Daily Devotional

One rainy night, when I was a teenager, I was alone on the night shift at a fast-food restaurant. A customer rushed in and asked to use our restroom. I politely informed him we were not permitted to allow the public to use it and that he would have to go to the nearby gas station. He became indignant, cussing at me as if I were to blame for my boss’s rules and his discomfort. As he was leaving, he shouted in anger, “I’ll be right back. Make me a cheeseburger.”

This man had just insulted me and I was furious. But I was also at work. What could I do? I did what many immature, self-absorbed, uncontrolled sinners who lacked self-control would do—I got even! As I grabbed a raw hamburger patty, I noticed two dead flies on the windowsill. I scooped those dried carcasses up and shoved them deep in the meat. After grilling the burger perfectly, I added an abundance of cheese, lettuce and tomatoes. My generosity was quite literally a cover-up for my quiet revenge. The man returned. I accepted his money and smiled, as I watched him eat every morsel of that tainted food. As he left, I said, “Have a nice evening, sir.”

I have often reflected on that night, some fifty years ago. (I wonder what the statute of limitations is?). On that drizzly night, this foolish young man missed an opportunity to grow up. Although my actions were probably not fatal, I can still remember how pleasantly wicked my actions felt. I accept, in a very personal way, the words God spoke to Cain:

Genesis 4:7 “Sin is crouching at the door, and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”          

What has Spirit-produced self-control have to do with dealing with our sin? Anyone who has exploded or even quietly lashed out to hurt others doesn’t need to ask. And anyone who has experienced the consequences of our lack of self-control could also easily testify. We don’t need to put dead flies in a hamburger to prove it. Our lack of self-control shows up in a host of other ways. In fact, sin is always crouching at our door; it’s time to master it before it masters us!

New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation