Post by cspain03 on Mar 13, 2014 11:39:51 GMT
Wow - half way through this 22 Days of Life! I just want to encourage everyone to get involved and really dig deep- we are all busy but we should put in real effort to be committed to this. I believe we ALL have something to learn from this and we all have growth to do. I also believe this will be that much more valuable if we all contribute and we can learn from each other as God guides us.
Thank you Kia for being obiedient and challenging us all to really understand God's love, His love for us, and how we should be showing and living in love towards ourselves and others.
Now, today's scripture - ain't that something. What a challenge that we hold EACH OTHER responsible for our sexual immorality. We are always taught not to judge others but this scripture is telling us that it's our responsibility to hold one another accountable and to not interact with those who are sexually immoral, greedy, drunkard, etc (v. 11) we are to remove them from our camp (something that goes back to the Old Testament - when God handed down His commandments to Moses to deliver to the Isrealites about all the do's and don't's a set strict rules for when someone had to be removed from the encampment of the Isrealites)
I think too often we brush off that the word says we shouldn't be having sex outside of wedlock. We as a society have become too accepting of the fact that everyone is doing it, it's all over movies and TV and in music - so why not. I think we as a people, especially Christians, are testing God in the wrong way by saying God won't keep us out of Heaven for my sexual immortality because He is forgiving (which He is but we also have to be responsible and act like we know better - especially because we do know better) or he won't keep me out of Heaven over my sexual immortality because I serve on this board/committee or I do this for the community or I tithe or I sing on the choir or I mentor, etc
We are a chosen people but to whom much is given, much is required. Why would we won't to sell ourselves short or be a poor reflection of His Word for momentary enjoyment ? Why risk eternity with our Heavenly Father over something like sexual immorality or greed or boastfulness or drunkenness ? It's not worth it because all those things are temporary
We know we serve a jealous God and we know we aren't to put anything before Him - but are you not putting sex or materialism or earthly pleasures before Him when you disobey His Word and then just expect to ask for forgiveness and keep it moving. Why ask for forgiveness if you aren't sorry for your actions and have no real intentions or desires to stop ? You're just asking for your own benefit and sense of peace - is that showing God the love and solidarity He deserves ?
We are an imperfect people but don't be like Sodom and Gamorrah - don't settle to live in sin because it feels good. We are all guilty if his at some point but we are called to do better and we should encourage each other to do so. It's not about "judging" for the sack of making it seem like one person is better than another, especially because where one person is strong in fighting he temptation of sexual immorality they may be weak against drunkenness or greed. It's about "judging" in the sense of wanting better for those we care about and ourselves - its about accountability and encouraging each other in our moments of weakness as we fight against the temptations of this world and he temptations that relationships can bring
I am blessed to have a circle of people to hold me accountable and be there to help me when I fall - we all fall short but we can't settle, we have to get back up and be genuine about becoming better moving forward
Thank you Kia for being obiedient and challenging us all to really understand God's love, His love for us, and how we should be showing and living in love towards ourselves and others.
Now, today's scripture - ain't that something. What a challenge that we hold EACH OTHER responsible for our sexual immorality. We are always taught not to judge others but this scripture is telling us that it's our responsibility to hold one another accountable and to not interact with those who are sexually immoral, greedy, drunkard, etc (v. 11) we are to remove them from our camp (something that goes back to the Old Testament - when God handed down His commandments to Moses to deliver to the Isrealites about all the do's and don't's a set strict rules for when someone had to be removed from the encampment of the Isrealites)
I think too often we brush off that the word says we shouldn't be having sex outside of wedlock. We as a society have become too accepting of the fact that everyone is doing it, it's all over movies and TV and in music - so why not. I think we as a people, especially Christians, are testing God in the wrong way by saying God won't keep us out of Heaven for my sexual immortality because He is forgiving (which He is but we also have to be responsible and act like we know better - especially because we do know better) or he won't keep me out of Heaven over my sexual immortality because I serve on this board/committee or I do this for the community or I tithe or I sing on the choir or I mentor, etc
We are a chosen people but to whom much is given, much is required. Why would we won't to sell ourselves short or be a poor reflection of His Word for momentary enjoyment ? Why risk eternity with our Heavenly Father over something like sexual immorality or greed or boastfulness or drunkenness ? It's not worth it because all those things are temporary
We know we serve a jealous God and we know we aren't to put anything before Him - but are you not putting sex or materialism or earthly pleasures before Him when you disobey His Word and then just expect to ask for forgiveness and keep it moving. Why ask for forgiveness if you aren't sorry for your actions and have no real intentions or desires to stop ? You're just asking for your own benefit and sense of peace - is that showing God the love and solidarity He deserves ?
We are an imperfect people but don't be like Sodom and Gamorrah - don't settle to live in sin because it feels good. We are all guilty if his at some point but we are called to do better and we should encourage each other to do so. It's not about "judging" for the sack of making it seem like one person is better than another, especially because where one person is strong in fighting he temptation of sexual immorality they may be weak against drunkenness or greed. It's about "judging" in the sense of wanting better for those we care about and ourselves - its about accountability and encouraging each other in our moments of weakness as we fight against the temptations of this world and he temptations that relationships can bring
I am blessed to have a circle of people to hold me accountable and be there to help me when I fall - we all fall short but we can't settle, we have to get back up and be genuine about becoming better moving forward
