I used to smoke cigarettes in my younger days. I started smoking them at school to “be cool” and became addicted at about 13 years old. They had an incredible hold on me for nearly 20 years. I fought to give them up like no fight I’ve ever fought before, and I finally won, with tons of prayer and my wife rooting me on–I quit on about my 20th attempt! It’s almost funny, the things I used to crave are now absolutely revolting to me. I cannot stand even the slightest smell of cigarette smoke. Why do I tell you this? Because just the other day I saw a man smoking a cigarette on the sidewalk at my church and I instantly said to myself, “That man has no respect for this church. Doesn’t he know any better? How could he be so…. ” And then I remembered my struggle, and my heart grew heavy, and then I almost cried. How quick I am to judge. How sanctimonious I must have looked to my Father in heaven.
“Remember the height from which you have fallen…” Revelation 2:5
In Christ,
PastorJimKilby @Kilbin8er
Jim@JamesKilby.com