October 12
Scripture focus: It's common knowledge that "God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble." So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he'll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it's the only way you'll get on your feet. Don't bad-mouth each other, friends. It's God's Word, his Message, his Royal Rule, that takes a beating in that kind of talk. You're supposed to be honoring the Message, not writing graffiti all over it. God is in charge of deciding human destiny. Who do you think you are to meddle in the destiny of others? James 4:6-12, The Message
Quit dabbling in sin.
I was late to an important meeting this week because I got distracted by someone’s yelling. They were really carrying on, hooting and hollering about God not being there for them. I was surprised that the yeller didn’t bring party balloons, because the pity party was a bash.
Eventually, my yelling buddy took a breath and I asked a question. “Did you ever think that dabbling in ______ (I named the offending behavior that plagued this person) would result in all this shame and misery?”
Silence.
Maybe we yell without understanding why. The loud words reflected all sorts of pity and blaming and rationalizing and foolishness. But the heart may have been crying a different tune. Could it be that my loud friend was really bemoaning the fact that dabbling in sin caused everyone she loved, including herself, harm? Her yelling sounds like anger, but could it be grief?
Quit dabbling in sin.
Purify your inner life.
Quit playing the field.
Spiritual renewal will require us to quit dabbling in sin. Don’t know what that means? No worries. As we peer intently into the word of God, he will lead us toward the light.
May you walk in the light of the love of God this day.
Recommended reading: Psalm 98 - 100
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2 comments:
sounds a lot like me when i first came to north star, and for a good long while after. i was scared, frightened, hurting, wounded, extremely angry, confused, lashing out, trying to get others to fix everything that was wrong. after all couldn't everybody see that g-d wasn't treating me even as good as a step-child, and everyone who had been blessed by g-d should be sharing their blessings with me to put things on an even keel? i'm so glad that he "wasn't even treating me like a step child". instead, he was treating me as a beloved child. he disciplines those he loves, as fathers on earth discipline their children. he was loving me and disciplining me, and breaking me because the way i was living was me destroying me. 'for the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant', so one scripture reads. the passage continues 'but later on it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness for those who have been trained by it.' (i think that is in the book of hebrews) yes, recovery is painful, but not recovering is even more so.
a. 'nanny' mouse
Or it could be the sound of their pain. Maybe they need a hug from someone that understands and has experienced that kind of pain or behavior. At times we back away from those exibiting pain where a hug and quiet message of love could kick start the healing.
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