trying. I might as well give up. I’m just a big failure.”

“No, you’re not, Mom. You . . .” Ashtyn’s mouth fell open as she realized her mom had used the same expression she herself had used earlier. “Okay, Mom, I get the point. You’re not a failure because you cheated on your diet, and I’m not a failure because I told a lie.”

“Right!” said Mom, pushing her plate away. “Being a Christian is not about living a perfect life—it’s about having a new life through Jesus, who forgives us when we sin and helps us do what is right. We both lost a battle today, but we haven’t lost the war.” Barbara J. Westberg

How About You?

Are you discouraged because you often do things that are wrong? Do you feel like you might as well quit trying to live the Christian life? God doesn’t want you to quit. He will help you fight against sin. Whenever you lose a battle, confess your sin and ask Jesus for forgiveness. He’s already won the war against sin, and He will help you fight each battle against temptation.

Today’s Key Verse:
1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith. (NKJV)

Today’s Key Thought:

Keep fighting sin