This week I spent some time in the mountains for some relaxation. We stayed near a creek which was full of several small places where the water rushed down the rocks. I waded out into this creek fishing but had to be careful not to slip on the rocks and not to get too close to the dangerous areas. In other words I could not afford to get careless or it could lead to disaster.

We can become careless in our everyday lives as well, which can also lead to disaster. We can flirt with things that we know are wrong which can result in taking us places that we never dreamed we would end up. Sin is not something to look at lightly. The Bible tells us in James 1:15 that “sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death”. But this same Bible teaches us that we can receive forgiveness for our sins and that we can be free from the power of sin over our lives. This doesn’t mean that we can’t sin but that we will have a new desire within us to avoid sin and to please our heavenly Father. Even as followers of Jesus we still have to guard against carelessness. So, each day we need to ask the God we serve to guide our steps, and as stated in the Lord’s prayer, to deliver us from the evil one who desires to see us stumble and fall.