Here's a story of a young girl who advertised selling her virginity to get enough money to pay for her mother's medical bills. Thankfully she didn't go through with it ...
What a world we live in ... girls willing to sell their virginity and men more than willing to pay for it!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4482913.stm
4.25.2005
4.06.2005
Spurgeon's Devotion
"Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp." --Hebrews 13:13
Jesus, bearing His cross, went forth to suffer without the gate. The Christian's reason for leaving the camp of the world's sin and religion is not because he loves to be singular, but because Jesus did so; and the disciple must follow his Master. Christ was "not of the world:" His life and His testimony were a constant protest against conformity with the world. Never was such overflowing affection for men as you find in Him; but still He was separate from sinners. In like manner Christ's people must "go forth unto Him." They must take their position "without the camp," as witness-bearers for the truth. They must be prepared to tread the straight and narrow path. They must have bold, unflinching, lion-like hearts, loving Christ first, and His truth next, and Christ and His truth beyond all the world. Jesus would have His people "go forth without the camp" for their own sanctification. You cannot grow in grace to any high degree while you are conformed to the world. The life of separation may be a path of sorrow, but it is the highway of safety; and though the separated life may cost you many pangs, and make every day a battle, yet it is a happy life after all. No joy can excel that of the soldier of Christ: Jesus reveals Himself so graciously, and gives such sweet refreshment, that the warrior feels more calm and peace in his daily strife than others in their hours of rest. The highway of holiness is the highway of communion. It is thus we shall hope to win the crown if we are enabled by divine grace faithfully to follow Christ "without the camp." The crown of glory will follow the cross of separation. A moment's shame will be well recompensed by eternal honour; a little while of witness-bearing will seem nothing when we are "for ever with the Lord."
This was very convicting for me. There are many ways that I'm 'of the world' that I shouldn't be. The really scary thing is that my kids are going to watch me all the time and learn from what I'm doing. Even though I don't realize it sometimes they are like little sponges soaking up everything. What kind of influence am I being for my kids? It's a very sobering thing to think about!
Jesus, bearing His cross, went forth to suffer without the gate. The Christian's reason for leaving the camp of the world's sin and religion is not because he loves to be singular, but because Jesus did so; and the disciple must follow his Master. Christ was "not of the world:" His life and His testimony were a constant protest against conformity with the world. Never was such overflowing affection for men as you find in Him; but still He was separate from sinners. In like manner Christ's people must "go forth unto Him." They must take their position "without the camp," as witness-bearers for the truth. They must be prepared to tread the straight and narrow path. They must have bold, unflinching, lion-like hearts, loving Christ first, and His truth next, and Christ and His truth beyond all the world. Jesus would have His people "go forth without the camp" for their own sanctification. You cannot grow in grace to any high degree while you are conformed to the world. The life of separation may be a path of sorrow, but it is the highway of safety; and though the separated life may cost you many pangs, and make every day a battle, yet it is a happy life after all. No joy can excel that of the soldier of Christ: Jesus reveals Himself so graciously, and gives such sweet refreshment, that the warrior feels more calm and peace in his daily strife than others in their hours of rest. The highway of holiness is the highway of communion. It is thus we shall hope to win the crown if we are enabled by divine grace faithfully to follow Christ "without the camp." The crown of glory will follow the cross of separation. A moment's shame will be well recompensed by eternal honour; a little while of witness-bearing will seem nothing when we are "for ever with the Lord."
This was very convicting for me. There are many ways that I'm 'of the world' that I shouldn't be. The really scary thing is that my kids are going to watch me all the time and learn from what I'm doing. Even though I don't realize it sometimes they are like little sponges soaking up everything. What kind of influence am I being for my kids? It's a very sobering thing to think about!
4.05.2005
What is God's will?
Here's a question that I've been thinking about more lately. We just sold our apartment building for more than expected and it seems like other things that we've been planning on doing are pretty much falling into place. How does one know that these things are coming about because they are the true will of God, instead of God giving us over to our desires because we're being close minded on it all? We've prayed about what He would have us to do with our lives now that we have another child on the way and Ben's seriously thinking of going back to school for his PhD. I'm just wondering - how do you know when something is the will of God or if you just want it so badly that you convince yourself this is what is best for you. I'm not saying that I think what we're doing is not God's will for our lives right now -- all things considered God has truely blessed us! I do see God's hand in it all, I just wanted to give an example. Maybe a better example (for myself) would be birth control. I've struggled with it a bit and Ben brought up a good point ... are the things that I'm having problems with caused from a lack of faith? Am I not trusting in God to supply all my needs, to only give me what I can handle? I really think that my problems are caused from a personal issue of not wanting all the responsibility. Although I do need to study the issue more, the arguments for are more convincing than the arguments against. So, I do think in this case my desires have overpowered what God's will is ... how often does this happen in my life and I don't see it?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)