There’s a brief scene in the the movie Fireproof that was a turning point for the story of reconciliation in a marriage, but more importantly in a relationship between a man and God.
It’s when the lead character threw his computer monitor into the outside trash can, declaring in a personally dramatic way that pornography was no longer going to be allowed in his home and into his eyes.
The progression of healing in his relationships with his wife and his God didn’t happen overnight, but there’s no question of a complete change of direction occurred.
Lives were changed as a result.
This wouldn’t have happened without the sanctifying effort of destroying the vessel of filth that enabled the pornography — the home computer.
I’m not suggesting that you destroy and discard your home computer, unless you are struggling with porn and have found that porn-filtering software isn’t keeping you from bypassing it.
Whatever it takes to keep you away from sinful tendencies, then that’s what you need to do.
That’s why I don’t subscribe to cable movie channels or to movie download services. I don’t even want to be tempted to watch movies with racy scenes.
This hasn’t been a problem for me in the past, but I don’t want to even give Satan an opportunity to dump unsanctified dirt into my heart and mind.
I’m a new creation in Christ and I want to keep it that way.
This devotion is prompted by the message of Deuteronomy 7:1-6 in my devotional reading today. That’s the passage within which Moses told the Israelites to destroy “totally” the pagan nations occupying the Promised Land. There was to be no intermarriage and all forms of pagan religion were to be destroyed by smashing idols to pieces, cutting down idol poles and burning everything in fire.
God called the Israelites to be a holy people because they were chosen to be His possession.
And holy isn’t filthy.
Friend, let’s resist becoming filthy spiritually.
You know the things that too easily stain you. So does God.
Whatever stains our consciences and testimonies and fitness for worship has GOT to go.
Make no more treaties with whatever is dragging you down spiritually.
God will respond by lifting you to a higher place than you were before.
As always, I love you
Martin
and Monday’s devotion…
March 26, 2012
Like many Christians, I’ve too often found myself not thanking God enough for His blessings in my life.
It’s amazing how easily we take His favor for granted, neglecting to say thanks throughout the day whenever we are recipients of His blessings.
I’ve got to do better at this.
Perhaps you do, too.
I was reminded of this fact this morning when reading from Deuteronomy 6 as part of my devotional time. Here are the words of vv. 10-12 to the Israelites before they crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land…
“When the LORD your God brings you into the land
- he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
- to give you a land with large flourishing cities you did not build,
- houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide,
- wells you did not dig,
- and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—
- then when you eat and are satisfied,
“be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”
What a marvelous set of blessings came to the Israelites! They didn’t do anything to deserve them. Yet God showed them favor because of His deep love for them and desire that they pour their hearts and lives into serving Him.
If you have good health, it’s not because you deserve it and other Christians don’t.
If you have compliant children who work hard to make you proud of their grades, it’s not because you’re a better parent than others necessarily.
If you “dumb luck” into a great deal on a newer used car or a better house at a lower price than you’re now paying, you can’t pat yourself on the back for your business wisdom, but you can praise the Lord for the undeserved blessing.
And the job opportunities we have are often related to the doors that God opens for us, not our overwhelming qualifications that many others have as well and THEY didn’t get the job.
Listen, the goodness we receive in life is a blessing. Let’s never forget this. Let’s always appreciate it. And let’s never stop praising God — multiple times daily — for the outpouring of favor into our lives.
As we do, we’ll be less likely to forget the Lord who brought us out of the land of sin slavery.
As always, I love you
Martin
