Today's Devotion Thursday, June 6, 2002 "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." (2 Timothy 3:1-5) Today's Thought A sign of the times! You can read through today's verses and see these things everywhere you look. This world has become worshippers of "self"! Anything that caters to the "flesh" (the carnal nature of man) is being exalted, promoted, condoned, and dismissed as no concern of ours! The current ghastly, horrendous atrocity committed against the unborn is a primary example of the spirit of the age . . . SELF WORSHIP! The promotion of homosexual's rights to be recognized as a family unit has again sprung from the roots of SELF WORSHIP! A popular label promotes itself by saying, "If it feels good, do it!" On the surface, it sounds rather innocuous; however, when you begin to compare that slogan with the lifestyles prevalent in today's society, you can easily see that people have been deceived by the god of SELF . . . "lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God"! As Christians we have to wake up . . . we'e got to stand against the spirit of the age by living a life holy and sanctified unto God. No, it doesn't come easy or without a price. It's living a life of sacrifice . . . giving up what caters to the flesh to gain an eternal reward. But, how do we do this? First, we need to sanctify our lives! Take a good look at what grabs our attention and consumes our time. Are our priorities out of line? Are we compromising by allowing ungodly habits and lifestyles to continue? Is God the reason for every breath we take? In other words, we need to do a spiritual house-cleaning and turn away from anything that would make us appear to be lovers of self more than lovers of God! Next, we need to sanctify our homes . . . guard what comes in through the door, through the radio, through the mail, through the television, through the internet! We have a responsibility . . . we need to take it seriously and ignoring it won't make it go away. If we cannot control what is allowed in by the television . . . unplug it or get rid of it and the same rule applies to the radio, the internet, etc. The Lord holds us responsible for what enters our homes . . . does anything gain entrance that would make us appear to be lovers of self more than lovers of God? Living a sanctified life . . . a life set apart to God . . . is needed now more than ever. The Psalmist declared that he wouldn't offer anything to God that cost him nothing. If we are to offer our lives to Him, totally and completely, we must be prepared for the cost. The cost is living a life holy and sanctified unto Him! Today's Prayer Father, I look at my life and see so many areas where I have compromised and allowed pleasure to dictate my behavior. My "self" has become more important in many areas rather than putting You in that exalted place! Lord, I offer myself to You once again . . . cleanse me, purge me, purify me with Your refining fire! You are all I need . . . You are all I long for . . . You are all I live for. May my life, my home, my family reflect my desire to serve you with all that is within me. Help me to take my responsibility to cleanse my home from impurities. Just as the Hebrew children cleansed all leaven from their homes (leaven representing sin), Father help me to cleanse all ungodliness from my heart, my home, and live a life sancitified unto You. You are holy, You are wonderful, You are marvelous . . . I want to be pleasing to You in all that I do! I love You, Lord! Amen! Have a blessed day! Jan Ross rross@... "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. (Isaiah 54:17) ~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~ "Sha'alu Shalom Yerushalayim" (Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem) Psalm 122:6