Norwich Vineyard : things that cling

I have made reference before to Dorcas Lane who is one of the characters in BBC’s ‘Larkrise to Candleford’. For those of us who live in Norwich, we call it ‘Larkman to Cringleford’. The bad news is, it is not on at the moment but the good news is that it will be back at the start of the new year! Her most memorable line is ‘ it is my one weakness’ which covers the times when her judgement is right (nearly all the time) and for the times when she would gives in to chocolate or some such thing which is obviously her one weakness!

I guess most of us would be quite happy if our one weakness was chocolate or something of lesser importance. Often our weaknesses lead us to guilty secrets or shameful experience, things we would like to stuff down into the cellar or sweep under the carpet. Unfortunately, left unattended, the monster in the cellar begins to growl an the mound under the carpet begins to grow and we begin live lives of avoidance and lie. How I wish my weaknesses were of little consequence but the truth is their some total leaves a mountain so big that I can’t navigate it. How I need the grace and love of Jesus who says to my mountain be rooted up and cast into the sea. The cross of Christ gives level ground upon which we can all stand. The wonderful thing is that Jesus won’t really let us get away with stuff. He loves to meet with us and heal us. Although I am broken He gives me life beyond measure. In 1 John it says, If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

David, for all that was going for him blew it big time and God was not going to let him get away with it. In 2 Samuel ch 11v1-2 it says, In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful.

Time on his hands, being lazy, taking time and a beautiful woman – his one weakness! You and I are no different. That might not be the issue for you but I guess you know what your one weakness is! David messed up big time and God didn’t let him get away with it because of his love and commitment to him. I am so grateful God loves us and won’t let us get away with our weaknesses and Jesus has come to set us free!!