Life in Control

Life in Control

1 Peter 4: Since Christ suffered physically, you too must strengthen yourselves with the same way of thinking that he had; because whoever suffers physically is no longer involved with sin. ² From now on, then, you must live the rest of your earthly lives controlled by God's will and not by human desires. ³ You have spent enough time in the past doing what the heathen like to do. Your lives were spent in indecency, lust, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and the disgusting worship of idols. ⁴ And now the heathen are surprised when you do not join them in the same wild and reckless living, and so they insult you. 

 

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After the party, I found a person passed out on my roommate’s floor. She had wandered into his room, missed the bed and fell on the floor. To make matters worse, she threw up under his bed. “Ugh!!” I screamed.

 

• I was getting tired of the temporary pleasure of partying.
• I was getting tired of the consequences of the way I was living.
• I was getting tired of my life being out of control and hinging out with people whose lives were just as out of control as mine.

 

Peter gives advice to those who believe in JESUS to “strengthen yourselves.” He observed that people were being beaten and jailed simply because they believed in CHRIST. He may have known that some would turn to some ways to get temporary relief from the world’s pressures by using the world’s pleasures for escape.

 

My Observations:

• My mindset has to be changed to follow CHRIST when times get hard.
• I need to follow CHRIST’s example and live a controlled life.
• I should expect people to insult me because I choose to live for CHRIST.

 

Being in control of my life seems hard. I mean, the world offers pleasures that appeal to the body physically. Sex, drugs, and alcohol seem to top the list of temporary problem solvers, with materialism creeping in as well. GOD wants me to act different.

 

HE knows the pleasures of this world will only distract me from focusing on HIM. HE provides a way for me to gain control of my out of control life. HE provides the HOLY SPIRIT to live inside me and you because of our belief in JESUS. I am glad GOD gives me a second chance daily.

 

Challenge

• What changes does the writer recommend?
• Have you ever gotten caught up in some of the world’s pleasures that you felt were wrong at first?
• Will you ask GOD for help getting self-control regardless of what people think of you today?

Awake and Sober

Awake and Sober

1 Thessalonians 5: ⁴ But you, friends, are not in the darkness, and the Day should not take you by surprise like a thief. ⁵ All of you are people who belong to the light, who belong to the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. ⁶ So then, we should not be sleeping like the others; we should be awake and sober.

 

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After the discussion about expensive ties, I wanted to fit in, but did not have the money. I found a discount store and bought suits and ties. I got compliments. We all went to lunch. On the way, a homeless person asked us for money. “Sorry, I don’t have anything” was my lie. The others mumbled “Get a job” after we walked away.

 

• I was drunk with trying to fit in with “successful” people.
• I was following darkness by withholding from someone in need.
• I was asleep to serving the Kingdom of GOD.

 

Paul, Silas and Timothy continue the discussion about the “Day of the LORD.” They bring great news that believers will not be surprised by the coming of the LORD. They also explained that believers belong to the “light” and to the “day” and warned everyone to remain “awake and sober,”

 

My Observations

• Living in darkness feels right and acceptable, BUT GOD wants my sins to be brought to light.
• Getting drunk on fame, fortune, power, politics, money, mayhem or substances can hurt me, BUT GOD wants me to sober up to see HE is the answer.
• Falling asleep to hurt, pain, and agony of others can make me experience the terrible side of the “Day of the LORD” BUT GOD rescued me by belief in JESUS an d wants me awake to see HIS people.

 

Awake and sober means something special to GOD. I mean, when life truly gets hard, it is easy t want to fall asleep to all the trouble others are facing. When I go into dark places, I get feel more comfortable getting drunk on what the world has to offer. BUT GOD wants me to remain awake and sober.

 

HE not only wants me to wait on the coming of the LORD, but also be actively pursuing HIS Kingdom when HE returns. Life gets hard and the answer is the LORD. I am glad HE is the Day and the Light to shine on my path.

 

Challenge

• What does “belonging to the day” mean?
• What warning do the writers give?
• Have you ever been asleep about something important or drunk with something not good for you?
• Will you remain awake and sober to see others in need and to see the return of JESUS some day?

Breaking Old Habits

Breaking Old Habits

Ephesians 4: ¹⁷ In the Lord's name, then, I warn you: do not continue to live like the heathen, whose thoughts are worthless ¹⁸ and whose minds are in the dark. They have no part in the life that God gives, for they are completely ignorant and stubborn. ¹⁹ They have lost all feeling of shame; they give themselves over to vice and do all sorts of indecent things without restraint.

 

²⁰ That was not what you learned about Christ! ²¹ You certainly heard about him, and as his followers you were taught the truth that is in Jesus. ²² So get rid of your old self, which made you live as you used to—the old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires. ²³ Your hearts and minds must be made completely new, ²⁴ and you must put on the new self, which is created in God's likeness and reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy.

 

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Scared and shamed, I peeped through the hole in the door of the women’s locker room at school. This made me want the “real thing.” In college I progressed to “the real thing”, but did it under the cover of night. Someone said to me “I saw your car parked overnight in front of a certain dorm.” He was proud of me.

 

• I was no longer shamed.
• I was progressing down a path where I was led by my desires.
• I was ready to defend the dangerous path I was on in an ignorant and stubborn way.

 

Paul is very direct with his words as he addressed a concern with those who had given up on following purity as a means of worshipping GOD. Their lying minds had put them on a path where they were no longer ashamed of their actions, rather they had found a crowd who accepted their deceitful desires.

 

My Observations

• Only GOD can provide a new heart and mind for me.
• When life seems hopeless, I have a new self I can put on that is made by GOD.
• GOD’s likeness is a way of life that I can strive for.

 

Getting rid of old habits is not always easy. I mean, when life’s pressures come knocking on my heart, I want to throw away self-control and indulge in the ways of the world for a moment of pleasure. BUT GOD wants different.

 

HE offers a better way that is full of life. GOD has a life that is full of truth which is upright and holy. HIS path is always right and HIS rewards will never fall away. I gladly surrender my life to GOD, daily.

 

Challenge

• Was the message of the writer shocking to you?
• Is there any part of you that seems to keep you from growing up that you struggle with?
• Will you believe GOD gives you another chance daily because HE is willing to wipe away your sins?
• Will you remain encouraged and ask GOD for HIS help with keeping you on HIS path so you can put on the “new self” as the answer with a new heart and new mind today?