You shall also make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet: HOLINESS TO THE LORD. Exodus 28:36
Jon Courson tells the story of overhearing his son talking with some friends. The conversation surrounded the issue of the external affects of consuming too many beans in one’s diet. Needless to say, the ‘f’ word one generally associates with that activity came up several times in the discussion.
Now Jon is not prudish or legalistic in any sense of those words, but he did take the time to lovingly correct and advise his child. He explained that satan desires to lead us all astray and his tactics are often very subtle. Electing to use one seemingly innocuous word today will ultimately lead to the use of not-so-innocent expressions tomorrow. In other words, one ‘f’ word would likely lead to another ‘f’ word. Think about the progression for a moment, if satan can get the world to talk casually about our private parts, perhaps in time we will become casual in our use of those private parts. Is this not the truth? We did not go from ‘Ozzie and Harriet’ to ‘How I Met Your Mother’ overnight.
But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Colossians 3:8
HOLINESS TO THE LORD
I love this image (and the reality) of Jesus Christ being perpetually Holy, as symbolized by the High Priest adorned in his priestly garments. If we are in fact reflections of Christ’s light, should that not be our desired image as well. While we cannot be perfectly and wholly devout, it can most certainly be the dedicated course we decide to follow. As it pertains to the Colossians passage, when I rededicated my life to the Lord, the first thing He laid on my heart was to abandon the unclean speech—I understand more fully (now) why that was.
Brained Washed
Anybody ever tell you that you were being brain-washed? My response to that remark is always the same, “I need my brain washed.” It’s sad that I struggle to remember magnificent Bible verses, but can recall effortlessly the immature rhymings of my youth. Or might my eye catch the glimpse of an attractive woman that my mind evokes a decades-old centerfold. Or sufficiently stir my anger and almost without thinking I consider cinematic-solutions rather than godly ones.
Am I being brain washed? I pray to God I am!
Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:13-16
However Far You Walk Into the Woods…
Is how far you must walk out, goes an old adage. From a practical analysis, that is quite true. However, from a spiritual perspective that is not actually the case. Those who are in Christ are a new creation. Yes there are earthly consequences for illicit jaunts into the wastelands, God will not be mocked, but thanks be to God where sin abounds, grace abounds much more. Therefore a child of God who strays away from God, need only do an ‘about face’ to discover He is right there.
He Dwells -- The B'log in My Eye 