by David Brenneman
"Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ." 1 Corinthians 11:1.
"All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor. Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience’ sake; for the earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains. If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience’ sake. But if anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience’ sake; I mean not your own conscience, but the other man’s; for why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks? Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved." 1 Corinthians 10:23-33.
Some may argue that distractions and addictions are one and the same. Some would say they are different.
As many have indeed come to say...the first step in the cure is to admit that there's a problem.
As Dr. Charles Stanley had said...with God there are no problems only situations.
We face more distractions, addictions and situations than perhaps any generation since those who lived prior to the Genesis Flood.
Was reading a quote this morning attributed to A. W. Tozer concerning the Holy Bible that said "Believe it or not: This book is being played out, right before our eyes and the world doesn't even see it".
Right there is the crux of the situation.
We are so ingrained from birth into temptations and addictions that we don't know what to look for. We don't recognize them because we've been trained to accept them as good.
Then when the Spirit says something isn't true, or isn't good for us, we dismiss the notion or argue that He can't be right!
My Dear Reader, how can you truly stand firm in the Word of God and the promises of God if you pick n choose what's real and what you decide isn't for you?
Why are you not spending even a minimal amount of time with the Word of God every day? You have allowed other things to become more important. You have told the Spirit of God that His help, His teachings, must take a back seat to what you say is important in your life.
Indeed some people can't handle the truth. But there it is.
You choose what is more important to you. You decide if a movie, television shows, streaming, Tick Toc, X, Facebook, Instagram, SnapChat, sports, fictional books, non-fiction books, hobbies, even relationships are more important than your relationship with Jesus.
Jesus not only went to the ends of the earth to save you, He died in your place, to save you.
The great many troubles in the professing Church today are because of the choices of what's important in the lives of those who attend.
They refuse to admit their addictions. They refuse to acknowledge as sin what the Holy Bible says is sin. They have bowed their knee to what the world says is important in how a "good Christian" is supposed to be like and have disregarded what the Spirit says a Christian is to be like.
A Christian should not just cave in to sins as if there's nothing they can do about them...living with no remorse or regrets about them.
Are there choices you are making in what you have put in place of your relationship with Jesus going to be worth it when you stand before Jesus?
Your career, your interests, your dreams, your anything is not more important than your relationship with Jesus.
Christians the world over have destroyed their living testimony by their choices to fit into the world.
How you live your life speaks volumes to a world in darkness.
A blind person is reliant upon those who can see to know what the world is really like.
Jesus said we who are in Christ are to be lights in this world.
Your choices, addictions, distractions, and situations at times, are covering up that light.
How are people who have no hope going to know of the hope you cling to if they don't see you clinging to it as if your life depends upon it?
My Dear Reader...examine your heart. Over and over again we read that in the Bible. Really examine it. Really admit that you don't have what it takes to know your faults. The Spirit of God knows you better than you know yourself. Ask Him to reopen your eyes. Then stop denying what He shows you. Stop talking like it's no big deal. Stop with refusing to change what He tells you must be changed in order to grow in Christ.
There's no better time than the present.
If the Spirit is telling you that you have an idolatry problem then guess what? You do.
If the Spirit says that you have an addiction problem? Then you do.
If the Spirit shows you that your whole heart isn't given to Jesus to work with...then you are holding back.
As The Helper, He is going to teach us all things and bring to remembrance all that Jesus commanded us. We should want to be trained in righteousness. We should have no problem with taking time for that.
We all have these in our lives. Some are going to be more obvious than others. Ask, Seek, Knock.
He is waiting for you.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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