A Love Affair

A few chats over a coffee soon led to a meal or two

Acts 27:13-26

Reference: When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. (Acts 27:13 NIV)

Explore: It started with a mutual interest in musicals. They both loved the old classics as well as the more modern interpretations.

As they worked together, they saw each other every day. They were on some of the same committees and their lunch times always seemed to align.

When a compliment came from their direction it always sounded better than from other colleagues, and so, they started to please the other more and more. A few chats over a coffee soon led to a meal or two and before they knew it, they had started prioritising each other’s time.

While this all seemed like a harmless work place romance, it did not come across that way to their spouses. Before they knew it, or even intended to, they were consumed in a full blown affair. What had started out as carefree banter had led to a couple of broken marriages.

Application: We don’t often set out to fail or sin. These falls from grace often start with a small decision in the wrong direction, just like a gentle breeze guiding you along. But if we don’t watch our step, that gentle breeze soon builds into a hurricane force wind and hurtles us out of control.

Paul was in danger of losing his life and it all started with a gentle breeze. I think this is often the case when it comes to important aspects of our lives too.

Someone who makes you feel good leads to lustful desires, a few innocent Sunday sleep-ins leads to lax worship, a few short cuts on your tax leads to embezzlement of funds. We don’t set out for the end destination, and all we’re doing is following a gentle breeze, however, soon the hurricane force winds arise and we find ourselves in a dark, dark place.

This is why we must always be on guard in all our actions. God desires for us to be diligent with the small things as well as the large, as He knows where the small things may lead us.

Let us not be so flippant with our lives that we follow our feelings from one gentle breeze to another, but may we live with purpose and head towards a destiny that honours our Saviour.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we fall from Your way. Thank You for the grace that You offer us; grace that can bring us back from even the strongest hurricane force winds. Amen.

What gentle breezes can you feel at the moment?

Acts, decisions, diligent, integrity, Paul, purpose, relationships, storm, wind