While wallowing around in the things of this world

By: American Decency Staff

While wallowing around in the things of this world a number of years ago now, I remember so well coming to the point that I was willing to give the Bible a try. I began to memorize Scripture. Little did I know that a core of those Scriptures would serve as spiritual moorings and underpinings for my life. I didn't know it then but little by little it became clear. Because I took those verses to heart, God powerfully applied them to my heart and life. This ministry would never have been. I might still be wallowing around in this world. Here are just a few of these powerful verses that God has used and is using still in my life: 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. [I John 2:15-17] Those verses helped provide me with an anchor – they were an admonishment that so much stuff is so fleeting (it's entertainment, sports, materialism, it's status stuff). I don't need it. These verses have helped me to strive after knowing the will of God and doing His will and not my own. — Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. [II Timothy 2:15-16] These verses are pretty clear. Get in the Bible and stay in it daily and faithfully. Read it. Ask God to help you know it, love it and more and more live it. — Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. [II Timothy 3:12-17] There is a lot in this passage. I return to it quite often. There's going to be a lot of seducers and deceivers out there, and, boy, are there ever. And, if you strive to live in Christ – in His righteousness, you WILL experience being marked as odd, old fashioned, just plainly not with it. And, it likely is only going to get worse as it has been. It's lonely out here. But there is a remedy. The remedy is continue in that which you have learned and been assured of. The Scriptures. And that the Scriptures are God's Word – totally trustworthy and oh so helpful in all of life for every need, every situation. He is using His Word to make us more and more like Him – thoroughly furnished unto all good works. ============== Thank you for helping us stay in the battle for Truth and decency. https://americandecency.org/folder.php?f=donate ——————– American Decency Association Bill Johnson, President P.O. Box 202 Fremont, MI 49412 ph: 231-924-4050 www.americandecency.org

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