The sermon on Sunday really spoke to me. Need to remind myself again that it is not alright to rationalise behaviour and habits that do not please the Lord. Need to call them what they are - sin. After the sermon, the lyrics of a old pop song kept ringing in my head -
"I give in to sin, because you have to make this life live-able..." ("Strangelove" by Depeche Mode)
God is probably using that to remind me that the above verse from an old pop song actually reflects how I think, and it is a worldview that I had subconsciously accepted whenever I try to rationalise or trivialise some of my sinful habits. Like what pastor said on the pulpit, I too have a tendency to play down some of my "weaknesses", for after all, no one is perfect, right?
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Life is tough enough as it is. Surely if I am 80%-90% walking right, that should be "acceptable" enough isn't it? Wrong! Talk about deception! God's Word is clear:
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." (1 Pet 1:15)
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Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Rom 12:1-2)
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Indeed, it is again time to renew my mind. If I am serious about walking in righteousness, I cannot take God's grace for granted. I need to seriously work on these:
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(1) It is NOT OK to steal a few more glances at another attractive woman who crosses my path.
(2) It is NOT OK to skip my daily prayer or devotion time because I am too hard-pressed for time.
(3) It is NOT OK to lose my temper and snap at people around me, no matter how tired I am, or how stressful the circumstances.
(4) It is NOT OK to suppress the discomfort in my conscience to rationalise that it is alright to watch movies with demonic content that implies that it is cool to sell your soul to the devil (who isn't that bad a dude) so that you can use those power to do good and fight evil.
(5) It is NOT OK to read the newspapers each day on lives lost, lives destroyed by sin and not feel compassion for the lost - It is a sign of a hardened heart.
(6) It is NOT OK to be late in my tithing.
(7) It is NOT OK to forget (to give up as lost) and not pray for the unconsolidated lost sheep in my midst.
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The list continues........Looks like I have a lot to work on!
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