Oh but there is a great evil amongst all the wonderful amenities of hotel life. Its the mini-bar. Fully stocked with liquor (in nicer hotels), bottled water, unhealthy snacks that make your mouth water and all within arms reach. No need to go all the way to the ice machine down the hall to buy a soda or downstairs to the lobby to purchase a midnight snack; simply open the door of the mini-bar and take what you need.
The irony of the concession the mini-bar offers is the luring temptation it has as often times items sit out and appeal to your current desires. After that long day of walking, you get back to your room to find a tall clear bottle of Avian water sitting next to a delicious looking candy bar. Both promising to restore your energy and/or simply tickle and satisfy your appetite for a quick snack.
And should you give in to the desire, upon check-out your credit card and hotel bill will reflect the consequences of your indulgent behavior. That water you could have spent $3 for a case of 24 on now has cost you $8 for one bottle. And that pack of M & Ms that could have been 2 for $1 was the most expensive piece of chocolate you've ever eaten.
Sin is no different. Its luring temptation often strikes at the most opportune moments of weakness or desires. It appeals to our inner cravings and promises to fill us to satiety. Not long after we've given in, regret sets in as we begin to reap the consequences sin inevitably brings. Its' been said "Sin takes you further than you are willing to go, keeps you longer than you are willing to stay and costs more than you are willing to pay".
The Holy Spirit is the ONLY power strong enough to keep us from yielding to the mini-bar syndrome. Memorizing scripture and disciplining ourselves are great practices but those 'things' don't break our desire for sin, alone. We must couple those things with prayer that the Lord would curb our appetites from sin to pleasing Him. Then the mini-bar won't be as tempting.
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