All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man
of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16–17
All Scripture is profitable! Knowing this, we cheat ourselves when we do not access every book, every truth, every verse, and every page of our Bibles for the promises and commands God has for us. Because every verse of Scripture is inspired by God and gainful to us, we should not pick and choose which verses we will read and study. We should not claim verses we like and ignore those that convict us! If we are to become mature disciples of Jesus, we must allow every Scripture to speak to us and teach us what God desires us to learn. Scripture enables us to evaluate the soundness of doctrines that are being taught. Scripture ought to be the basis for any reproof or correction we bring to another.
If you are not firmly grounded in God's Word, you will be bombarded with an assortment of doctrines, lifestyles, and behaviors, and you will have no means to evaluate whether or not they are of God. You cannot develop a righteous life apart from God's Word. Righteousness must be cultivated. As you fill your mind with the words of God, and as you obey His instructions, He will guide you in the ways of righteousness. Scripture will equip you for any good work God calls you to do. If you feel inadequate for a task God has given you, search the Scriptures, for within them you will find the wisdom you need to carry out His assignment. Allow the Word of God to permeate, guide, and enrich your life. - Blackaby Experiencing God Day by Day
Sometimes it's not the headline that worms its way into our thinking but the rest of the story. Yes the verses that Blackaby chose say one thing but look into what he brings to mind that's a bit more important.
"If you are not firmly grounded in God's Word, you will be bombarded with an assortment of doctrines, lifestyles, and behaviors, and you will have no means to evaluate whether or not they are of God."
I am not immune to the effects of this world. Nobody is. Not even the strictest person attempting a life that is full of denial to self. It can't be done apart from God.
We are a very trusting people. It began with Adam and Eve. They were told by Jesus what not to do and they were still persuaded by Satan. They trusted what he had to say.
Satan has not changed that M.O. He still tries the "Did God really say..." line.
"You cannot develop a righteous life apart from God's Word. Righteousness must be cultivated. As you fill your mind with the words of God, and as you obey His instructions, He will guide you in the ways of righteousness."
If you barely think about the things of God on a Sunday and fill your mind with the world the rest of the time, what will be the outcome? Used salt - as Scripture calls it - worthless to anyone for anything but to be tossed out and be trampled underfoot.
What are your thoughts and intentions? What are you listening to in regards to words? In regards to music? Would you say what you do, think what you think, listen to what you listen to if Jesus were right next to you? Dear Reader, if you are indeed in Christ, He IS right there. Newsflash to those yet undecided on coming to Christ: Again, He IS right there near you too. He is omniscient. He is omnipresent. He is omnipotent. He is everywhere at once, fully aware of everything about everything and everyone.
Oh you may lie to yourself, been there done that, but you cannot lie about your thoughts and intentions before Jesus.
Just what DOES your life show?
In your speech, conduct say that you are a Christian? As one put it, is there enough evidence to convict?
Is this world more important than what Jesus said was important? Read the 4 Gospels differently. Read from the vantage point of the Disciple. What were they thinking? What were their actions? Post crucifixion they were known by their conduct, behavior and history with the people as having been with Jesus.
Coming to Christ isn't going to ruin your 'fun'. It's primary reason is to save you. Once saved, we become His workmanship more than what lead up to our being saved. There's a house cleaning. The house of our hearts and minds. The showing to us of aspects of our lives that don't fit with a life that is born again. Things that our old self took pride in and enjoying because we didn't know better, that we didn't know offended our Holy God, need to go. In our former ignorance we didn't know. Now, the more we are in Christ, the more we are in the Bible, we see with new eyes. We start to understand just how much we have offended our Savior. It should drive us to willingly make changes.
When we choose not to change what Jesus shows us needs changed...that's usually when He will get to an enough is enough moment and will bring the conviction to us in ways we won't want to live with.
Are you influenced by the world more than you are by the Word of God?
Have you intentionally indulged in things of this world that have honestly taken God's place in your life? He saved you, but rather than living for Jesus you told, by your actions, Him to go stand in the corner?
The Jews are God's chosen people. As Scripture also says that's where judgment begins. Look at the Old Testament. Look at what the Lord exposed that the Jewish leaders thought they had hidden from Him!
In Ezekiel, Jeremiah, in Isaiah even. Read about the ways they thought nobody saw of how they really lived when out of sight of others.
The Lord Jesus saw their hypocrisy. He saw the priests worshipping demons as well as Him in the Temple. He saw the idolatry they thought was hidden from view.
You think mankind has changed that much? The exact same stuff happens today. People unwilling to admit that God sees, that God knows, everything going on in their lives.
Are you seeing what God sees? A song of recent years has a line in it "Give me your eyes for just one second, give me your eyes that I might see, give me your eyes."
If we quit lying to ourselves on our condition we might indeed start seeing with His eyes. We aren't here to live out Fantasy Island (old 1970's television show). This isn't some Star Trek Holodeck where we can just live for our enjoyment all the time.
As Christians we are the workers in the harvest that Jesus prayed for.
We have work to do. There are aspects of that work that indeed will be happy and enjoyable. Satan will argue that it isn't the same as what he offers. Yes he is right in that. What Jesus offers is directed towards saving lives. We cry out for the return of Christ, we are the same people delaying it happening because we keep putting off the work we are here to do.
We aren't trying to live the holy life that Scripture calls us to do. The world doesn't see us as any different from them. We don't change because we aren't in a true walk with Jesus. We aren't reading our Bible. We read self-help books. We look to people who themselves do not have a right relationship with Jesus. We close our eyes and cover our ears to the things of God until it's Sunday again.
The time is now to get things right between us and God. Now is when we need the light of Christ to shine in this world. Now. Ask the Spirit to open your eyes that YOU might finally...see.
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