Keeper At Home Temptations, Part 3

KAH TEMPTATIONS, PART 3:  GIVING UP THE POST

DEFINITION OF KEEPER (from the Merriam-Webster online dictionary)

One that keeps:  as

1. Protector
2. Gamekeeper
3. Warden
4. Custodian  

Synonyms to "keeper:"

1. Custodian
2. Guardian
3. Guard
4. Lookout
5. Minder
6. Picket
7. Sentinel
8. Sentry
9. Warden
10. Warder
11. Watch
12. Watcher
13. Watchman

     Being a keeper at home is such a blessing.  I've said that statement before, haven't I?  :)  Well, it will always be true.
     Part of being a kah is keeping the home.  We dress it, clean it, nurture it, because most of the home is the heart of it.  Thus, many times folks will say their mother was/is the "heart" of the home.  Hmm.
     Keeping the home is much more than just the cleanliness of it, though that in itself is important.  An even bigger aspect of keeping the home is guarding it.  Just as the gatekeeper watches over the gate, to insure no enemies enter, and sounds the alarm for when they see danger approaching, so, too, are women to be watching over their domain.
     Yet all too often we grow slack in this area.  We allow the enemy through the doors of the camp.  We bring in wicked entertainment, that often is disguised as "innocent."  That "innocent" movie or show often shows all sorts of sins that are praised, encouraged, and magnified as "good."  Its fruit is wickedness, and we let it in our home.
     We also allow in reading material that is of the same manifestation.  We allow music that is ungodly as well.  How are these things edifying us?  How are these things aiding us in our walk with God?  Simply put, they are not.
     It is very tempting to let things slide.  We grow weary of the battles.  We grow weary of having to explain to folks why we don't allow this, or why we do that.  It is intimidating.  It is sometimes scary.  We have an adversary, the devil, and he uses every means in his arsenal to wear us down so that he can claim the victory.
     It is very tempting to fit in with the crowd.  I believe this is one of his strongest tactics.  We want to be accepted.  We want approval.  However, those desires ought to never cause us to give up in the fight.  They ought to never let us compromise on holy standards, set forth by God.  Our home, our life, is too precious to waste.
    Being a keeper at home is a perilous job, in a way.  We are constantly under attack by Satan.  Anything he can do to undermine God's design, His plans, he will do.  Just like Satan went to Eve in the garden, he will come to us as well.  He wants to use God's Word perversely, and add to it to confuse us.  He wants us to doubt God.  He wants us to "justify" wicked living.  He wants us to take our precious gift of salvation as a license to sin.  "We're saved; we're on our way to Heaven, praise God!  I needn't worry about how I live, because nothing can separate me from God!  It's okay to do _____, or see ____, or listen to ____, or allow _____."  Lies from the pit of Hell, that's what they are.
     Let us not grow weary in well-doing.  Let us seek refreshment from the Lord to carry us through each day.  Let us keep our eyes on Christ so as to not be scared when the enemy advances.  Let us hold fast those doctrines Christ set forth to protect our homes, protecting our very spiritual lives.  Let us not be likened unto those silly women who are so easily led astray.
     Let us hold fast to the doctrines of Christ.  Let us guard what comes in to our homes while our blessed husbands are away working.  Let us be careful even of what attitudes we bring into our home.  Though the temptations can be strong, let us turn to Christ for the victory.

I Timothy 3

  ¹This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

   ²For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

   ³Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

   ⁴Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

   ⁵Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

   ⁶For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

   ⁷Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

   ⁸Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

   ⁹But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their's also was.

   ¹⁰But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,

   ¹¹Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

   ¹²Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

   ¹³But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

   ¹⁴But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

   ¹⁵And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

   ¹⁶All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

   ¹⁷That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

SOME WAYS TO AVOID GIVING UP THE POST

1. Read the Bible.  Do a word study on "keeper," "guardian," "watch," "watchman," or any other words that are similar to "keeper."  That kind of study will help you understand what the Bible says is a "keeper" and such.  Then purpose to do it.  Just as I Timothy 3:16, 17 say above, "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 perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."
2. Pray.  Seek the Lord with a humble, willing heart to obey Him.  Don't be afraid to follow His will.  He will not lead you astray.  If you're scared or intimidated, tell Him!  He will help you overcome those fears, or any doubts you may have.  "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."  I Peter 5:7
3. Talk to your husband.  Most husbands (godly ones), will pray for you and with you.  My husband has been one of my greatest counselors and prayer partners.  Since he and I made the decision to obey God in me being a kah, he has done all he can do to assist me in my duty.  Let your husband be the same for you.  "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.  So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.  For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.  This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband."  Ephesians 5:22-33
4. Live circumspectly.  Remember that there is always an adversary, the devil, out seeking whom he may devour--that includes our home.  He hates a godly home, and wants it destroyed.  He wants the praise, not God.  "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"  I Peter 5:8