All he needs is an opportunity to inject unholy, self-centered thoughts into our heads. Tom didn't grasp that Satan is never in a hurry. It was a harmless embrace-or so it seemed. Weeks later, he hugged her and wished he could feel that caring response from his wife. One time she said, "Helen doesn't deserve a warm, caring man like you." (Satan also worked in her.) Each time Tom took a tiny step off the right path, he justified his actions in his mind: If Helen won't listen to me, there are people who will. She didn't listen, and she didn't always respond to his amorous moods. Tom began to doubt that Helen truly loved him. He moves slowly and cautiously (after all, well-laid plans take time). He begins by bombarding our minds with cleverly devised patterns of irritation, dissatisfaction, doubts, fears, and reasonings. "I was unfaithful to you before I ever committed adultery." He spoke of their being too busy to spend time together, his critical attitude, her lack of emotional response, her not listening to him when he talked about problems at the office. After almost an hour of pleading, he said something that helped Helen begin to understand and eventually to forgive. He knew he was making a few bad choices, but he hadn't looked ahead at the consequences of his actions. "I never planned for an affair to happen," Tom said with tears in his eyes. He had committed adultery, faced his sinful actions, and asked his wife to forgive him.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |