Watch What You EAT!!!
So I was thinking about the major decisions that I've made in my life, and it hit me like a brick that every bad choice that I made started out with a small taste of bad. What I mean is that every evil in me started off smaller and then grew to something even uglier because I entertained it by giving in. My most visible failures were sexual and so I'll focus on that today, but what I am saying is applicable to every lust that draws us away from the will of God for our lives.
I would like to first say that we are all born with a sinful nature. We are born into sin, and that is why we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. It's why babies are cute little selfish liars without being taught. It's in our nature to look out for ourselves at any cost. It is also why some people are so impatient and easily angered. It's the reason why some people just love to fight and steal. It's the reason why most of us have to wage war on our own bodies to keep us from having sex before we are married. We aren't all born with the same issues, but we all are born with issues.
In scripture (2nd Corinthians) Paul the apostle refers to his issue as a thorn in his flesh. We all have them, but the fact that sin is natural does not excuse us from overcoming it. Jesus died because our inevitable mistakes would have doomed us, but his death and resurrection was never meant to be a license for sin.
So here we are forgiven and living to honor the sacrifice of God's only begotten son unsuccessfully. What's the issue? Is the blood not powerful enough? Do we not love God enough? I would suggest that our sin problem is brought on by our diet. I am referring to our everyday choices. What we choose to entertain ourselves with feeds our spirits, and it eventually advises our decision making. The Bible says it like this
Romans 6:15-17King James Version (KJV)
I would like to first say that we are all born with a sinful nature. We are born into sin, and that is why we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. It's why babies are cute little selfish liars without being taught. It's in our nature to look out for ourselves at any cost. It is also why some people are so impatient and easily angered. It's the reason why some people just love to fight and steal. It's the reason why most of us have to wage war on our own bodies to keep us from having sex before we are married. We aren't all born with the same issues, but we all are born with issues.
In scripture (2nd Corinthians) Paul the apostle refers to his issue as a thorn in his flesh. We all have them, but the fact that sin is natural does not excuse us from overcoming it. Jesus died because our inevitable mistakes would have doomed us, but his death and resurrection was never meant to be a license for sin.
So here we are forgiven and living to honor the sacrifice of God's only begotten son unsuccessfully. What's the issue? Is the blood not powerful enough? Do we not love God enough? I would suggest that our sin problem is brought on by our diet. I am referring to our everyday choices. What we choose to entertain ourselves with feeds our spirits, and it eventually advises our decision making. The Bible says it like this
Romans 6:15-17King James Version (KJV)
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Let's bring this idea into focus by example. Before I ever had sex, I observed it. After I observed sex by accident, I observed it intentionally (enter pornography and R rated movies). I told myself I was doing research, and I was right. I was educating myself about sex so that I could make a more informed conclusion about it. My conclusion was that passion=love=sex. When I then felt passion for a young man AT MY CHURCH, I interpreted it as love and it eventually turned into sex. That's a lot to handle for a couple of 16 year olds. I fed on the lie that lust was love and that what was natural was allowable. What I did not count on was that my "knowledge" was incomplete and therefore inaccurate(and it does terrible to things to a young lady to constantly be comparing herself to other women like this). In my "sex education" there was no mention of the emotional, physical, mental, or spiritual consequences. Sex out of proper context brought me shame, fear, and a sense of loss. I felt like I had been lied to, and I was right. I created an unhealthy appetite for sex because I kept nibbling on the idea of sex. I was created sexual, but my sin nature turned what was meant to be a beautiful gift to be shared between husband and wife into an unhealthy lust that made me sick(isn't that the devil?!). I literally felt sick after having sex(that was the Holy Spirit), but then became "hungry" for more(that was my flesh). Sound familiar?
I had to ask God for help and then constantly be aware and alert of what I was (and am) entertaining myself with and what I was giving my mind's stage to. I have found that when I surround myself with Godly things and thoughts, that I crave for more of it just like I did sex. I again have found scripture to be true, accurate, and applicable.
I have shared all of this to say as God's children and his ambassadors on this earth we need to manage with care how we choose to entertain and even educate ourselves. We should not be rejoicing in evil or lend our minds, hearts, bodies to anything that lifts itself up against the word of God. I know this sounds like a lot, but that's because it is a lot. Thank God for his grace and mercy. It's time for all of us to think on and discuss the things that God told us to think on (Philippians 4:8), wash ourselves with the word of God, and find our delights in the things that God would find pleasing in his sight. I am not asking you necessarily to throw out all of your movies, music, hobbies, and relationships. I am telling MYSELF, and anyone who feels the same convictions, to ask, "are my entertainment choices pleasing to God?" If the answer is "no" then it's time to make changes. Being a christian is fun, but it is a narrow road and not many people go this way. It takes making the conscious decision to find our joy in the Lord. Don't become spiritually sick because of a show, cd, or friendship. It's not worth it!
Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the Lord, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken. Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the Lord God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.
Amos 5:14-15 KJV
4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Philippians 4:4-8 KJV
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Let's bring this idea into focus by example. Before I ever had sex, I observed it. After I observed sex by accident, I observed it intentionally (enter pornography and R rated movies). I told myself I was doing research, and I was right. I was educating myself about sex so that I could make a more informed conclusion about it. My conclusion was that passion=love=sex. When I then felt passion for a young man AT MY CHURCH, I interpreted it as love and it eventually turned into sex. That's a lot to handle for a couple of 16 year olds. I fed on the lie that lust was love and that what was natural was allowable. What I did not count on was that my "knowledge" was incomplete and therefore inaccurate(and it does terrible to things to a young lady to constantly be comparing herself to other women like this). In my "sex education" there was no mention of the emotional, physical, mental, or spiritual consequences. Sex out of proper context brought me shame, fear, and a sense of loss. I felt like I had been lied to, and I was right. I created an unhealthy appetite for sex because I kept nibbling on the idea of sex. I was created sexual, but my sin nature turned what was meant to be a beautiful gift to be shared between husband and wife into an unhealthy lust that made me sick(isn't that the devil?!). I literally felt sick after having sex(that was the Holy Spirit), but then became "hungry" for more(that was my flesh). Sound familiar?
I had to ask God for help and then constantly be aware and alert of what I was (and am) entertaining myself with and what I was giving my mind's stage to. I have found that when I surround myself with Godly things and thoughts, that I crave for more of it just like I did sex. I again have found scripture to be true, accurate, and applicable.
I have shared all of this to say as God's children and his ambassadors on this earth we need to manage with care how we choose to entertain and even educate ourselves. We should not be rejoicing in evil or lend our minds, hearts, bodies to anything that lifts itself up against the word of God. I know this sounds like a lot, but that's because it is a lot. Thank God for his grace and mercy. It's time for all of us to think on and discuss the things that God told us to think on (Philippians 4:8), wash ourselves with the word of God, and find our delights in the things that God would find pleasing in his sight. I am not asking you necessarily to throw out all of your movies, music, hobbies, and relationships. I am telling MYSELF, and anyone who feels the same convictions, to ask, "are my entertainment choices pleasing to God?" If the answer is "no" then it's time to make changes. Being a christian is fun, but it is a narrow road and not many people go this way. It takes making the conscious decision to find our joy in the Lord. Don't become spiritually sick because of a show, cd, or friendship. It's not worth it!
Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the Lord, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken. Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the Lord God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.
Amos 5:14-15 KJV
4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Philippians 4:4-8 KJV
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