I have been meditating on this verse over the last week or so. "Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. ~2 Tim 2:22
I love that the word flee here means to seek safety by flight away from, to shun or avoid something abhorrent. It reminds me of several verses that I memorized as a kid from Matthew 5:
"And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell."
Strong stuff there!
A real-life cutting something out of your life if is causing you to sin or stumble might be...
Getting rid of texting on your cell bill if it causes you to sin with "many words" (Prov 10:19).
Turning off the internet if you spent too much wasted time better spent in God's Word or in ministry, or if you are tempted to look at porn that cripples the soul.
Stopping listening to certain music because it feeds the soulish/flesh man and not your spirit unto holiness.
Getting up and leaving a movie when the actor's curse God's name and the break one of the BIG10.
And this doesn't even touch the tip of the proverbial "youthful lust" iceberg!
And the alternative?
A pursuit of God and HIS righteousness, faith, love and peace...all the things we as humans seek and desire but most never really attain. Apart from Him.
I am calling on HIS NAME!!! :-D And asking Him to create in me a pure heart, again and again and again.
1 Corinthians 6: "For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body? You are not your own. Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any..."
I love that the word flee here means to seek safety by flight away from, to shun or avoid something abhorrent. It reminds me of several verses that I memorized as a kid from Matthew 5:
"And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell."
Strong stuff there!
A real-life cutting something out of your life if is causing you to sin or stumble might be...
Getting rid of texting on your cell bill if it causes you to sin with "many words" (Prov 10:19).
Turning off the internet if you spent too much wasted time better spent in God's Word or in ministry, or if you are tempted to look at porn that cripples the soul.
Stopping listening to certain music because it feeds the soulish/flesh man and not your spirit unto holiness.
Getting up and leaving a movie when the actor's curse God's name and the break one of the BIG10.
And this doesn't even touch the tip of the proverbial "youthful lust" iceberg!
And the alternative?
A pursuit of God and HIS righteousness, faith, love and peace...all the things we as humans seek and desire but most never really attain. Apart from Him.
I am calling on HIS NAME!!! :-D And asking Him to create in me a pure heart, again and again and again.
1 Corinthians 6: "For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body? You are not your own. Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any..."
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