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Be on your guard against sin.
There is nothing innocent about sin.
But often it seems to begin with innocent things.
For example, we may like to joke around
with our friends, and that seems like perfectly normal behavior.
But the apostle Paul warns us in the New Testament to be careful of
the kinds of things we say. "But shun profane and idle
babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness." (2 Timothy
2:16)
The key word here is "profane."
And as sincere Christians we need to watch out for profane talk (see
Webster's definition), which may seem harmless, because it leads
to profane thinking, which leads to ungodly choices and behavior.
What we allow ourselves to joke about influences what we think about —
what we allow into our hearts and minds. And what we dwell on in
our thoughts affects what we want, and choose, to do in daily life.
And along with idle talk among our
friends that turns in the wrong direction, we should also be careful
of what we watch on TV and in movies, what we read in books and
magazines, the kinds of games we play, and the kinds of jokes we
listen to.
Here's the problem: Sin is never
passive. It leads to more sin, prompting us to self delusions
and even outward deception. It will also lead us to try and
justify our wrong behavior. Sin is all about doing what pleases
self at the expense of others.
Even actual sin itself may seem
harmless, since many sins do not involve anyone else. But the
time we spend with sin is time and imagination and creativity lost to
us forever. Had we spent that time and effort doing good instead
of evil, we may have accomplished real good for someone else. We
may have even changed the world we live in. But we will never
know how God might have used us if we make room for sin instead of
right thinking and acting.
Learn to discern (recognize) what is
off color, less than worthy, or even evil, and why it is wrong.
Discipline your mind by God's Word, training your self to think
according to God's truth and righteousness.
None of us are ever perfectly pure in
our motives or thinking. Not naturally, anyway. But God
will help us if we are willing to spend time in His Presence, reading
the Scriptures, praying in the Spirit, and listening to His good
Spirit.
The Lord Jesus is our way out of the
trouble sin brings. Jesus is the life and power we need for
godly living. And He alone is the light we need in a world
oversaturated with darkness, deception and confusion. By hanging
close with Jesus, we can learn God's way of victory. |
