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“If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”– Joshua 24:15
There is a time in every person’s life when a choice must be made. Not because you want to do something, but because it is something you are required to do or not do. Temptations will arise from different areas of our life on a daily basis and we all must reach inside to answer the basic question, “What do I stand for?” Where is the plum-line of my integrity, my moral values and my ethics? At what point will I step over the line, despite the awareness of the unrighteousness of a situation?
When your values are pressed, when you are pressured into supporting or participating in a situation that you know is outside of your foundational beliefs and moral code; how will you respond? Knowing how you will handle a situation before it arises is the foundation of strength that will allow you to stand solid in your faith when temptations arise. Know how you will handle the situation of adultery before it ever presents itself. Know what you will do in the circumstance of being offered drugs, illicit sex or other participation in things outside of your value system. Set a plan for how you will react to these situations, so should they arise you are prepared.
it would seem that much of the world today is free from a value system that aligns with the character of God. There is much focus on self gratification and the immediacy of pleasure with little care of the long term impact. The likelihood of being tempted into carnal activities is much higher today than it has ever been in our existence, and without a solid eternal foundation to stand on these temptations become reality very quickly. The availability of destructive information and media is exponentially greater today than even 10 years ago. Our children are not even safe watching something like the Disney channel when you think of the suggestive and often times seductive scenes being demonstrated daily through the sitcoms. School curriculum, magazines, newspapers, advertising, the internet, the radio, the music and their friends are all influencing our children into a watered down perspective of political correctness that is miles and miles away from the righteousness of the bible. When our children are being taught and influenced that homosexuality is an acceptable way of life; that drugs are okay and non-addictive; that sex is something that cannot be avoided, so stop trying to fight it and simply be concerned about safe-sex rather than no-sex; that they are entitled to luxuries in life without having to work for it and that the Bible is just another history book; we need to step in and establish the baseline of what we stand for. The youth of our day are influenced in ways that were taboo and unspoken just 15 years ago, not to mention unheard of 30 years ago when I was a teenager.
We cannot conform to the ways of this world, or we are sentencing ourselves and our children to an eternity of Hell. The sinful nature of man is forgiven and redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, this is true; but this is not an excuse to carry on in life frivolously and without abandon as if your actions are meaningless. What are you doing to change the world’s perspective on the unrighteousness that abounds all around us? What are you standing up for, that you know is wrong based on your faith, your belief and your trust in God’s word? Do you truly believe that the God of the Universe is going to abide by the political correctness that our society is pushing today, or should it be vice versa? If you, like me, believe that God has established the moral plum-line for our lives, then it is time to stand up for those values, ethics and morals. Do not fear the wrath of mankind for challenging their acceptance of the iniquities of the world, but fear the wrath of God upon mankind for challenging His existence and righteousness.
I will stand before any man, woman and child that I come before and without question proudly state, as did Joshua, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” By stating this, I am clearly stating that I believe in His Holy Word as the truth and guidelines for my life. That I will take seriously the responsibility to teach my children about Jesus Christ and to serve my family in a manner that demonstrates God’s love for His children. I am asking you to join me in this effort by standing on His principles and abide by His plan for our existence, despite what mankind might persuade you to do.
© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
For more Daily Thoughts go to: http://sondove.blogspot.com
If you would like to be added to the email distribution please click here: Daily Thoughts
When your values are pressed, when you are pressured into supporting or participating in a situation that you know is outside of your foundational beliefs and moral code; how will you respond? Knowing how you will handle a situation before it arises is the foundation of strength that will allow you to stand solid in your faith when temptations arise. Know how you will handle the situation of adultery before it ever presents itself. Know what you will do in the circumstance of being offered drugs, illicit sex or other participation in things outside of your value system. Set a plan for how you will react to these situations, so should they arise you are prepared.
it would seem that much of the world today is free from a value system that aligns with the character of God. There is much focus on self gratification and the immediacy of pleasure with little care of the long term impact. The likelihood of being tempted into carnal activities is much higher today than it has ever been in our existence, and without a solid eternal foundation to stand on these temptations become reality very quickly. The availability of destructive information and media is exponentially greater today than even 10 years ago. Our children are not even safe watching something like the Disney channel when you think of the suggestive and often times seductive scenes being demonstrated daily through the sitcoms. School curriculum, magazines, newspapers, advertising, the internet, the radio, the music and their friends are all influencing our children into a watered down perspective of political correctness that is miles and miles away from the righteousness of the bible. When our children are being taught and influenced that homosexuality is an acceptable way of life; that drugs are okay and non-addictive; that sex is something that cannot be avoided, so stop trying to fight it and simply be concerned about safe-sex rather than no-sex; that they are entitled to luxuries in life without having to work for it and that the Bible is just another history book; we need to step in and establish the baseline of what we stand for. The youth of our day are influenced in ways that were taboo and unspoken just 15 years ago, not to mention unheard of 30 years ago when I was a teenager.
We cannot conform to the ways of this world, or we are sentencing ourselves and our children to an eternity of Hell. The sinful nature of man is forgiven and redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, this is true; but this is not an excuse to carry on in life frivolously and without abandon as if your actions are meaningless. What are you doing to change the world’s perspective on the unrighteousness that abounds all around us? What are you standing up for, that you know is wrong based on your faith, your belief and your trust in God’s word? Do you truly believe that the God of the Universe is going to abide by the political correctness that our society is pushing today, or should it be vice versa? If you, like me, believe that God has established the moral plum-line for our lives, then it is time to stand up for those values, ethics and morals. Do not fear the wrath of mankind for challenging their acceptance of the iniquities of the world, but fear the wrath of God upon mankind for challenging His existence and righteousness.
I will stand before any man, woman and child that I come before and without question proudly state, as did Joshua, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” By stating this, I am clearly stating that I believe in His Holy Word as the truth and guidelines for my life. That I will take seriously the responsibility to teach my children about Jesus Christ and to serve my family in a manner that demonstrates God’s love for His children. I am asking you to join me in this effort by standing on His principles and abide by His plan for our existence, despite what mankind might persuade you to do.
© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
For more Daily Thoughts go to: http://sondove.blogspot.com
If you would like to be added to the email distribution please click here: Daily Thoughts
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