I’m extremely embarrassed.  It wasn’t something I ever intended to do but, like I’ve heard many before me say, it just happened.  Things started off innocently enough.  In the beginning I had no intentions of taking things are far as they went but, before I knew it I had, well, cheated.  The shame I carry feels unbearable at times.  How did I let it happen, again?  Yes, you read that correctly.  It’s not the first time it has happened.  After the last time I vowed it wouldn’t happen again but…..it did.  I have no excuse.  I’m an adult.  I know right from wrong.  Even worse, I’m a minister.  I’ve studied the word of God and realize He always provides a way of escape….but I didn’t take it.  I did it again.  I cheated.  On God.

Maybe some of you are breathing a sigh of relief because you thought I was referring to my wife.  It’s worse than cheating on my wife.  I cheated on God, again.  I’m embarrassed.  One of His commandments specifically states, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” [Deut 5:7]  I didn’t mean to but…I put something else before my relationship with Him.  I chose to make something else my priority.  Don’t judge me!  You’ve done it too!  Maybe it was a relationship.  A television program.  The activities your children are involved in.  Seems simple and unimportant but it’s NOT.  ANYTHING you put before your time with God makes you a cheater.  It starts off innocently enough.   You enroll your child in an activity and, before you know it, the group starts planning activities on Sunday.  Two months have passed and you haven’t darkened the doors of the church.  Or maybe you bought a camper, beach house, or boat.  You work hard so you deserve to do something for yourself.  In the beginning you vowed it wouldn’t take you away from your relationship with God–but it did.  You chose to feed the flesh rather than your spirit man.  Don’t get me wrong, going to church will NOT get you in to heaven.  But if you begin choosing other things ahead of your relationship with God you’ve become a cheater.  There are no substitutes when it comes to maintaining a thriving relationship with God.  As it is with your mate, the more time you spend with them the stronger the level of intimacy.  Great things are born from those intimate moments.  Don’t downplay it and shrug this blog off.  It’s quite possibly a warning.  We don’t like to admit it, but the more times we do it, the less guilty we feel.  Making God a priority is important.  What’s YOUR priority today?

Are you a cheater?