No home except the camp fire.”
–Zane Grey (Fighting Caravans)
“If you do this, and God so directs you, you will be able to endure, and also all these people will be able to go home satisfied.”
–Exodus 18:23 (HCSB)
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How To Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World
Key Verse: “We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the power and control of the evil one.” –1 John 5:19 (NLT)
If you have noticed all the problems that the school systems are having then you will certainly understand the purpose of these lessons. CRT, abuse, molestations in restrooms, bullying–this is a world in which we better teach our children how to survive. I recently saw a picture with the following caption: “In a world ruled by Satan; you better arm your kids.” Don’t teach them the way of the world–teach them the way of God and how to survive in this evil world.
“We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world.”
–1 John 4:16-17(NASB)
John doesn’t expound on these verses, he doesn’t explain them, he just states it and takes it for granted that we know we are to abide in love–in Christ. It is the opposite of the world; it is the attitude of Cain. Remember the words that Paul wrote to Titus,
“For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.”
–Titus 3:3 (NASB)
Our attitude toward others, toward circumstances, was that of the world? We were controlled by that, but now we are controlled by the Holy Spirit. Our attitude toward others is not determined and controlled by what they are, but by the love of Christ that is in us. We must see others as souls, and this at times is very hard to do. Aren’t you glad God’s love is not controlled by us? My mercy, what troubles there would be. Jesus said, “For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same?” (Matthew 5:46)
Love is abiding, it is not spasmodic or spontaneous, it is constant, steady. We need to look at love, perhaps from a different perspective. Love says, clean the wound first, then apply the oil that will soothe it. Realize what God has done for you, then proceed to do to others. And I will say, sometimes it is downright hard to love the unlovely in whatever form they may come. To do that we need the Holy Spirit to operate in us and through us. We need to know the Lord more and better and to do that we must meditate upon Him and His Word. Face each situation in light of the cross.
Instead of automatically reacting in the flesh, that’s the world, we must discipline ourselves. We must deal actively with ourselves and mortify those things that are contrary to love within us. One of those things that seem to get us in trouble is the tongue. If you do not say something you will find that you stop thinking it. “Put a watch upon your lips and upon your tongue–that is one of the first things in this life of love.” (D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
————————————-
How To Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World
Key Verse: “We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the power and control of the evil one.” –1 John 5:19 (NLT)
If you have noticed all the problems that the school systems are having then you will certainly understand the purpose of these lessons. CRT, abuse, molestations in restrooms, bullying–this is a world in which we better teach our children how to survive. I recently saw a picture with the following caption: “In a world ruled by Satan; you better arm your kids.” Don’t teach them the way of the world–teach them the way of God and how to survive in this evil world.
“We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world.”
–1 John 4:16-17(NASB)
John doesn’t expound on these verses, he doesn’t explain them, he just states it and takes it for granted that we know we are to abide in love–in Christ. It is the opposite of the world; it is the attitude of Cain. Remember the words that Paul wrote to Titus,
“For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.”
–Titus 3:3 (NASB)
Our attitude toward others, toward circumstances, was that of the world? We were controlled by that, but now we are controlled by the Holy Spirit. Our attitude toward others is not determined and controlled by what they are, but by the love of Christ that is in us. We must see others as souls, and this at times is very hard to do. Aren’t you glad God’s love is not controlled by us? My mercy, what troubles there would be. Jesus said, “For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same?” (Matthew 5:46)
Love is abiding, it is not spasmodic or spontaneous, it is constant, steady. We need to look at love, perhaps from a different perspective. Love says, clean the wound first, then apply the oil that will soothe it. Realize what God has done for you, then proceed to do to others. And I will say, sometimes it is downright hard to love the unlovely in whatever form they may come. To do that we need the Holy Spirit to operate in us and through us. We need to know the Lord more and better and to do that we must meditate upon Him and His Word. Face each situation in light of the cross.
Instead of automatically reacting in the flesh, that’s the world, we must discipline ourselves. We must deal actively with ourselves and mortify those things that are contrary to love within us. One of those things that seem to get us in trouble is the tongue. If you do not say something you will find that you stop thinking it. “Put a watch upon your lips and upon your tongue–that is one of the first things in this life of love.” (D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)