Be Careful!
I have noticed that this world is becoming more and more dangerous, spiritually, for Christians. There is an immobilization going on in serving Christ: deception by way of false teachings; unwillingness to repent and live according to the will of God, but content to stay carnal; and much, much seduction by devils. It concerns me, for as Christians we know that Christ can return in an instant. What are we doing with our time?
I am guilty of watching wicked Hollywood movies; eating things I should not eat, and eating too much; listening to music that is worldly (even if it is under the guise of being spiritual), instead of holy unto God; gossiping; being idle--the list can go on and on. Yet, God has been working in my life to fix these areas, thanks be to Him who grants repentance, a contrite heart, and a desire and ability to perform His will! It is all too easy for me to do what my flesh wants if I am in control, so I thank God every day for being in control!
What does the Bible say, though? I do not want anyone to take my word for it. God asks us to live holy, which means separated unto Him:
What is God separated from? He is separated from all the ways of the world. A clear verse indicating this fact is in James 4:4: "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." James wrote this to believers in Christ, seen in verse two of chapter one, where he calls them "brethren."
As Christians, are desire ought to be that of the Father's. We should not get clouded up in our own will, which undoubtedly can lead us astray from God. If we are in His Word as we should be, praying diligently, faithfully attending church, fellowshipping with the saints, He will guide us in His will. It is much harder to do His will when we are doing our own.
So, that show we are watching, would Christ be sitting there enjoying it with us? How about that song we listen to, would He love to listen to it, too? How about those activities we spend a lot of our time on, would He join with us? What about that movie, would He like it as well?
What of that conversation we had, would He have joined in on it? What of our attire and appearance, would He dress that way, (or have His sister arrayed as such)? What of the books we are reading, would He enjoy them? The questions can continue, but it all boils down to this one: "What Would Jesus Do?"
We must test all of our doings, thoughts, feelings, sayings upon the precious Word of God. If there is anything about it that makes us sin against Him, we should not be a part of it. If we are enjoying the works of darkness or flesh, we need to repent and forsake them. No compromise with the world can be made, otherwise we will slip into sin.
What are the works of darkness, of flesh? They are: "...Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like..."--Galatians 5:19c-21e. We must be careful--no matter how enjoyable it is, if it causes us to sin, we must depart from it.
The problem in the world is that it glorifies these works of the flesh. It makes it palatable to the taste buds of our emotions, and if we are not on guard we will be deceived in thinking it is okay to partake in them. We are wrong, and if we belong to God He will make that apparent. Watch out for deceit.
Please, let us not get caught up in the seduction of the world and the flesh. All these are for nought. Let us fill ourselves with the goodness of God, whereby we will assuredly be most pleased and refreshed. We can have good, clean fun with our brothers and sisters in the Lord without sinning. We can read to the edification of the spirit, and not be constantly entertained by the world. Please, be careful.
I am guilty of watching wicked Hollywood movies; eating things I should not eat, and eating too much; listening to music that is worldly (even if it is under the guise of being spiritual), instead of holy unto God; gossiping; being idle--the list can go on and on. Yet, God has been working in my life to fix these areas, thanks be to Him who grants repentance, a contrite heart, and a desire and ability to perform His will! It is all too easy for me to do what my flesh wants if I am in control, so I thank God every day for being in control!
What does the Bible say, though? I do not want anyone to take my word for it. God asks us to live holy, which means separated unto Him:
"But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."
I Peter 1:15, 16
As Christians, are desire ought to be that of the Father's. We should not get clouded up in our own will, which undoubtedly can lead us astray from God. If we are in His Word as we should be, praying diligently, faithfully attending church, fellowshipping with the saints, He will guide us in His will. It is much harder to do His will when we are doing our own.
So, that show we are watching, would Christ be sitting there enjoying it with us? How about that song we listen to, would He love to listen to it, too? How about those activities we spend a lot of our time on, would He join with us? What about that movie, would He like it as well?
What of that conversation we had, would He have joined in on it? What of our attire and appearance, would He dress that way, (or have His sister arrayed as such)? What of the books we are reading, would He enjoy them? The questions can continue, but it all boils down to this one: "What Would Jesus Do?"
We must test all of our doings, thoughts, feelings, sayings upon the precious Word of God. If there is anything about it that makes us sin against Him, we should not be a part of it. If we are enjoying the works of darkness or flesh, we need to repent and forsake them. No compromise with the world can be made, otherwise we will slip into sin.
What are the works of darkness, of flesh? They are: "...Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like..."--Galatians 5:19c-21e. We must be careful--no matter how enjoyable it is, if it causes us to sin, we must depart from it.
The problem in the world is that it glorifies these works of the flesh. It makes it palatable to the taste buds of our emotions, and if we are not on guard we will be deceived in thinking it is okay to partake in them. We are wrong, and if we belong to God He will make that apparent. Watch out for deceit.
Please, let us not get caught up in the seduction of the world and the flesh. All these are for nought. Let us fill ourselves with the goodness of God, whereby we will assuredly be most pleased and refreshed. We can have good, clean fun with our brothers and sisters in the Lord without sinning. We can read to the edification of the spirit, and not be constantly entertained by the world. Please, be careful.
"Be careful little eyes what you see./Be careful little eyes what you see./For the Father up above is looking down in love,/So be careful little eyes what you see./
Be careful little ears what you hear./Be careful little ears what you hear./For the Father up above is looking down in love,/So be careful little ears what you hear./
Be careful little mouth what you say./Be careful little mouth what you say./For the Father up above is looking down in love,/So be careful little mouth what you say./
Be careful little hands what you do./Be careful little hands what you do./For the Father up above is looking down in love,/So be careful little hands what you do.
Be careful little feet where you go./Be careful little feet where you go./For the Father up above is looking down in love,/So be careful little feet where you go./
Be careful little mind what you think./Be careful little mind what you think./For the Father up above is looking down in love,/So be careful little mind what you think./
Be careful little heart what you feel./Be careful little heart what you feel./For the Father up above is looking down in love,/So be careful little heart what you feel./"
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"Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." Colossians 4:6