Most Christians don’t struggle with those things that are
blatantly “evil”, but with those things that seem, on the surface, to be
“good”. Good as defined by our culture
and our traditions. There is a movement
in our culture, in particular, to redefine the definition of “good” or what is
not sin – what is right behavior and what is wrong.
Centuries people have striven to be like God and define, for
themselves, what is good and acceptable.
Paul wrote in the beginning of his letter to the Romans ..
“For the wrath of
God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men,
who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. … they are without excuse. For
although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him,
but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were
darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools… And since they did not see
fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not
to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil,
covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit,
maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty,
boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless,
heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's righteous decree that those who
practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to
those who practice them.” – Romans 18,20-22,28-32
And today .. the beat goes on! When the young man called Jesus “good
teacher”, Jesus responded (Matthew 19:17)
“Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If
you would enter life, keep the commandments.”
In other words, “Only my Father
in heaven is good and the definer of what is good.” God is the source of all goodness. However people continue to define their own
morality, their own definition of what is good.
Jesus accused the Church of Ephesus
of being lukewarm in Revelation 2.
They wanted to do both. Embrace
God and embrace the world. Very often when
there is a clash of definitions, God is abandoned in favor of the culture. God is rejected and the culture is
embraced. Those Christians who do it
feel justified. It is the temptation of “Everyone is doing it”.
God is the source of what is good .. His Word tells us what
is sin and what is not. His Spirit
convicts us of sin unless we quench the Spirit.
(There is so much running through my head right now, but I will not
share it … else this might be a book and not a devotion) Listen, if the
consequence of standing on Truth and the Word, even though it is contrary to
the culture and the threat of reject and criticism looms on the horizon .. why
should you be any different than Jesus … don’t you want to be like Him? Or only with respect to the “good” parts.
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before
it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own;
but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world,
therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant
is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also
persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these
things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him
who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been
guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me
hates my Father also.” – John 15:18-27
We are in a spiritual battle that manifests itself in the
way people live and believe. My
encouragement to you .. (Joshua 24:15)
“Choose this day whom you will serve .. but as for me and my house, we
will serve the Lord” Make that more than
a catch phrase or a plaque on your living room wall. Make it a commitment … everyday … but let it
be more than a commitment … make the choice – follow God and not a culture
headed for the wide gate!
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For
His Glory Alone
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