Sincere

How sincere are you about your walk with God?  Are you straddling the fence, half way in the kingdom and half way in the world?  I think I came up with this from the Lord and my son-in-law when he was on my fence the other day putting siding on my garage.  It seems like some people like to be a part of the world and also a part of the church as well.  It seems to me like the world and its influences have invaded the church.  It is like saying we can have our cake and eat it too.  Is your desire to forsake the mindset and desires of the world or are you still dabbling in the things of the world?  

Read what it says about this in James 4:4-10, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”

When we seek our own desires and pleasures, we hurt not only ourselves, our loved ones and others but we hurt God also.  We should want a blessed life, but when we seek pleasures that are going to hurt others and at the expense of disobeying God, we sin.  The footnotes in my Bible say the cure for evil desires is humility.

Read Proverbs 16:17-25, “The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul. Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he. The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning. Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly. The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips. Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

Now read 1 John 2:15-17, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

Now think of this, the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.  Question; do you have the fear of God?  If you do, you won’t try to take advantage of Him but you will try your best to keep His commandments!!  I have given you something to think about and I hope you will.  I am not talking down to anyone because I have to try my best also to please God and keep His commandments.  May the good Lord bless you and yours with His perfect peace, love and joy and health and happiness and may you all have a super day!!  And don’t forget to thank and praise the Lord for He is worthy!!