God's Direction vs. Instinct
Jude 1:10 sets straight the idea that because it is natural or instinctive that one should do it. I hear that a lot. I hear "it's natural for people to have sex, so have it as often as you like with whomever you like." I think that is a very one-sided view that teeters on a lack of self control and real life consequences for your actions. In this current time, many who wanted to have sex, but didn't want to have a child had to come to a conclusion about keeping or aborting a child they didn't want. It is not of God to do with your body as you wish as what was once your is now under God's direction and is to obey God.
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Imitating Evil or Good
Our choices in life are our choices in life. There are choices we make on a daily basis. We make choices on who to call, who to visit, whether or not to call in sick to work....you get my point. If you are a Christ follower, your choices should be reflective of that spirit of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, leading you to interact with people a certain way. The Spirit leads you to do what is Godly. So when those thoughts come, do you follow what the Spirit say, or do you make your own decision to do something different. In 3 John 1:11, we are instructed to imitate what is good, not what is evil. What is evil is not of God but what will pull you away from God. When you are evil you have not known God. Why would you know God and then continue to do evil? Misstep is one thing...but a consistent practice is another.
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Verify the Teaching
2 John 1:9 tells us that anyone who is teaching the word needs to abide in the Father and the Son. Anything less or more is incorrect. Don't let these teachers in your house. Furthermore, why would you want to let them in your house? If they teach that Jesus isn't the son yet you know differently, why would you allow falsehood into your life? Anything more than the Father and the son is like saying Jesus isn't good enough. Look, we do include the Holy Spirit but not as an extra, but as an inclusive part of the Father and Son. The Spirit comes from God, not some extra reach from another culture. You are responsible fore the teaching you allow in your life and do not check. If your math teacher tells you that 20 + 20 is now 60, would you not disagree, argue or consider them a fool? Do the same thing with Scriptural teachings.
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Continuity of Sin
What have you allowed in your life? What exists in your life that is okay based on what culture thinks? Is it okay with God? Is it God honoring? Look we all mess up and fall short and fail and sin. It's what happens because we are fallible and we are human. In 1 John 5:18 we have to understand (just like in previous books and verses) that once you are born of God (born again, seeking His will consistently) then that sin life that was apart of you can be no more. Let God in to that part of you that you are not willing to give up yet. When you have something big coming up, do you work and get anxious and doubt yourself? That is not of God and that is how Satan uses you and your circumstances to pull you away from God. Seek God's will in your life. Consult the Scriptures and let the Holy Spirit guide you.
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Get Near to Jesus
There was so much power in the physical touch of Jesus as he was God in the flesh. He could touch you and heal you. He could speak to you and heal you of an ailment that has plagued you for decades. There was nothing that he couldn't heal. In Luke 6:17-19, Jesus ministered to a bunch of people. The first thing he did was he stood on a level area (verse 17). That could just be a simple way of saying so he was balanced in a place where there was not much balance to be found (mountainous or hilly area). But you can metaphorically connect it to mean when you are going to do some preaching and teaching and ministering, make sure that your life is in balance, not imbalanced. Imagine watching someone stand in an area that was unstable. You could get distracted by watching them try to keep their balance. The same way we need to keep our balance with God's word and managing what we allow in our lives from the cultures that we live in. My second point is contained in verses 18-19 which show how people from various areas knew of Jesus and wanted to hear him speak and have him heal their illnesses. Those who had unclean spirits and were troubled sought to be healed by Jesus. They wanted to be healed by him because they knew he had power. Just getting near to Jesus can be healing. You must have faith to even believe that he can heal. If they didn't believe that he could heal, would they have gotten near to him or tried to hear him speak. Get near to Jesus.
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Love Wins
Being genuinely loving is another mark of a true Christian. If you read yesterday's Wednesday Wake Up #42 you see that the passion for serving is one way to tell who is a true Christian. Another way to tell is by seeing who is being loving and who is not. This is not the love like you love ice cream but the true love like serve someone you don't know and forgive someone who has hurt you. Love you fellow brothers and sister in Christ. Be loving to your family. 1 John 4:7-8 says "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." If you are not being loving then you do not know God. How can you say you know God if you are not being loving? One another is everyone, not a select few. If you want to win people to Jesus and share with them who God is, just know that love wins.
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Keep on Keepin' On
In reading Romans 12:11 it is one mark of a true Christian. Yes, there are others, but let's just focus on the regarding your zeal, your passion, your energy in serving God. Paul writes that the passion shouldn't be lacking when serving the Lord. The spiritual fervor is also part of that passion in serving the Lord. When you read the word, share with or teach others, feeding the homeless, whatever it is, do it with passion. Let that Holy Spirit work through you be the fire that fuels you to serve the Lord. You will know a true Christian by one who is serving the Lord with passion and intensity.
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