A Dangerous Exception
October 18, 2019 by Rosemary Flaaten
Filed under Daily Devotions, Life Topics
By Rosemary Flaaten –
My task was to whip up a skillet of scrambled eggs for my hungry family. As I cracked one egg after another into my mixing bowl, suddenly an egg hit the mixture that looked a little odd. The yolk was not firm and was a darker orange color. Had the bacon not been sizzling beside me, I would have also noticed the slight pungent odor that wafted from this latest addition. But in my haste, I rationalized that the yolk in question really wasn’t any different than the others and that it wouldn’t affect the taste or quality. My family had a different response, though, when they tasted those eggs. Disgust and gagging brought our family brunch to a premature close.
All the eggs were fresh except one. That one egg became a dangerous exception.
King Solomon had ascended the throne of Israel and scripture tells us that he “showed his love for the LORD by walking according to the statutes of his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places” (1 Kings 3:3 NIV– emphasis added). Solomon seemed to be doing everything right by serving God, but he, too, has a dangerous exception in his life. God had been very clear that His people were to have nothing to do with the pagan gods and their spiritual rituals. Solomon chose to follow God’s ways, except in this one area, which eventually drew him away from God with devastating results.
My cooking experience and my study of Solomon has caused me to evaluate my own heart and life to see what dangerous exceptions I have allowed in my life. Could it be said of me that I follow hard after God, except that I choose to be self-sufficient? Am I obedient to God’s commands, except that I coddle the secret sin of envy? Do I love my neighbor, except for when she gossips about me?
Do you have any dangerous exceptions in your life and heart?
PRAYER: God show me where my heart has become calloused to your conviction and give me the courage to deal with the dangerous exceptions You reveal.
“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38 NIV).
As a dynamic speaker and an award winning author of "A Woman and Her Relationships" and "A Woman and Her Workplace" , Rosemary Flaaten's passion is to see people deepen their relationship with God and others. She lives in Calgary, Canada.
You are so right!
I’ve seen how my dangerous exceptions – though I didn’t think they were a big deal – suddenly are when they are reflected in my children’s behavior.
I am learning to be more vigilant, praying for discernment to see what seems harmless to me is actually not.
Good word.
Am I following God in every way except…? This is so good, Rosemary.
(and I’m glad you got something good out of that rotten egg!)