#7 Devotion: July 9 - 15

Focus intently upon the Word, in order to be changed.

Have you ever thought about that little organ in your mouth called the tongue? Have you ever thought about the cage God created in which to contain it? The tongue is not only tucked away behind the lips, but it is also behind the teeth. In order to loose it and allow it to be used, we must open our lips and teeth.

The tongue is very important to us in several ways. It enables us to swallow, taste, and talk. Sometimes we find ourselves in a bit of trouble from all three especially if something tastes so good we overeat. However, the most powerful effect the tongue can have on us and on others is by our talking. This week we are going to focus on the harm we can bring as well as the good we can bring to ourself and others by the way we choose to use our tongue. Maybe God put our tongue inside the cage behind our teeth and lips for a reason!

Taming the Tongue

Sunday: Read James 3:1 “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.”  Let’s think about that verse for a bit today. It seems that not many of us should become teachers because those who do teach will be judged with greater strictness. Exactly what does that mean? It means we who teach are responsible to God Almighty for what we tell others and guide them to believe and do as a result of our teaching. We will be accountable to God for our actions, but also for the actions we lead others to do. It is imperative that we know the Word and we are led by the Holy Spirit as we teach. We must remember that it is God’s Word and Message that we are conveying to others; therefore, we must convey it as a holy message. We are not to take His Word and Teaching flippantly. For those whom God chooses to teach, have a great responsibility. We must guard our hearts, minds, and actions so that what we teach is parallel with how we live. We must represent the Word of God in every aspect of our lives, so we do not appear as a hypocrite when we stand before a Sunday school class or a small group Bible study. I have seen the damage that the life style of a hypocrite can cause upon a new Christian or one who has not accepted Christ just yet. This kind of life can do more harm than good. Yes, the scripture is true when it says that those who have been called to teacher will be judged more strictly than those who do not teach. We are not only responsible for our actions based on the scripture, but we are also responsible for what and how we guide others to believe and live. (Keep in mind that if you are a parent, you too have been called to teach—your children).

In your journal today write out how you have been teaching your children. What are they learning from your words, your actions, and even from your prayer and Bible study habits? Now,  write how you are teaching others. Are you teaching from the prompting of the Holy Spirit or from your own knowledge? 

Monday: Focus on James 3:2-3 “For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.” Yesterday, we focused on the seriousness of what we say in do if as we teach others. I’m sure that made each of us feel maybe we should never teach again because it is impossible to not make mistakes. Today we are going to see that God understood that we are not nor ever will be perfect while we are living here on earth. The passage today tells us that we all stumble from time to time, and it is normal and okay if we stumble. However, it makes a difference as to how we handle situations when we do stumble and make mistakes.

We are to be controlled by the Holy Spirit just as a horse is controlled by his rider through the bit and bridle.  If you have ever ridden  horses, you know they sometimes have a mind of their own and have to be controlled with a bit of force by the rider through the bridle. If horses are not being properly and tightly guided, they could take the ridder into a bit of a dangerous situation. If we allow God to take the reigns and guide us as He desires, He will detour us from dangerous situations, and we will speak only the words He wants us to share, resulting in our teachings being blessed by Him. We will be less likely to speak from our own thoughts and insight, and we will make less mistakes. We as teachers are not expected to have all the answers and to know everything,  but we are to earnestly seek the truths from God’s word to find the answers. We should never speak unless we have been given the answers and the go ahead from God.

In your journal today, list ways you have stumbled as you were trying to guide, teach, or mentor others in their faith in Christ. How did you handle the situation after you stumbled? What does God want you to do with mistake now?

Tuesday: Focus on James 3:4 “Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.” Let’s think about how a big ship is controlled by a little rudder even when these ships are in middle of a huge storm that is sending the waves back and forth uncontrollably. The captain of the ship has the ability to direct the ship based on that tiny little rudder. The point here is that the captain has control and can steer that big ship regardless of the storms, the wind, or the direction of the waves. The example of steering the ship should be a metaphor for us as Christians. God should be able to control us through our hearts regardless of what is going on around us. We should not take off on our own, nor should we be guided by the circumstances and obstacles.

In your journal today, make a list of some of the directions you have gone lately. Beside each one indicate if that direction was completely God controlled, completely self controlled, or half and half (half self and half God)? Write a statement by all or any that you feel God is prompting you to go back and re-do or correct.

Wednesday: Focus on James 3:5-6: “So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.” Our tongue is a very small part of our body, but too often it boasts of great things, says a lot of things it shouldn’t leading to a great deal of damage. It is compared to a small spark creating a forest fire that spreads and soon destroys a whole forest. Visualize a forest fire for just a moment. When a forest fire begins and spreads, it is nearly impossible to control and stop. When the fire finishes, the damage is unreal and devastating. This passage indicates that the tongue is like that same fire in the way it can cause as much devastating damage as a fire. It can destroy all that is in its path. It can change the entire course of one’s life and possibly the lives of others. The last part of this passage indicates that such destruction comes from the fire of hell. There is no good in this kind of damage; it is certainly not of God. Our tongues at times can be a tool of Satan damaging and destroying and leaving us feeling desolate.

Have you ever been hurt by someone’s words? Do you remember how you felt? Have you ever said something that in the end was hurtful to someone? I have known people who speak and then think later maybe they shouldn’t have opened their mouths. When something pops into our heads, we need to think before we speak. One thought to consider is how this will affect others. Next, we should consider if it will make a positive or negative difference.

In your journal today write about a time when someone hurt you with his/her words. Discuss exactly how those words made you feel. Could the message have been conveyed to you in a better way that would have had more positive effects on you?

Next in your journal write about time when your words cut through a person and caused damage to someone. Think about how that person or persons actually felt after your words were hurled and articulate that in your journal. Could you have handled this differently? Did the words really need to be spoken?  

Thursday: Focus on James 3:7-10 “For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.” Today is going to get down to some serious and deep thoughts about our tongue. Keep in mind, these words do not come from me, but they are straight from God. This passage begins by saying that mankind can tame every kind of beast, bird, reptile, and sea creature, but no human can tame the tongue. It goes on to say that the tongue is a restless evil filled with deadly poison. That is a critical and harsh statement regarding the tongue that is in our mouths. Take a moment and let that thought soak into your mind. Before we go further into today’s focus pause and write in your journal the following question: Lord, do I need to get control of my tongue? If so, how do I do that? As we continue our devotional thought today, write in your journal what God reveals to you.

As we continue thinking about the evil that can sprout from our tongues, lets see how it is done. According to this passage, one minute we can bless the Lord with our words and turn right around the next minute and curse people whom God created in His own image. We curse and tear down the very people whom God loves. First, we proclaim Christ and our love for Him; then, we destroy the very ones He loves and died for. We don’t even give it a thought when our tongues are wagging and bringing destruction upon those creations of God. In a sense, we are destroying God’s work. OUCH!!!! I too have never thought of it like that either. God just brought that to my attention.

Stop now, and begin writing again in your journal. Respond to this thought: From the same mouth comes blessings and cursing. This should not be happening. Have you been guilty of this action? Have you ever stopped to think about it in this way? Are you breaking the very heart of God every time you speak harshly or negatively about one of His creations? If God has brought people and words to your mind, deal with the situation as He is prompting you. Maybe He wants you to confess, repent, and stop the destruction. Maybe He wants you to reach out to someone and apologize. Write a statement of what God is prompting you to do; then proceed in His strength.

Friday: Focus on James 3:11-12 “Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.” Yesterday we examined the extreme detriments of an evil tongue and how such a tongue can hurt the heart of God. Today, we will examine ourselves a little more closely to see if we are living a double life. The first part of today’s passage asks two questions: “Can a spring produce both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree produce olives or a grapevine produce figs? Of course, we know the answers to these questions. The answer is simply, “No!” We know that cannot happen. As stated in the passage, a salt pond cannot yield fresh water. What this means is that we cannot be two kinds of people. We are either one or the other. It is impossible to live two different lives. Soon one will catch up with us and usually it is the one that brings destruction.

In your journal today, write an evaluation of what kind of person you are. Be honest. This is between you and God. Are you struggling with the two people living inside you? Ask God to help you to get rid of the one with whom He is not pleased.

Saturday: Read James 3:13-18 “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” The final passage from chapter three moves beyond the evil of our tongue to the evil within our hearts. The person who is wise in the Lord demonstrates a Godly lifestyle by their good deeds that are done in humility. However, the person who harbours bitter envy and selfish ambition has not received this wisdom from the Lord, but from just the opposite: earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. That is a very powerful statement: “If you harbour bitter envy and selfish ambition, your heart is controlled by Satan.” We go a bit further in the passage to discover that when we have bitter envy and selfish ambition, we will find disorder and every evil practice. If we are living those negative attributes in our hearts, we are not happy, and we are willing to destroy whomever is necessary to get what we want. What a miserable way to live!

On the other hand, the passage goes on to tell us that the person who seeks and finds wisdom from above discovers that wisdom is pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. In fact, the peacemakers who sow in peace will reap a harvest of righteousness. This is the person who lives to be a blessing to others and does so through a submissive spirit. This person is controlled by God and completely at peace regardless of the situations occurring around   him/her.

Which person are you? Before you answer that question in your journal, consider your desires and ambitions. There is nothing wrong with being ambitious, but if your ambition causes you to treat others unfairly or wish bad things upon them, so circumstances will proceed in your favour, your heart is not characteristic of the second person described above. If it is your desire to be that kind of person, submit that desire to God in your journal, ask God to forgive you, thank Him and praise Him for helping you to see yourself the way God sees you, and ask Him to begin controlling your heart so you will become a complete replicate of the second person described in the passage.

Remember to be honest with God in all areas as you pray through each day. God already knows your true heart. He is calling you to get to know the real you, and be transformed into the person He has called you to be.

As always, I know these focuses can be difficult to face. I struggle myself, but I know God is there to guide me when I struggle. He wants His best for each of us; therefore, He will guide us through it all.

Please reach out to me through private messaging on Facebook or from the website blog.   I am praying for you and would love to pray with you specifically.

In His love,

Cheryl Toon

#6 Devotion: July 2 - 8

Focus intently upon the Word, in order to be changed.

Have you ever thought that all is well as long as you have faith? Faith is extremely necessary, but faith alone is simply not enough. God expects us to put faith to work and demonstrate our faith through our works.

This week we will focus on some different aspects of true faith and attitudes about demonstrating that faith through our works.  One aspect we should all remember and consider as we are praying in faith for God to do something is to make sure we are praying in faith according to God’s will. Be careful not to confuse the idea of praying in and having faith will result in God granting our every wish. Sometimes He has a different plan for us than what we are thinking.

  

Faith Without Works is Dead!

Sunday: Read James 2:14-17 “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”   We may have a very strong faith, and in actuality, that is a great thing to have. However, something we may not always think of is the works that are required of us to demonstrate that our faith is authentic. This passage tells us that faith without works is just like our telling someone who is without and comes to us for help, and we tell them to “go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,” but we do nothing to help meet their physical needs, what good is it? We have been of no value to this person’s physical needs. To be effective and demonstrate our faith in God to this person, we should be willing to give them physical help in ways that will meet their needs.

What are some of the reasons that we do not implement works along with our faith? Is it because we are too busy? Is it because we simply don’t want to get involved with those in need? Perhaps it is because we just don’t take the time to recognize the needs of others because we are too focused on our own desires. In your journal today, write an incident when you saw a need or was made aware of a need that someone was having. Write down what you did about that need. Did you act according to the way God was directing you or did you simply ignore and go on about your business?

Monday: Focus on James 2:18 “But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” Today we will focus on one verse and one thought: Faith verses Works. Carefully read that verse again slowly and let the words soak in. Prayerfully ponder on today’s passage and allow God to guide your thinking as you process this verse. Ask God to show you where you are in this issue with Him. Write that question in your journal before you go further in today’s devotion. As you continue in today’s devotional thoughts, write what is on your mind and heart in regards to the question.

Let’s look at the first kind of person mentioned, those who have “works.” Search your heart and ask God to show you if you fall into this category. There are those who get hung up on doing works thinking as long as they are busy working and doing things for others, the church, and even for God, then, all is well with their soul. Some people truly believe they cannot have salvation in Christ unless they are busy working and earning it. Ephesians 2:8-9 clearly tells us, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” This passage makes it very clear that the only way to salvation is through faith as we receive and accept the gift from God, which we do NOT work to obtain. It is NOT based on our works or anything we do. Christ made the ultimate sacrifice to cover our sins, so we could have salvation. There is nothing we could ever do to measure up to that kind of salvation. Keep in mind that believing alone, however, is not enough. We must believe in faith and then allow God to transform us according to His plan and His will.  James 2:19 says, “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!” Salvation is wrapped up in the relationship we have in Christ as a result of our accepting Him as our Saviour and Controller of our lives. He wants to change us and transform us into His image once we have truly placed our faith in Him. If you are struggling with this issue, please reach out to me (Cheryl Toon) or someone else that you trust for spiritual guidance.

Another kind of person gets caught up in the idea of being so busy with his/her works that he/she forgets about the relationship with Christ. This kind of person is clear on the point of salvation being through faith in Christ alone, but becomes so absorbed in doing work he/she forgets the importance of spending time in prayer and Bible study seeking a direction from God before starting the work. Those people are known as the “busy bees.” Yes, they often are busy doing good things for the church, the needy, the sick, the hungry, etc., but they are so busy doing, they neglect their own spiritual growth.

The last part of today’s passage says, “I will show you my faith by my works.” This person knows he/she is to be busy about the Father’s work, but only as God is guiding him through Bible study, prayer, seeking God’s directions, and waiting upon God to show him what he should be doing. That is the kind of person we are to strive to be. God has created each of us for a plan that will accomplish His kingdom. We are to find our place in His plan before we do anything.

Go back to your journal. Which kind of person are you at this point. Do you truly know Christ as your saviour through faith and acceptance of God’s free gift? If not, stop and pray asking God to forgive you of your sins, tell Him that by faith through the blood of Christ that was shed to cover your sins, you accept Jesus Christ as your personal saviour. If you have just done this, please reach out to me, so I can pray for you and rejoice with you.

If you happen to be the kind of person who has been so busy doing that you have neglected your time with God in His Word and prayer and seeking His guidance, write a prayer in journal asking forgiveness and a commitment to get back on track with God beginning today.

If you are the last kind of person mentioned, write a reflection of the things you have seen God accomplish in your spiritual growth. Praise God for what He has done in you and through you. Ask Him to continue guiding and using you for His great work according to His plan.

Tuesday: Focus on James 2:20-23 “Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” Today we are going to exam evidence that proves faith without works is useless as we look at the example of Abraham. He is known to us as the father of righteousness because of the ultimate sacrifice he was willing to make for God. God had given him his long awaited son. He had prayed and begged God for a son, and when he was an old man God blessed him with Isaac. Through the years, Abraham became very devoted to his son that he was losing sight of his deep relationship with God. God needed Abraham to re-shift his focus back to complete devotion to God. He directed Abraham to offer his only son, Isaac, as a sacrifice to prove his loyalty and devotion to God. Take a moment and think about that. Isaac was Abraham’s blessing and flesh and blood.

Abraham willingly submitted to the will of God and prepared to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. Of course, you know that God stopped him from killing his son at the very last minute and provide a ram in the thicket for the sacrifice in place of Isaac. All God wanted was for Abraham to be willing. God saw that Abraham’s love and devotion for his son had taken precedence in Abraham’s life. God wanted His relationship with Abraham to be restored. He wanted to redirect Abraham’s priorities back to where they needed to be. Once Abraham came to the place that he was willing to put God first in his life once again, God allowed him to keep his blessed son. However, from that point on Abraham kept his priorities in line, and God was placed as top priority once again from that day forward.

In your journal write down what God has revealed that is hindering your complete devotion and commitment to God. Are you ready to relinquish that person, event, habit, ect.,? If you are write out your commitment to do so in your journal. Ask God to forgive you for allowing that to take precedence over Him and over your relationship with Him. If you are not yet ready to release that priority in your life, ask God to give you the ability to do so. Write in your journal the reasons you cannot do that just yet.

Wednesday: Focus on James 2:20-25 “Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?” Yesterday, we examined the example of Abraham demonstrating his faith in God by taking action and being willing to offer the one and most precious thing in his life as a sacrifice to God, so his relationship with God could be restored and God could once again be the top priority and most precious relationship to Abraham. That one precious thing was Abraham’s son, Isaac. We saw that in reality God was not calling for Abraham to actually and literally kill his son; He just wanted Abraham to symbolically kill his son, so that God was able to be the first and foremost priority in Abraham’s life and heart once again. Perhaps you made the commitment yesterday to symbolically sacrifice something in your life that has priority over God, and you are struggling today with following through with that actual commitment. Maybe you were not quite ready yesterday to take that step. Let’s continue our focus on that issue today. In your journal, write down where you are at this point with that commitment.

Now, let’s look at another example of a person who by faith sacrificed her own life and the safety of her family in order to be obedient to God. This person is Rahab the prostitute. There are two areas of her life that we will examine. Today we will focus on the aspect that she was not the normal saint we typically think that God expects all of us to be. She was living in known sin and was considered a wicked person because of her lifestyle and acts of prostitution. God chose to use her as part of His plan not because of her deeds, but because He saw that she would have a willing heart and be able to stand firm in her faith. She was used by God to hide the spies that He had sent into her land. The people of her land had become very wicked, and God was going to bring judgement upon that land and give that land to the Israelites. The people in her town would have killed Rahab as well as her entire family if she had been caught hiding the men of God. She knew within her heart that God would protect her and save her and her family if she had enough faith and would be willing to take the risk.

Regardless of her past sins and her life choices, Rahab was chosen by God and was used greatly by God. Because of her faithfulness, God accomplished a huge plan for the nation of Israel. Maybe you have not been living in the same known sin as Rahab, but you are feeling as though God could not possibly use you because of the sinful nature of your heart. Based on the example of Rahab, God will forgive and willingly accept anyone who is willing to place complete faith in God and accept His ways regardless of what actions are in a person’s past or even present.

Is this where you are today? Do you feel there is no way God can forgive you and use you for His plans? If that is what you are thinking, believe me when I say that God chose, forgave, and used a prostitute. He will do the same for you. However, you have to make a choice. Are you ready to make that choice and go with God? Write in your journal where you are with this decision you must make. Express the reasons why you will not go forward with God. Express your desires in wanting to go forward discuss what it is that is holding you back. Pray and ask God to give you the ability to do what He is calling you to do.

Thursday: Focus on James 2:20-25 “Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?” Today and tomorrow, let’s focus on the actions of Abraham and Rahab. They both were able to perform extreme actions that were not easy for them to do. These are the kind of actions that cannot be done in human strength alone. They were only able to do these actions because of their faith in God. Let’s dig deeply into the reality of the actuality of their actions and what was being asked of them. Abraham was asked to sacrifice—kill his only son. Those of you who have children process that for a moment. Could you do that? I know as a mother, I get riled if I see someone else bringing harm or hurt to one of my children. I turn into a mother bear and want to stop injustice immediately to protect my children. They are all three grown now, and I still find myself thinking like that.

However, I remember a time when my daughter Brittney was in Africa serving as a medical missionary for a summer when she was only 18. She developed malaria and was very sick, and communication with her was not always available. During her illness, I had very little communication with her, and when she was at her worst, I could not reach her. I spent a couple of days trying to reach her. I was home alone as my other two children were not home and my husband was out of the country on another mission trip. God was all I had. Of course, my worry to the degree of making myself sick took control, and I feared the worst: I would never see her alive again. The stress and worry of this as a mother was becoming more than my mind and heart could bear. Finally, out of desperation, I fell on my face before God and submitted my daughter to God. I knew He had given her to me to love and nurture, and then I was to give her back to Him for His plans for her. He had created her for a specific purpose, and I had to trust Him with that even if it meant I had to trust Him with her life. I remember thinking of Abraham and what God had asked him to do with Isaac. I also remember arguing with God that I could never do that. Then, I realized that she was already in the hands of a loving Father, and I had to do just that. I gave her to God and was willing to accept His will no matter what.

Within two hours of my doing that, I received a phone call from my daughter and discovered she was feeling much better. She was still very sick, but was her body was healing and her health was being restored. I rejoiced and praised God for such a blessing. I realized that God wanted me to be willing to let Him have my daughter in service to Him. He assured me He would protect her and He could do it far better than I ever could. She is married now, and I have a beautiful grandson because of her.

Are you still holding onto something or someone in your life that God is calling you to let go and give back to Him? Reflect on that question in your journal. What is God calling you to do?

Are you willing to go to the extreme with God? Write out all of your thoughts and emotions connected to this thought in your journal. Pray asking for God’s guidance and wisdom in how He wants you to proceed with Him.

Friday: Focus on James 2:20-25 “Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?” Yesterday we examined the extreme actions Abraham took through his faith. Today, we are going to examine the extreme actions of Rahab and discover the seriousness of her actions had she been caught. Rahab was willing to jeopardize not only her own life, but also the lives of her entire family. This had to have been very scary for her. Sometimes when we read Bible stories, we tend to leave out the reality that this was happening to a real person who had real feelings and emotions. Today let’s dig into the emotions she may have been experiencing. She had to consider each individual in her family as she contemplated the actions of faith God had called her to do. She had to be thinking of not just the fact that each one in her family would be killed but how they would be killed. She knew they would more than likely be tortured and die an excruciatingly agonizing death. Perhaps she would have to watch each one experience such horrible things. These thoughts could not have been easy for her to process. She was a real person who experienced real feelings and real emotions, yet through it all, she chose to place her faith in God and trust Him completely with the outcome as she followed through with the actions he had called her to do. She was only able to do this kind of work for God because of her faith.

Do you have that kind of faith in God? Do you even trust Him enough in faith in the small things in your life? Is God calling you to step out in faith and trust Him with the results of something He is calling you to do? Answer all of these questions in your journal; then, write out exactly how you plan to proceed with God.

Saturday: Read James 2:26 “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” This passage is pointing out that the body (church) without the spirit is dead, just like faith without deeds is dead. Think today about your church. When you arrive at church in the morning, will you experience the Spirit of God as you worship? If you do not sense the Spirit of God, your worship experience is going to be dead and worthless. In your journal reflect on your recent worship experiences you personally have had in your church on Sundays. This is a personal issue and you must examine your own heart to see if you have been experiencing the presence of God and the Holy Spirit in your worship time. If you have not been experiencing the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, begin listing possible reasons in your journal. Some of these reasons might be related to your prayer and Bible study time through the week before you get to worship time on Sunday. Other reasons might be related to your relationship to God, your unwillingness to surrender you will to God’s will, or even your attitude when you arrive at church on Sunday. You may have several reasons including something I did not mention. Pray and ask God to reveal to you what is hindering your worship time with Him on Sundays and ask Him to help you overcome those hindrances.

Perhaps you are struggling with the part of the passage that says, “… faith apart from works is dead.” Do you have faith in Christ and you know without a doubt that you have been saved by God’s grace, but you have not been doing what He is calling you to do? Write that struggle in your journal and begin praying that God will guide you and give the desire and ability to step out in faith and begin the path of action He is calling you to do. This may be very difficult, but remember that God is going to guide you every step of the way. He is not going to throw you out to the wolves. He will be beside you guiding you and protecting you as you go about His business.

Once you have worked through these issues, you will have a sense of revival in your heart and worship time in church in the morning.

As always, I am praying for each of you going through these devotions. I want God’s best blessings for your life. Please feel free to reach out to me, or to anyone on our team if you need additional prayer support or guidance in any of these areas each day and each week.

May God bless you this week,

Cheryl Toon

#5 Devotion: June 25 - July 1

Focus intently upon the Word, in order to be changed.

So often when we think of showing partiality or favoritism, we tend to think of our junior high and high school days. Those were the days of our lives that were filled with a great deal of pressure to belong to the “in crowd,” and many of us would do almost anything to fit in. For those who were not considered part of the “in crowd,” they endured being shunned and even humiliated at times. Now that we are grown up and considered mature adults, we think we have moved past that stage. However, I encourage you to examine your heart and mind as you unfold this week’s daily devotion and determine if you might still be slightly guilty of showing favoritism to certain kinds of people.

Another focus we will examine this week is the partiality of our sinful nature and how it measures in eyes of God. Many times we think we are “okay” in His sight because we don’t commit some of the major visible sins that others commit. However, we may have some secret sins hidden from public view that God considers just as sinful and atrocious according to His standards. I encourage you to examine your heart and actions to see if you may have any secret sins that you consider “not so bad.” Be prayerful that God will guide you in cleaning out the sinful areas that are hindering you from being all that God desires you to be.

What is the first partiality?

Sunday: Read James 2:1-4 “My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, ‘You sit here in a good place,’ while you say to the poor man, ‘You stand over there,’ or, ‘Sit down at my feet,’ have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”   

Have you ever found yourself being kinder or showing more appropriate attention to a person who is dressed well as opposed to one who is shabbily dressed? Before you say, “No” stop and think over some of your recent encounters. Recently I was in Phoenix, AZ and traveled around town by means of public transportation. There were many kinds of characters on the public transportation train rides I had. I found myself feeling very leery of certain types of people, and I also found myself looking for those who seemed to be well dressed and possibly going to their job as a professional. I had it in my head that those types of people would be safe and nonthreatening to me. One afternoon late in the day, I rode the train with my husband and son, and we began a conversation with an older lady who was not what I considered “well dressed.” This lady had the kindest and sweetest disposition and was very friendly. One morning I was on the train by myself thinking the same thing that I must sit near someone who is well dressed and has the appearance of being a professional in the world of business. However, this day as I was a bit unsure of my stop, it was a lady who was definitely not dressed as a professional that stepped up to help me understand where my stop should be. She was not only kind, but she also had a genuine concern and interest in helping me.

My perceptions are not always correct. As I think about the people on the train, I begin to see that they are all created by God just as I am. Yes, there are those of whom I should be cautious because they intend evil harm, but their appearance is not always the determining factor that puts them in that category. God created all people, regardless of how much money they have or what kind of clothes they wear. It is not my place to judge them and find them guilty of being of lesser quality. It is my responsibility to see all people as God sees them and to demonstrate love to them as He would.

In your journal today, list times and people you have found yourself shunning or avoiding because of how they looked or were dressed. After you make this list, consider each person listed and say a prayer that God will reach down and bless them in some way today. Also, ask God if you need forgiveness from Him for how you judged each person. If He is leading you to repentance, write that in your journal and ask God to forgive you for this behaviour and attitude toward these people.

Monday: Focus on James 2:5-7“Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?” Today as we focus on our scripture, let’s consider those who seem to be poorer than others. Have you ever considered that Jesus Christ, God’s Son, the King of Kings, came into this world and lived as a poor working man? He did not dress in the finest of clothes and attend the finest schools, nor did He associate exclusively with the wealthiest in town. He humbled himself as a poor carpenter’s son, whose earthly father had to work hard in order to take care of his family. The scripture says that, “God has chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him…” There is a difference in being wealthy with material possessions and wealthy in faith and in the inheritance of God’s Kingdom. Of course, not everyone who is poor materially will be rich in Christ, and not everyone who is wealthy will be without Christ, but it is far better to be poor and have Christ than to be wealthy and not have Christ.

Generally speaking, it was the wealthy and socially elite that oppressed the poor and rejected Jesus, a poor man, as the Son of God. This passage tells us it is dishonourable to the poor man to shun him who does not have great wealth.

Think today about the people you will encounter this week. It is possibly that God may place someone of a different social class than yours in your path who is needing encouragement or kindness demonstrated to them. This may occur in a public place. Are you willing to be seen by others demonstrating acts of encouragement and kindness to this person? Be careful of your answer to this question because God may very well test that answer this very day.

In your journal express your feelings, whether comfortable or uncomfortable, about being seen in public conversing and even praying with a person who is considered lower class than you. Be honest because God already knows your heart and the truth. If it seems to be a struggle, ask God to give you the ability to do what He may call you to do when the opportunity arises.

What is the second partiality?

Tuesday: Focus on James 2:8 “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.” Today we are only going to focus on one scripture passage. In fact, we are primarily going to focus on one word: neighbor. Who is your neighbour? Right now answer that question in your journal.

Now, let’s focus on the meaning of that word. Most of us tend to think that our neighbor lives either next door to us or at least within our neighborhood. Is that the meaning intended here? Actually, the intention here is that we are to demonstrate the kind of love to all people as we would like to have demonstrated to us. Yes, that means all people that God created, not just those who live around us. It even includes those whom we might consider unlovable and even unworthy of love.

We should stop and lend a hand or an encouraging genuine word to those who are in need regardless of how we see them. We are a very busy and fast paced society, that rarely has time to give time to the needs of others. According to this verse, we are to love others the way we love ourselves, and in order to do that, we must take time to get to know people and spend time understanding their needs.

In your journal record an event from this week or last week in which you saw an opportunity to demonstrate love to someone. Record the events and how you handled the situation. Did you seize the moment or did you allow it to pass you by? Do you wish you would have handled it in a more appropriate manner? If so, pray and ask God to allow you another opportunity, so you will have a chance to appropriately show God’s love to someone that really needs to be loved. After you encounter that event, record the details and your feelings about the event.

Wednesday: Focus on James 2:8-11 “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.” 

Yesterday, we questioned the demonstration of love to others. Today, we are going to consider our sinful nature and reflect to see if we have sins that are hindering our relationship with Christ. As we think about the sin in our life, many of us tend to think we are doing okay because we are not committing the wicked and visible sins such as murder or adultery. If we have not committed such a big sin, then we must be okay in God’s eyes. Right?

Wrong! If we have any unconfessed sin in our life, God is not pleased with us. Just because it is hidden from the world, God still sees it and knows it exists. If sin is there, we are considered a transgressor of the law. It doesn’t matter how small we think the sin is; it is still sin to God, and it separates us from a close relationship with Him.

Today, focus on your heart and your actions. In your journal write a prayer asking God to reveal to you anything unconfessed and unforgiven sin that you may have that you are unaware of. Once He reveals it, begin praying and asking forgiveness.

Thursday: Focus on James 2:12-13 “So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” Too many times we judge others pretty harshly based on the sin in which they are involved when it is visible and obvious. We sometimes even go so far as to think we are far above those people because we are by no means involved in such things as they are. This attitude creates a major problem for us. We are putting ourself in the place of God and measuring sins and placing them into categories and excusing the lesser levels of the categories. Not only are we not to measure our sin and judge others based on their sin, but we are also not to place judgment on others. That is a responsibility set aside for God. Each person’s sin is between that individual and God. Yes, we can pray for and counsel those who will allow us, but we are not to take it upon ourselves to become the judgement of God in their lives.

We should have a broken and compassionate heart for those who are in visible and known sin. We should love them enough to pray for them and provide guidance if God prompts us to go to them. If God does lead us to someone, it is very important to remember that we are not going to them to act as his/her judge, but we are going to help a brother or sister to find restoration with and forgiveness from God. We should not go to any person in such a condition until we have spent time with God ourselves confessing and allowing Him to reveal and cleanse us of the sins He sees in our lives and hearts.

Search your heart and evaluate your thoughts and opinions of others in whom you have seen visible signs of sin. How do you deal with those people? Do you think badly and judgmental of them? Do you feel sad and broken hearted for their condition and earnestly pray for them from a heart of love? In your journal write a person’s name for whom you believe God wants you to earnestly and passionately begin praying.

Friday: Reflect on James 2:1-4 “My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, ‘You sit here in a good place,’ while you say to the poor man, ‘You stand over there,’ or, ‘Sit down at my feet,’ have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”  Review this passage and exam your heart as you have encountered people all this week. Did you see everyone from God’s perspective, or did you still have tendency to see them through eyes of judgement and place a lesser value on their soul because of who they are or how they look? In your journal write your progress in this matter or write your struggle and desire to overcome this attitude. Today’s thought is short, but it may require you to spend a great deal of time in prayer and journaling with God and your heart.

Saturday: Reflect on James 2:12-13 ““So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” Have you thoroughly dealt with the Mercy that we are to demonstrate to others? Are there still people with whom you are struggling to offer mercy? Sometimes people living in known sin tend to step on others and hurt them as they diligently work to get their desires. Often they do not even care that they have hurt people as long as they get what they desire. Do you know someone who behaves in this way? Has someone you know and love been hurt by such a person? Have you been hurt by such a person?

Today, as you reflect on this passage and your heart, remember that offering mercy and forgiveness to these people is very difficult. You may struggle with this for a while, and sometimes when you think you have mastered it, the negativity resurfaces. Don’t be hard on yourself; be merciful and ask God to help you to overcome, and then ask God to enable you to offer mercy and forgiveness to that person. You will not be able to do this in your own strength. You must rely on God to give you the ability and even the desire to offer mercy and forgiveness.

Reflect these thoughts in your journal and be patient with yourself as you work through this process.

May you be blessed.

#4 Devotion: Week of June 18 - 24

Focus intently upon the Word, in order to be changed.

So often we get stuck in the rut of our human selfish nature. We sometimes tend to hear only a portion and miss the full story, or we do not take the time to fully comprehend. Sometimes we feel as though we are being treated unfairly by others who are behaving selfishly, and we find ourselves becoming upset or frustrated. Our thoughts begin working, and  our emotions take over. Before we know it, we are acting in ways we should not be acting and are saying things we should not be saying. We forget or don’t consider that once an action is done or a word is spoken, it cannot be taken back. Although apologies can be made and forgiveness can occur, the lasting effects of the damage are done and cannot be removed from people’s minds.

Our focus this week deals with the way we interact with others in tense situations. As you read and journal, allow God to guide and direct your thoughts and ask Him to reveal to you areas in which you need to change in order to be more like Him. Allow God to show you how He sees you instead of how you see yourself. 

Why do I act and react the way I do?

Sunday: Read James 1:19-27 “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”   

Today, read this passage two or three times and meditate on the entire passage. Allow God’s Word to penetrate your heart. Pray and ask God to begin revealing areas of weakness that He wants you to face and change. In your journal today, write out the areas that God has brought to your attention. This revealing may take all day or even all week. Be patient and trust that God is doing a work within you, but it may be similar to eating an elephant—one small bite at a time. If God has brought or throughout the week brings more than one area to your mind regarding the scripture passage, ask Him to show you which one He wants you to deal with first.  In your journal underline or highlight the one area He has revealed that has top priority at the moment.

Monday: Focus on James 1:19-20 “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” 

Today’s focus is on the quick tempers that often take control of our actions and words. According to the scripture, we are to be quick to hear regarding the needs of others, slow to speak our thoughts and opinions, and definitely slow to anger regardless of the situation.

Do you ever get down right mad over a situation or an action of another person? (Be honest—this is between you and God, and He already knows the answer). Why do you get so upset? Is it because you are not getting “your way”? Is it because you feel you are receiving injustice? Is it stemmed from a sense of pride? Take a few minutes and write out the answers to each of these in your journal.

Now, think of one situation that comes to your mind in which you behaved in an inappropriate manner. Make a note of that situation in your journal and let’s begin processing it. The latter part of verse 20 tells us “the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” In the situation you noted in your journal, were you demonstrating the righteousness of God? I assume we both agree the answer is, “No.” Right now pray and ask God to forgive you for allowing that kind of attitude to creep into your mind and pop out through your actions and words. Ask Him to give you the ability to submit your mind and thoughts to Him, so that this characteristic can be removed and replaced with God’s way of listening, staying silent and gaining a deep understanding, being filled with compassion, patience, and grace instead.

We need to be able to act, react, and speak in ways that others can see the righteousness of God in us in all situations. We will be more effective in reaching and drawing others to Him, if we appear different from the world and demonstrate a loving, sweet spirit that only comes from God and radiates His grace and compassion. One last question for you to address in your journal—Is God possibly allowing you to endure a situation so others can see His glory and greatness? Don’t get hung up on your own selfishness and miss how God is desiring to use you in the lives of others.

Tuesday: Focus on James 1:21  “Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” Maybe you only deal with anger and becoming upset with others once in a blue moon. If that is the case, don’t relax and begin to feel you are completely in the clear. Today our focus is all other filthiness and rampant wickedness we have in our lives. Specifics are not listed in this particular passage, but you, as well as I, know that any characteristic we have within us that is not of God is filthy, wicked sin and must be removed. Pour out your heart to God today begging Him to reveal to you the characteristics that you may have within you that is hindering your relationship with Him as well as hindering your effective usefulness to glorifying Him and enhancing His Kingdom. You may still be struggling with yesterday’s devotion point of anger and quick temper or you may have another characteristic God has brought to your attention. Write that in your journal and begin praying that God will enable you to completely surrender that characteristic to Him and allow Him to remove it from your being. Then, pray asking God to implant  His Word within your heart so that when tempted to revert back to that old characteristic, you will be able to submit it to His will immediately.

I must admit, it is very difficult to behave in a Godly manner at all times as none of us are perfect. However, we are able to behave in Godlike manners if we have His Word in our hearts daily and submit ourselves to Him at the very beginning of our day. If we wait, events will occur that will set us up for a major fall, and we will end up doing more harm than good for the Kingdom of God. It is far easier to ask for God’s enabling power to handle the events of our day at the onset of the day than it is to seek His help after we are smack dab in the middle of the event that is leading us astray. Write a statement of commitment in your journal stating that you will submit your day to God each morning upon awakening, and you will allow Him to implant His Word in your heart. Once that commitment statement is written in your journal, highlight it, so you can quickly be reminded of your commitment as you thumb through your journal from time to time.

Wednesday: Focus on James 1:22-25 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” 

Yesterday, we touched on putting God’s Word in our hearts and minds first thing in the morning each day to help guide us through occurrences that pop up during the day.  Today, we are going to focus more intently on the importance of applying God’s Word daily. Today we see in the scripture that we are to not only listen to (or merely routinely read) God’s Word, but we are to do what it says. God’s Word is a clear indication of how we are to be living on a daily basis. It is not enough to just read the Word daily, but in order for us to become more like Christ, which is our goal as a Christian, we should apply the principles and characteristics that are discussed in the scripture. How can we understand the specifics of the instructions if we flippantly read God’s Word and move on about the rest of our day? We absolutely cannot comprehend and understand what He is instructing us to do unless we spend time focusing and pondering the words we read.

The metaphorical analogy used in the scripture is that of a person who quickly looks at himself in the mirror and goes about his day, getting busy and forgetting what he saw in the mirror. That illustration is there to help us to understand the significance of intently looking at the scripture, which is the perfect law according to God, and contemplating what is being read as well as interpreting how it is to be applied to our life each day. We do this through prayer as we read and listen for God to provide understanding and direction. We should also ponder on the Word throughout the entire day.  With God’s Word in our hearts and minds as we go through our day, it will help us when we find ourselves in sticky situations or moments of temptations.

In your journal today write your normal procedure for reading God’s Word. Evaluate that procedure. Do you spend enough time pondering on the Word? Do you pray and ask God to help you to understand how that Word applies to you today? Do you sit still long enough to hear from God as to how you are to apply the Word? Do you ponder on that Word all day, and use it when it is necessary? Do you ever find yourself lacking spiritually in your daily events?

Now, write a prayer asking God to help you develop a better devotion time with Him that will last throughout the whole day rather than just the few minutes you spend reading His Word.

Thursday: Focus on James 1:26 “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.” Today our focus is only one yet very strong passage. Today we focus on the tongue and the damage that it can do. Sometimes our tongue is the hardest obstacle we have to control. This passage tells us clearly that our religion is worthless if we cannot control our tongue. Sometimes we say things without thinking, and we don’t really intend to be harmful, yet others who hear those words become offended and even hurt as a result. If we apply this scripture, we will learn how to control our tongues regardless of the situations and how we feel about what is happening. In order to control our tongue, we must apply the procedure we discussed yesterday and allow God to be our guide all day each day.

Have you ever said something in the heat of the moment and later wished you had not said it? Maybe it wasn’t exactly what you said as much it was how you said it. After saying it, did you have peace and joy in your heart? Usually, we have guilty and uneasy feelings if we say malicious and hurtful words to others after the moment of anger or frustration passes. Today’s Word indicates the need to hold our tongue and walk away, rather than lashing out at someone in a bit of anger and rage. In reality, we are to demonstrate the spirit and presence of God and provide words of uplifting encouragement to others. Our words should draw people to the nature of God rather than tear someone down. One question you can ask yourself before you speak is this: “Will my words help this person to become closer in their relationship with God, or will my words be offensive and drive them further from God? If the second question seems to be the direction you believe will be the response in a given situation, then it is best to hold your tongue.

There are times when we must approach another person regarding negativity. However, the way we approach them and how we say the the words make a big difference in how we will affect that person. If we must deal with a negative situation with another person, we should saturate the situation and the words we use in prayer and ask God to intervene in that person’s heart and provide us with a clear direction of exactly when we should approach that person, what we should say to that person, and how we should say it. I promise, if we will seek God’s method and timing, He will provide a way to handle the situation and bring much better results than we can on our own. In fact, we tend to make the situation even worse when we speak from our own hearts and minds.

In your journal today write a prayer asking God to help you control your tongue. If you struggle with keeping your mouth shut in certain situations, express those feelings in your journal and ask God to give you the ability to restrain when you are tempted to retaliate. Keep in mind that the more you practice guarding your tongue, the better you will get at doing so.

Friday: Focus on James 1:26 “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” Yesterday, we noticed that a person who cannot control his tongue has a worthless religion. Today, we want to look at the kind of religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless. That is the kind of religion that dwells on looking after the needs of the orphans and widows when they are in distress as well as keeping ourselves from being polluted by the ways of the world. We will  break this into two parts and deal with part one today and part two tomorrow.

The first part deals with how we care for others. We should put the needs of others before our needs. This will require us to do away with our selfishness and think of others more highly than ourselves. This is NOT an easy task for us to do. It is hard to put aside our desires when others have a need. We are accustomed in our society to take care of self and look out for self first. That is not the way God instructs us to live. In fact, it is just the opposite. In your journal today make two lists: 1. Times you have put others first before your own selfish desires. 2. Times you have put yourself first and ignored the needs of others. Now, ask God to help you to grow stronger in the area of putting the needs of others above your selfish desires.

Saturday: Focus on James 1:26 “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” Yesterday, we focused on the first part of what God considers a pure and faultless religion. That was the act of putting the needs of others before our own selfish desires. Today, we will focus on the second part of the kind of religion that pleases God. The second part is keeping ourselves from becoming polluted with the ways of the world.

This is difficult sometimes to do because the ways of the world has such a significant impact on our lives. We get in the habit of comparing ourselves to others as opposed to comparing our actions to the person of Christ, and that causes us to develop a distorted way of seeing ourselves and our actions. We begin to see some things as okay and not that bad although God sees them as completely inappropriate behaviours for a child of His.

Another aspect we must consider when weighing out the options of behaviours is the impact our actions will have on others. Yes, there are times when things we do will not really harm us or our relationship with God, but if others see us involved in such activities, what kind of effect will it have on their view of a true Godly relationship? In other words, will our action draw others to a pure and strong desire to have a relationship with Christ, or will they see that our action is similar to that of the world and to think why should they bother to change and come to the Lord if the God’s actions are the same as the those of the world. Another question to ask ourselves when contemplating the appropriateness of an action is “Will this action be a definite and pure testimony and witness for God, or will it hinder God’s work of drawing a person to Him?” If the action will not be an effective witnessing tool, the idea of the action should be aborted.

In your journal today list some actions that you believe God is showing that are questionable from His perspective. Under the list answer this question: Do I spend time processing and comparing all my actions to the image of Christ and the perspective of God? If the answer is No, think of one particular action that God seems to be pressing upon your mind that He desires you to remove from your life. Write that action in your journal and begin praying for God to give you the ability to do just that. 

Remember, this is more about our witness and our representation of Christ to others than it is about our selfish desires.

Blessings to you!