Let It Not Be Said of Me!
When you lived a few decades you begin to understand that there seems to be some invisible law in motion, that propels you to do the very thing that you once criticized. To put it in familial terms, that thing you couldn’t stand about your father and mother – if you’re not careful you will find, "Mirror, mirror on the wall, I am my mother after all!"
Stephen called this spirit out in Acts 7:
51 "You stiff-necked and stubborn people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are always actively resisting the Holy Spirit. You are doing just as your fathers did. 52 Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who proclaimed beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; 53 you who received the law as ordained and delivered to you by angels, and yet you did not obey it!" Acts 7:51-53 (AMP)
We find in this passage of scripture this familiar trend, the current generation during the time of Christ, somehow felt they were above doing the things that their forefathers did, and yet they were guilty of even more because they had such a great advantage given to them. The very angels of God delivered the message of the Advent of the Christ child – John the Baptist warned them to repent, to prepare for His Coming. Jesus performed miracles, wonders, and signs during His earthly mission. He came to bring the message of love and forgiveness through the Father, but they would not accept it because it came through Him. It takes a humble heart to put our lives in the Hands of the Father and allow Him to cleanse us and purify us from the "sin that so easily besets us".
The deceiver comes to trick us into believing that we are somehow better than our parents, our friends, our church leaders. It coms in a subtle form of critique and comparison and winds up being full blown in accusation and condemnation. It may be difficult, because we’re usually in it before we realize it – but the key word here is to RESIST –
Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 1 Peter 5:9 (KJV)
Maria