I love watching skiers fly down slippery slopes, controlling their speed while whizzing down the mountain-side. Unfortunately, the athlete sometimes loses control and careens down the mountain with devastating consequences.
I recently encountered a slippery slope in my neighborhood park. Instead of mountains, my slopes had gentle hills that hug the earth. Warmer temperatures had melted the recent snowfall. When I wandered on the trails, ice lingered in shaded spots, leaving the trails wet and muddy.
One misstep is all it took. Stepping on the gently sloping path, my foot slid. I landed hard on my hands and knees in the mud. With my right wrist and leg hurting, I got to my feet and limped home.
I hurt, but thankfully, I wasn’t injured. As I continued, I thought about spiritual slippery slopes. Some appear mountainous, like substance abuse or infidelity. Others seem tiny, like gossip or criticism. But a fall down these slopes, whether mountainous or tiny, can be deadly.
We venture onto those slippery slopes of sin and fall into the mud. Fortunately, God offers grace. He is willing to lift us and cleanse us. He whispers, “Go, and sin no more” and sets us on level ground.
PRAYER: Father God, guide my footsteps. Keep me away from tempting slippery slopes and keep me standing firmly for you.
“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you do not fall.”
I Corinthians 10: 12
Growing Our Faith Together 