"Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but
as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are
evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will
is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead be
filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and
songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,
always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in in the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 5:15-20 NIV)
How
many times or how many ways can those of us who know how God wants us
to live say--BE CAREFUL for the enemy is out to destroy you?
When I
think about how many times I've heard that phrase or how many times
I've said it, I can imagine it has been said more times than anyone
could count. We hear it all the time--be careful! We tell children--be
careful! We tell parents--be careful! We tell teachers--be careful! We
tell students--be careful! In all walks of life, we're telling people to
be careful--of situations, circumstances and certainly the enemy who is
a master of deception and the father of liars. We tend to forget that
his job is to steal, kill and destroy. And though we are told that
angels are encamped around us--we still forget--to be careful.
This
admonition to the saints is a standard warning--be careful how you
live--especially in front of those who do not know Jesus and yet we
proclaim to know Him, but those watching us--wouldn't know it.
We are to be living epistles--read of men--daily and so it is important that they see us as ambassadors for Jesus Christ. They
should not see us slipping and sliding out of motels, out of the bars,
out of the strip joints, out of the casinos, or any other place we
wouldn't want exposed--as being part of our lives. The drug
dens, the whorehouses, the church where anything goes and in the midst
of family gatherings that have no clue as to who Jesus is and they
certainly won't believe us--if we're not living the life.
Living a
life that is pleasing to God is not easy when flesh is always clamoring
for the life we used to know. You know, the one in which we did
everything to please us-before we knew what God expected of us. Oh yeah,
first we have to admit where we were before we can appreciate what
being in a relationship with Him really means. In order to please God,
we must kill fleshly desires that are not honoring to God. We must put a
muzzle over our mouths and guard our tongues. We must pay attention to
the music we hear and the movies we watch or the books we read. Why?
Because if our lives before Christ could be enticed again--we stand
constantly in the need of forgiveness and make His sacrifice pointless.
Jesus sacrificed Himself--once--for all who are willing to turn from sin
and live according to God's Word.
Every time we allow the
enemy to entice us back into the pit from which we have been pulled
out--we're saying we need another savior. There is none other
than Jesus who saves and we should not make His hanging on the cross a
mockery simply because we refuse to discipline our flesh. We can do
it--especially when we're not on drunken binge or high from substances
that will eventually clog brain cells and kill the body. If we
want to get high--we should get high on Jesus--allowing Holy Spirit to
fill us and guide our every move and we will have nothing to fear--no
diseases, no sickness, no judgment--just thanksgiving to God for all He
has done!
(more to come)
Showing posts with label Sexual promiscuity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sexual promiscuity. Show all posts
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Friday, November 29, 2013
Who We Don't Know, Can Hurt Us!
There are a number of people who subscribe to the notion that what we
don't know can't hurt us, but as time passes, we discover that adage is
not true at all.
When we did not know the harm that nicotine and tobacco could cause--we smoked, destroying our lungs and even causing respiratory problems to those around us from second-hand smoke.
When we did not know the totality of the damage that alcohol causes--liver damage--leading to hopefully finding a liver donor and subsequent deaths because we did not know how important our liver function was. And we certainly cannot forget the deaths and destruction of families who suffered the loss of loved ones at the hands of a drunk driver.
When we did not know or realize that using illegal drugs could cause more damage than a high was worth--we smoked and snorted and shot up--killing brain cells, setting ourselves up for life-time addictions that ruined family relationships--no trust or respect, and physically damaged bodies.
When we did not know the long term effects of living precariously and having sexual indiscriminate sexual encounters with multiple partners--AIDS, Herpes, and other STD's--which could seriously impact unborn children and certainly be transmitted to those we say we love.
When we did not know the truth about the people we chose to have in our lives--the sexual predators and abusers--the end result was dead children, abused and mutilated women, and often they were ended up dying--because we did not know those we brought into our lives.
When we did not know the consequences of having convenient technology--we became lazy, illiterate, and obese--having more health problems and dying early--because we would rather do things the easy way.
When we do not know God--all of the above is what happens to us--and we have no one to blame but ourselves. When we know God--and are willing to live according to His Word--most of us would never know about anything previously mentioned because our relationship with Him, would have put us in position to hear Him, when He steers us clear of the dangers in which we could have been a participant.
I was once foolish--living any way I wanted to live, but have opened myself to the wisdom of God and now can live with some certainty that I am finally on the right track. I chose to get to know Him and to develop a relationship with Him. I chose to walk this life according to His Word. I respect and value every part of my body and I will not allow anyone to disrespect it. I value my ability to think clear, coherent thoughts and I will not do anything to impair that ability. I choose to take the more difficult route with some things because I value my ability to do them and choose not to lose that ability by becoming dependent on conveniences.
If you don't know Him, get to know Him today and choose the path He has planned for you--a plan to prosper you and not harm you.
Don't take my word for what has been said. Look around you and think about all those you know who did not know Him and even when you did not know Him. Knowing Him is so much better than not knowing Him!
When we did not know the harm that nicotine and tobacco could cause--we smoked, destroying our lungs and even causing respiratory problems to those around us from second-hand smoke.
When we did not know the totality of the damage that alcohol causes--liver damage--leading to hopefully finding a liver donor and subsequent deaths because we did not know how important our liver function was. And we certainly cannot forget the deaths and destruction of families who suffered the loss of loved ones at the hands of a drunk driver.
When we did not know or realize that using illegal drugs could cause more damage than a high was worth--we smoked and snorted and shot up--killing brain cells, setting ourselves up for life-time addictions that ruined family relationships--no trust or respect, and physically damaged bodies.
When we did not know the long term effects of living precariously and having sexual indiscriminate sexual encounters with multiple partners--AIDS, Herpes, and other STD's--which could seriously impact unborn children and certainly be transmitted to those we say we love.
When we did not know the truth about the people we chose to have in our lives--the sexual predators and abusers--the end result was dead children, abused and mutilated women, and often they were ended up dying--because we did not know those we brought into our lives.
When we did not know the consequences of having convenient technology--we became lazy, illiterate, and obese--having more health problems and dying early--because we would rather do things the easy way.
When we do not know God--all of the above is what happens to us--and we have no one to blame but ourselves. When we know God--and are willing to live according to His Word--most of us would never know about anything previously mentioned because our relationship with Him, would have put us in position to hear Him, when He steers us clear of the dangers in which we could have been a participant.
I was once foolish--living any way I wanted to live, but have opened myself to the wisdom of God and now can live with some certainty that I am finally on the right track. I chose to get to know Him and to develop a relationship with Him. I chose to walk this life according to His Word. I respect and value every part of my body and I will not allow anyone to disrespect it. I value my ability to think clear, coherent thoughts and I will not do anything to impair that ability. I choose to take the more difficult route with some things because I value my ability to do them and choose not to lose that ability by becoming dependent on conveniences.
If you don't know Him, get to know Him today and choose the path He has planned for you--a plan to prosper you and not harm you.
Don't take my word for what has been said. Look around you and think about all those you know who did not know Him and even when you did not know Him. Knowing Him is so much better than not knowing Him!
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