Take Out the Garbage

What do we do when we live in an evil and hopeless world that has succumbed to every evil imaginable? We rid ourselves of those things and live in the righteousness of God. James said it this way in James 1:²¹ So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. When we take out the garbage, we take out all of the nasty leftovers, and many other horrible smelling things that we consider not any good to eat or keep, and that is just what it is GARBAGE. So why would people who live in the light of our wonderful Savior Jesus settle for anything less? I really don't know, but James warning has a point to it and we should take it to heart and mind.

A wonderful thing about our faith is that it truly is an allout belief in the Word of God and the wonderful saving grace of Jesus. Nothing less. As I write this message of hope and direction this morning I am listening to a song written and sung by Hope Darst and here are the lyrics. I don't want anything but You You're more than every dream come true All of the things I thought I wanted Don't come close to knowing You Now that I'm Yours and You are mine Our love is the secret that I find I'll spend forever in the pleasure I found looking in Your eyes Give me Jesus Give me Jesus You can have all this world You can have all this world. The stirring question for all of us is "Is having Jesus really good enough?" He is my all in all and He has always been good enough. Wealth and position are not good substitutes for Jesus at all. Wild living is definitely not a good substitute for Jesus.

Marriages are ruined because one or both decide they could find someone better and make a permanent decision for a temporary setback and there goes their marriage. When if they would get together in God's Word and talk it over, then there could be a revival of their initial love commitment. The best way to keep things as they should be is to put pride on the back burner and ask Jesus to step into the midst and heal and give them hope. I can tell you from experience that two called people who have become one in their heart with another person to serve Jesus can be a powerful force. That is why satan attacks Christian and non-Christian marriages with a fervor. He knows the power of the two as one are dangerous to him and are powerful serving in the name of Jesus.

I am contemplating a knee replacement and in looking on you tube all the doctors say the same thing about recovery. TAKE YOUR PAIN MEDS AS PRESCRIBED. WHY? Your body heals so much quicker if you stay "ahead" of the pain. Marriages are the same way in that it is better to be firm in your commitment and protect it at all costs because trying to make it better after it gets in trouble is almost impossible to make right. ALMOST! Follow God's prescription and keep the scripture above in James as a warning to do just what it says.

In other areas of our lives, we must not succumb to the world's way of thinking, and that includes Hallmark story lines. You know, just a slight move toward the world's way of living does not end in a storybook ending. Only living prepared with your feet shod with the gospel will work. Put on the belt of truth, and the body armor of righteousness. Put on the shoes of peace that comes from the Good News, hold up the shield of faith, and use the sword of the Spirit. I will put the following verses about the correct way to look at the marriage relationship and you can see how you respond to these words written by Paul to a very worldly group of people who needed direction, just like we do.

Ephesians 5: ²¹ And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

²² For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. ²³ For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. ²⁴ As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything. ²⁵ For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her ²⁶ to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. ²⁷ He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. Husbands must love their wives enough to keep them seeking God's ways and lead them to thrive and not just coast in that relationship. To love your wife like Christ loves the church is not just about agreeing with everything a wife says, but showing her a better way as Christ loves His church enough to correct it and show it the best way.

It is not a coincidence that Paul writes about marriage right after writing these words earlier in the verses ³ Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. ⁴ Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. ⁵ You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Paul parallels the words of James in his warning and how the results can be disastrous in every area of our lives. As a point Paul writes Such sins have no place among God's people. Don't make excuses for immorality and quit running from God so He can change us at our core and draw us into a deeper walk with Him.

We walked out of the garbage life of a sinner, so why would we want to go back and dig through that garbage and try to live that life again. Don't do it. Keep the garbage in the dump and fly like an eagle as you draw closer to God!!

Today's Message,

David Warren