You {are like} unfaithful wives {having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking your marriage vow to God!} Do you not know that being the world's friend is being God's enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God.
I have read this verse before; it is a commonly quoted one in the church, I think. Yet, today, this verse, in this version (Amplified- my favorite, by the way!) it spoke to me sharply.
If asked, I would say I am not a "friend of the world", but rather a child of God. I love the Lord, I seek His counsel on nearly everything and love Him passionately. But do I occassionally flirt with the world when I join in a conversation criticizing another mom at school? Am I not having a love affair with the world when I choose "Desperate Housewives" over the telecast of my favorite preacher? (AGAIN!) When I go along with my Christian friends in a gossip fest instead of gently reminding us of God's opinion of gossip , do I not step outside the bounds of my marriage vow to God? What could it be called other than unfaithfulness to God's glorious commands to us when I lash out in anger at my husband or children?
I do not want to be an enemy of God. Enemy is a strong word, but it is His and I better take heed! I do not want to be separated from Him because I lack discipline. Once again I have allowed myself to become self righteous and view myself as "above" this particular verse because I don't just go along with the crowd. I make most choices independently and am ok standing alone. God reminded me today, though, that even if I am alone, but making poor choices, I still am a friend of the world , and need to ask Him to help me rise above it. Instead of delegating this passage to the peer pressure pile, I need to apply it to my own choices and my personal daily walk with Him.
Father God, please let me seek your friendship above all else... worldy approval, personal goals, and selfish pleasure. The joy of obeying Your Word far outweighs the fleeting pleasure of selfishness. Thank You for being so good and righteous and giving us Your Word and Holy Spirit to encourage us.
4 comments:
About 10 years ago I heard a woman at church make this statement, "I never want to take PLEASURE in anything that helped nail Jesus to the cross". Her statement hit me with a fierse impact that I'd never thought of it like that before and I've never forgotten it. This is what you are speaking so well to here in your post. Good job.
Very good post. Your honesty is encouraging. I struggle with some of the same things. I think God needs to humble us at times and remind us that we have no standing in ourselves...we are not above sin...we are so depraved.(I sometimes struggle with being self righteous.) I don't think we can truly grasp just how sinful we are.
But thankfully we have a savior and by His grace we can go on. He gives us everything we need to live a life of godliness. He who began a good work in you will carry in on until compleation! God is awesome!!
I completely get what you are saying.
In Christ,
Elizabeth
P.S. Thanks for your comment on my blog!
Beautifully written, Kelly. I really like this post and got some great "brain food" from it. Thank you. :)
Also wanted to let you know that your email address is not showing up on blogger. If you want it to, just go to your profile, check "show my email" and save. :) Makes it much easier to respond when you leave a comment.
Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!
Love, Michelle
This is great info to know.
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