PURITY IS POSSIBLE [DEVOTION] - 12 September 2008
Quote from Forum Archives on September 12, 2008, 5:45 amPosted by: feedtheflock_admin <feedtheflock_admin@...>
PURITY IS POSSIBLE
Matthew 1:18-25 (NIV)
Key Verse: When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. (Verse 24)
Purity Is Possible, Mary and Joseph Did It
Long before abstinence campaigns became the latest rage, Joseph was the role model for God's plan for purity. He was a man of honour. He did not want to disgrace Mary, even though it was believed at that point she had been unfaithful to him. Joseph had integrity. His feelings and emotions were not the centre of the universe. Joseph wasn't worried about his ego-it was still intact.
Once it was revealed that Mary had not cheated on him, Joseph and Mary married and continued to abstain from intimate relations until Jesus was born. Even though Joseph and Mary were married and it was "legal" to engage in marital relations, they did not. Both loved God and the holy child inside Mary more than their physical needs dictated. Talk about willpower. Of course there is nothing wrong with a married couple enjoying a healthy sexual relationship; in fact, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 7 it's a gift from God.
I pray Mary and Joseph can be an example to us the next time we are tempted to go beyond our limits. We can say no to a second helping of food and we can avert our eyes from the latest violent movie. It's in our reach; we don't have to compromise.
YOU AND YOUR DETAILS
God Is Concerned about You and Your Details
Psalm 31:1-3 states that God is in our corner.
In You, O Lord, I put my trust; Let me never be ashamed; Deliver me in Your righteousness. Bow down Your ear to me, Deliver me speedily; Be my rock of refuge, A fortress of defence to save me. For You are my rock and my fortress; Therefore, for Your name's sake, Lead me and guide me. (NKJ)
Rent or own? Real or artificial Christmas tree? Sweet or unsweetened tea? Life is full of decisions we have to make. Some are large; some are of a minimal magnitude. No matter what the decision we face, a remedy has to be made. I tend to make lists, to determine the pros and cons of a particular choice.
The list is a good start, but if I fail to pray about the results, then I have depended on my human nature and will fall short. Humanness can cloud the picture. Only God has the perfect view and insight.
We can depend on God to lead us to the right decision. God is concerned with everything you care about. Whether it is paying a bill on time, to patience in a traffic jam, God understands.
It takes looking at a situation in God-like eyes, rather than limited human eyes. When I need patience, I find myself looking up in the air toward Heaven, past the blue skies - where the clouds join angels for a lifetime. Even a tint of His holy view can change a situation. Depending on God for direction doesn't have to be a dull process, like taking dishes out of a dishwasher; it can be joyful and happy. The pressure is lifted, when we know the right process to follow, God's.
From http://www.cfdevotionals.org/
For more visit http://www.surrender.nl/scom and www.freewebs.com/scoministry
Do you have any comments or issues concerning your Christian Life? Email to: feedtheflock_owner@welovegod.org
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Posted by: feedtheflock_admin <feedtheflock_admin@...>
PURITY IS POSSIBLE
Matthew 1:18-25 (NIV)
Key Verse: When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. (Verse 24)
Purity Is Possible, Mary and Joseph Did It
Long before abstinence campaigns became the latest rage, Joseph was the role model for God's plan for purity. He was a man of honour. He did not want to disgrace Mary, even though it was believed at that point she had been unfaithful to him. Joseph had integrity. His feelings and emotions were not the centre of the universe. Joseph wasn't worried about his ego-it was still intact.
Once it was revealed that Mary had not cheated on him, Joseph and Mary married and continued to abstain from intimate relations until Jesus was born. Even though Joseph and Mary were married and it was "legal" to engage in marital relations, they did not. Both loved God and the holy child inside Mary more than their physical needs dictated. Talk about willpower. Of course there is nothing wrong with a married couple enjoying a healthy sexual relationship; in fact, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 7 it's a gift from God.
I pray Mary and Joseph can be an example to us the next time we are tempted to go beyond our limits. We can say no to a second helping of food and we can avert our eyes from the latest violent movie. It's in our reach; we don't have to compromise.
YOU AND YOUR DETAILS
God Is Concerned about You and Your Details
Psalm 31:1-3 states that God is in our corner.
In You, O Lord, I put my trust; Let me never be ashamed; Deliver me in Your righteousness. Bow down Your ear to me, Deliver me speedily; Be my rock of refuge, A fortress of defence to save me. For You are my rock and my fortress; Therefore, for Your name's sake, Lead me and guide me. (NKJ)
Rent or own? Real or artificial Christmas tree? Sweet or unsweetened tea? Life is full of decisions we have to make. Some are large; some are of a minimal magnitude. No matter what the decision we face, a remedy has to be made. I tend to make lists, to determine the pros and cons of a particular choice.
The list is a good start, but if I fail to pray about the results, then I have depended on my human nature and will fall short. Humanness can cloud the picture. Only God has the perfect view and insight.
We can depend on God to lead us to the right decision. God is concerned with everything you care about. Whether it is paying a bill on time, to patience in a traffic jam, God understands.
It takes looking at a situation in God-like eyes, rather than limited human eyes. When I need patience, I find myself looking up in the air toward Heaven, past the blue skies - where the clouds join angels for a lifetime. Even a tint of His holy view can change a situation. Depending on God for direction doesn't have to be a dull process, like taking dishes out of a dishwasher; it can be joyful and happy. The pressure is lifted, when we know the right process to follow, God's.
From http://www.cfdevotionals.org/
For more visit http://www.surrender.nl/scom and http://www.freewebs.com/scoministry
Do you have any comments or issues concerning your Christian Life? Email to: feedtheflock_owner@welovegod.org
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