by David Brenneman
"But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine. Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance. Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored. Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us. Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you." Titus 2:1-15.
What drives you?
Is what's important to Jesus important to you? Is obeying God important to you? Do you care more for being approved among men and women than you are in the eyes of Jesus Christ?
Harsh questions possibly if they stung at all. If your attire shows idolatry by the way the Bible says that it is and you laugh it off...what does it say about your respect of the Word of God? Possibly an ouch again.
If being friends with the world isn't bothering you...and you claim the Name of Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord...well then my Dear Reader...YOU have a problem.
The older I get the less and less I think about the things that were supposedly important to me when I was younger.
Technically I went back to school in January. Started off the month by reading the same passages in two study Bibles. Then was prodded to double that. My original plan was to teach myself how to study. God's plan is better.
We often gladly embark on adventures without asking Jesus first. We may even see other Believers doing this or that and figure that we don't need to ask the Spirit if we should as well. How will you ever know the wonderful plans that the God of all Creation has in store for you if you're constantly on the run doing whatever you have in mind without asking Him?
This world in which we live is overflowing with temptations for Satan's plans and schemes to water down the Word of God, to stall the Word of God, to try to stop the Word of God. He cares not for anyone's lives he's going to ruin along the way.
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,"
They are called temptations for a reason. Those who don't believe this are lying to themselves. We lie to ourselves all the time when we rationalize our choices without due consideration from talking to God about things.
Idolatry never left this world. Satan's sugar coated everything about it but it's as alive today as it was way back in the book of Genesis. It's in most every commercial you watch. You're driven to buy merchandise with logos on it to prove who you technically worship. You do worship it because you get angry or upset when someone or something happens to the object of your attention outside of your life in Christ. You feel the need to defend it or it's name.
Vanity never left this world.
Satan's sugar coated it and it's now a world class business model.
Bitterness is very much alive and well today. It's been hijacked by causes to promote their agendas.
Rage has been used to justify further atrocities in our world called causes.
Stealing has been legalized by refusing to prosecute in many states and countries. There's no end to security footage of flash mob thefts. In one...a thief threatened to call the police if the store owner refused to let them leave with what they were stealing.
Sin is still on the stage.
Temptations are still at large waiting for our guard to go down.
Fatigue is a very important part of Satan's schemes. Hunger is used a lot in his schemes. Look at the things that Jesus was tempted with by Satan in the wilderness.
You my Dear Reader are absolutely not exempt from the schemes of the devil.
You are either trying your absolute level best to live for Jesus or you're not.
Living LIKE a Christian is going to land you in Hell. A person must have really come to Christ for salvation and then what they do in Christ matters. Jesus said that many will say that they did this or that in His Name and didn't have His gift of salvation...they will be told: "depart from Me for I never knew you!".
Our moral compass is only on and active when we are living with our Lord Jesus Christ. When we are walking with Him in the light of His word. Turning away from the desires of this world when His Word says to flee from them.
What have you compromised on and have allowed into your life that shouldn't be there because you know that the Word of God says it shouldn't be there?
You are already losing the argument in keeping something in your life that shouldn't be when you begin rationalizing it by saying things like "its not that bad" or "It's not hurting anyone" or "it's just for fun".
In what I read last night in my studies...take great care in these things when you use the same word as Satan did with Jesus. "If...".
If you have to rationalize it then you should be fleeing it in all likelihood.
Jesus didn't try to fit in with His world around Him when He was here. As a Christian we're to be living life like Christ. Jesus exposed the world around Him. So are we to be doing.
Jesus said that we ought to take up our own cross and follow Him.
So what are you doing with your cross? Setting it down and taking a break is going to get you in trouble.
Jesus said to His Disciples...go and make more disciples teaching them all that I commanded you.
He didn't say to adapt to your current culture n compromise.
Look at your life. Stand back and ask yourself if Jesus really would approve of your choices. Of how much time you give Him. Of where you put the joy in your life that belongs to God. Of what you have allowed in your life that you wouldn't do if He physically stood by you. The things you put before your walk with Jesus.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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