Weekend Words

From Beside the Still Waters...

Acclimated to Sin - Read: Romans 1:18-32, Isaiah 3:16-24

"Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you." - Leviticus 18:24

As I approached the cattle feeder with a can of grain, my mare panicked and dashed off to the farthest corner of the pasture.  The grain was her favorite treat, but she warily kept her distance, staring at me and snorting in obvious alarm.  What was the problem?  I was wearing a flapping, rustling rain poncho in an effort to make her "slicker broke".  A week of this routine gradually acclimated her to the strange outfit, and I was finally able to ride her without triggering a rodeo show.

Horses are slow to accept anything new, but they can gradually be acclimated to accept even extremes such as passing freight trains and braking log trucks.  People are similar.  Though they may be shocked at initial encounters with ungodly language, appearances, and values, repeated exposure can result in such familiarity that these things no longer seem evil or offensive.  Socially accepted sin is the norm in our day.

The unmarried couple living together profess to be Christians and really love each other, so how could that be wrong?  the same-gender married couple are very friendly and are active in charitable and political functions, so who am I to find fault?  After all, some say, certain individuals are just born different.  But the Word of God clearly condemns these people and their actions.  Have we become so acclimated that we no longer find such perversions disturbing but rather accept them as harmless idiosyncrasies?  Do we fear being labeled as intolerant and legalistic - intimidated into silence?

In 1 Corinthians 16:14 we read, "Let all your things be done with charity."  But that never excludes speaking the truth in love.  Christian charity never sacrifices truth for tolerance of sin,

Pete Lewis - Halsey, OR

"Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners" - 1 Corinthians 15:33

From Behold the Lilies...

(this devotional book is written for women therefore references women in the post, but the applications are just as relevant for men)... 

"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" - Isaiah 5:20

The world's view of life is opposite from the Christian's.  The Christian woman may be tempted to move toward the world's way of thinking, but she might not realize how detrimental that can be.

The world places much emphasis on worldly riches and will stoop to committing works of darkness to obtain them.  The Christian places emphasis on spiritual riches and will suffer the loss of all things if necessary to obtain them.

The world uses forceful, hasty methods to fill their self-centered desires.  The Christian waits before the Lord with a surrendered spirit and gives glory to Him.

The world thinks a life of ease will bring happiness.  The Christian knows that a life of suffering and sacrifice for the cause of Christ will bring everlasting joy.

The world tells its young people to be somebody.  Christians tell their young people to become nobodies and to let Christ be the Somebody in their lives.

The world needs noisy entertainment to soothe its spirit.  the Christian is comforted through the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

The world does not want to think about death, but the Christian knows that death is the gateway to a better life.

The world has no time for God.  The Christian's source of power for living is God, so he makes time with God a priority.

The world is troubled by the signs of the times, but the Christian looks up, for redemption is near.

When the Christian woman stays focused on Christ, there is no room in her mind for the influences of the world.

From In Green Pastures...

Written Not With Ink

The world does not read the Bible nor come to church to hear the minister.  All it learns about Christ and the Christian life it must learn from those who bear Christ's name and represent him.  If all church-members lived truly consecrated lives - holy, beautiful, separate from the world, loyal to Christ in business, in pleasure, in all things - it is impossible to estimate what the saving power of the church would be in example alone.  It is an awful thought that professing Christians, by the inconsistencies of their personal lives, lead souls to reject the Saviour.  We are all responsible for the influence of our example.  Our lives should be New Testament pages that all could read.