Dear Church Family,
My tomatoes are dying. Most of them anyway. Herbicide drift is what A.I. tells me the problem is. I’ve pruned the five plants that have been most affected, and now it’s just a waiting game to see if they come out of it. Sadly, an unseen force has destroyed something that was once vibrant, all because of a little drift. Kinda reminds you of something, doesn’t it?
Over this past summer, I heard of three ministers in my circle of friends, two current and one retired, who lost their ministries and/or families due to drift; a slow drift into a life of chosen sin. One small decision led to another decision, and to another, until there was no covering it anymore. One of the ministers I talked to told me how easy it was to drift into this pattern, and how ashamed he was at how far he had fallen before he was found out. He never thought he’d go there, and once he did go there, he never thought he’d be found out. Like my tomato plants, he is no longer vibrant. His ministry is gone. He’s lost the respect of his family. He’s lost fellowship with his wife. All because of drift.
This can happen to anyone. Don’t think it can’t happen to you. Examine yourself. What patterns or choices are you trying to hide from someone? What safeguards do you need to put in place? In discussing this at an elder meeting, the elders of Grace Church all chose to put monitoring software on their devices. They did this not because of a current problem, but because of how easy it is to become a problem. The leaders of this church chose accountability and vulnerability over denial and, quite frankly, arrogance.
Here’s my question to you: will you choose vulnerability over pride? 1 John 1:8 says we all continue to have a sin problem, even after salvation. Satan’s version of herbicide drift is out there. Will you let it affect your life?
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8
I love you all,
Pastor Daniel