Give in to Temptation

This is the last of the Abu Dhabi diaries seris of blogs. It has been great accounting the lessons God taught me on my short trip. I am exceedingly humbled that at a time when I was wondering if I would post anything in the near future God gave me not one but 3 blog posts, all at a go! We can not limit God because of our inadequacy, short comings or doubts. His work will still be done.

I will share a story on what happens when we give into temptation. If you have read my previous blogs, you know about my Abu Dhabi trip. I had an amazing time. Did I forget mention that there was wine in the fridge of my room? Yes!

At that infant stage in my relationship with God, I was struggling with knowing what is right and doing otherwise-admittedly still do. My occasional indulgence in this celebrated energy drink never really troubled me. It was nice to find wine in my room. A variety to choose from.

That said, I remember wrestling with the thought to have the wine. So lets just give it a name and call it temptation. If you read the previous blog(when patience pays) you must know that I got a room upgrade twice, which landed me in a beautiful club room. You see, when God upgrades you to certain heights, there sure will be access to inviting things, opportunities and privileges at that elevated level but it is for you to select what to take and what to leave.

But Daniel resolved in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or wine. (Daniel 1:8)

My last night went by fast. I was running out of activities, had taken enough selfies and even gone for a swim. I was sleepy,tired and bored. Then...I remembered the wine. I had thought about it before but purposed not to have any of it. Oh how my spirit was willing!

To cut the long story short, I reached out for the wine glass and poured myself some wine. Just a little. Then I slept. Over slept actually, you- no not you- must know why.

Time to check out came. I packed up my stuff and left a tip for the housekeeper with a 'Jesus loves you' note as I felt led by the Holy spirit.

I was set to go when I realized that the Jesus loves you note contradicted with the half drunk bottle of wine. So i cleaned up the wine glass and settled on carrying the rest of the wine, just to clear my track. I was hoping that the house keeper would think that the previous attendant had forgotten to stock up that particular one.

I my thought to myself that's genius and its all settled until I saw a red wine stain on the snow white bed linen.

That is when it dawned on me that I could hide nothing.

I felt bothered that my drinking would contradict the note and confuse the recipient, and especially if they were of a different faith. I surrendered the situation to God and the Holy spirit quickly brought me to the truth that if God had already purposed that someone was going to receive the Love of Christ, they still would, whether I drunk myself silly or remained sober. This was my case to answer to God. His work would still be done.

In that moment I reckoned that it was not in my power for someone to feel the love of Christ because I had it all together, but it was for me to let God use me despite my weakness.

That said, could it be that there are some things we are doing that contradict with who we say we are in Christ. Could you be misleading someone by your actions?

You will know them by their fruits...(Matthew 7:16)

Could it be that just like the way I could not hide the stain on the linen, there are some sins we can not cover up? That they will eventually surface. Could it be?

I left behind the the remaining wine, asked God to do His will and went ahead to check out. The lady at the reception asked me if I enjoyed my stay and... if I had taken anything from the minibar!

That term minibar was familiar to me even though I did not quite understand the meaning. So she explained to me that it is those drinks from the fridge in the room!

Because i couldn't be dishonest, Amen, I said yes, red wine. And what followed was the announcement of the charges for it! and it was alooot of money! The first thing that came out of my mouth was...

"But it was a very tiny bottle. Does it cost that much?"

I was a little disappointed. I really thought that it was part of my prestigious club room. For a second there I thought of going back for the whole thing- don't judge me please mmmhm...

Now that I am reflecting on what God was trying to teach me through this experience, the statement that I made when they informed me that I needed to pay for the wine keeps lingering

"But it was a very tiny bottle. Does it cost that much?"

What is it that you may be doing that seems little to you but is costing you. Taking away from you something that you would rather have. Costing you your dreams, the answer to your prayers, your future spouse, opportunities, purpose...eternity.

I paid for the wine and waved my goodbye and it immediately dawned on me that all along, there was a pamphlet carefully placed on my hotel room table that I actually on two occasions stared at and smiled wondering. It read:

"Give into Temptation"

I realized with surety that it must have been the price list for the mini bar. Twice I looked at it and wondered what that catchy phrase was all about. But at no time did I get myself to open it. I remember thinking...Whatever is in there, I don't need to know. Why would I give in to any sort of temptation whatsoever!

Is it not funny how sometimes the devil actually gives us a manual to just guide us through our sinful acts and we just don't take notes...Is it not interesting that despite working in a five star hotel myself the term and procedure of a mini bar were still unknown to me? The ground in which you are trending may seem familiar but you may not be familiar with the destination. We can not play games with the devil.

I want you to understand that the lesson I am trying to put across here is not that of drunkenness or the lack of it, rather it is a reflection of the things that we would rather not do but do anyway. The struggles that we face each day as we pursue righteousness. Take courage and never give up on pursuing God regardless of how many times you have fallen back to sin.

For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again...(proverbs 24:16)

Specifically on consumption of alcohol:

I pray that the spirit of God guides you to discern what is right and what is wrong, even in the midst of the debate surrounding this topic. Allow me to share a scripture that God used to speak to me on this.

Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy,drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)

He who has an ear, let them hear what the Spirit says.

It is not for us to go back and and bring the rest of the bottle because we paid for it. It is for us to shake off the dust and get up stronger. No price can measure up to the price paid by Jesus Christ our Lord on the cross.

May God bless you and strengthen your will.

Lots of Love,

Joanna