Messin' Me Up

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Some scriptures encourage. Some empower. Some enlighten. And then there are some that just tear into me...

2 Timothy 3:2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

Am I one of these that should be avoided?

I feel like I'm part of a generation of "Christians" who love pleasure more than we love God. Sometimes I think I've caved. I know more about Illini Basketball than I know about the Word. I care more about feeding my face, than feeding those who are hungry or thirsty. I am more interested in the next tech toy, than I am in loving people who are hurting all around me.

What's my deal?


And that's not even the scariest part of the verse...

These people appear to be godly. They look like good people. They are "nice" and "kind." They watch "clean entertainment." They are probably doing plenty of good deeds. They are model citizens. But they deny the power of God in their living. They aren't living in the Spirit, they are accomplishing "godliness" through the flesh.


And now the most troubling part...

Avoid such people.


Lord, I need help. Please, please don't let me love pleasure more than I love you. Please change me, make me truly godly through the power of Your Spirit. Please let my life be one to be followed, not avoided.

Comments

Cainan & Ryker said…
I just finished teaching a series of Sunday School lessons on "The Profile of a Lukewarm Christian" as described by Francis Chan in his book "Crazy Love". Those verses are the very definition of a lukewarm Christian. Chan says that when considering the parable of the sower and the seed we should never presume that we are "the good soil". We need to constantly examine ourselves to make sure that we aren't the thorns that are choking out the growth around us. Something to think about.....daily.
1:11 PM
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