Noticing a trend here
Today's text is Proverbs 7. This is three chapters in a row with warnings about adultery. I think God may be trying to make a point. You know, these are passages ignored at your own peril. I personally know some of the issues that sexual impropriety can cause. I married the first time on the basis of sex. In my second marriage I allowed myself to be blinded by it and think that I actually meant more to her than I did. I will not act in such a manner again. Sex was meant for a man and a wife. God himself designed it that way. It is only through the perverse desires of man does it get twisted and become something corrupt.
I am a man, and a fairly healthy one at that. As with a lot of men, I lust, but I am also a redeemed man and that means that my lust is under control. Man is not the sum total of his desires. God created us for a higher purpose. It is our responsibility to wait upon the Lord to find that purpose. We are to be in the world, but not of the world.
More later. Coffee shop is closing and kicking me out.
OK, I'm back. Had to pay Barnes and Noble for the privilege of getting on their wireless network. That's OK, as the signal strength here is tremendous.
To return to what I was saying, man is created for a higher purpose. We were made for communion with God. It is a harder thing now. Thanks to Adam and Original Sin we no longer stroll about a beautiful place at the side of God Himself. It is a much harder thing to hear God speaking to us. Is it because God is no longer talking? No, it is because we have cut ourselves off from God, but God has given us a way to return to him. We can go to him through Jesus Christ, His son, who sacrificed Himself in a brutal death to redeem us. No longer is sacrifice needed as the Son of God, God Himself, placed Himself on the cross for our sins.
So, our sins are forgiven. Does this mean that we can pray, accept Christ as our Saviour and then no longer worry about it? We can then return to living our life as we see fit? We can be total hedonists and that's OK, because our sins are forgiven? No. I repeat, no. No!
We are called to holiness. We are called to righteousness. This is a state we cannot attain through our own efforts. It is only attainable through Christ and the Holy Spirit.
That is what this is all about. It is about my search for personal righteousness. I know I cannot do it on my own. I know that Jesus is the answer. I know that the Holy Spirit will provide the power in my life, power to live as a Godly man, power to witness to unbelievers, power to uphold what is right. Do I need that power? You better believe it. I am that publican in the temple, crying out, "Lord, be merciful to me, chiefest of sinners!" My life is fraught with sin.
With God, I will defeat it. I know you have seen the bumper sticker, "God is my copilot." No, God is my pilot. Oh, sure I have a habit of grabbing the wheel and wresting control away from Him. God, being a gentleman, allows this, and when I realize the mess I've made and look to Him for help He goes ahead and takes the wheel and steers my life back in the right direction. I now need to be schooled in letting him keep control. It's happening, but I am stubborn.
"Father, I know that it is your will for me to be successful, not necessarilly financially, but spiritually, so that I can represent you on earth, so that men may see you through me. I ask that you fix the mess I've made of my life. I ask that you help me subjugate my wants and desires to your wil. Lord, bless my work for you and in your name. In your Son's name, Amen."
I am a man, and a fairly healthy one at that. As with a lot of men, I lust, but I am also a redeemed man and that means that my lust is under control. Man is not the sum total of his desires. God created us for a higher purpose. It is our responsibility to wait upon the Lord to find that purpose. We are to be in the world, but not of the world.
More later. Coffee shop is closing and kicking me out.
OK, I'm back. Had to pay Barnes and Noble for the privilege of getting on their wireless network. That's OK, as the signal strength here is tremendous.
To return to what I was saying, man is created for a higher purpose. We were made for communion with God. It is a harder thing now. Thanks to Adam and Original Sin we no longer stroll about a beautiful place at the side of God Himself. It is a much harder thing to hear God speaking to us. Is it because God is no longer talking? No, it is because we have cut ourselves off from God, but God has given us a way to return to him. We can go to him through Jesus Christ, His son, who sacrificed Himself in a brutal death to redeem us. No longer is sacrifice needed as the Son of God, God Himself, placed Himself on the cross for our sins.
So, our sins are forgiven. Does this mean that we can pray, accept Christ as our Saviour and then no longer worry about it? We can then return to living our life as we see fit? We can be total hedonists and that's OK, because our sins are forgiven? No. I repeat, no. No!
We are called to holiness. We are called to righteousness. This is a state we cannot attain through our own efforts. It is only attainable through Christ and the Holy Spirit.
That is what this is all about. It is about my search for personal righteousness. I know I cannot do it on my own. I know that Jesus is the answer. I know that the Holy Spirit will provide the power in my life, power to live as a Godly man, power to witness to unbelievers, power to uphold what is right. Do I need that power? You better believe it. I am that publican in the temple, crying out, "Lord, be merciful to me, chiefest of sinners!" My life is fraught with sin.
With God, I will defeat it. I know you have seen the bumper sticker, "God is my copilot." No, God is my pilot. Oh, sure I have a habit of grabbing the wheel and wresting control away from Him. God, being a gentleman, allows this, and when I realize the mess I've made and look to Him for help He goes ahead and takes the wheel and steers my life back in the right direction. I now need to be schooled in letting him keep control. It's happening, but I am stubborn.
"Father, I know that it is your will for me to be successful, not necessarilly financially, but spiritually, so that I can represent you on earth, so that men may see you through me. I ask that you fix the mess I've made of my life. I ask that you help me subjugate my wants and desires to your wil. Lord, bless my work for you and in your name. In your Son's name, Amen."
posted by Douglas at 1:19 PM
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