Survivor Factor #2: YOU
SMELL LIKE WHAT YOU EAT
You knew that... right?
If not... don't eat garlic or onions on a date.
You may WANT to cram down that garlic filled spaghetti while your
date nibbles nervously on her salad - but think again. You are
kidding yourself if you think she won't notice. You ate your fill
and loved every bite, BUT it will probably cost you that hoped for
first kiss! Don't kid yourself, it DOES matter what you eat!
People smell like what they eat or drink. Junk
food eaters smell very differently from vegetarians... no kidding!
Italians smell differently than Germans. Ever travel to other
countries, or visit families from other cultures? Our different
diets give us all a distinct aroma - and without realizing it - we
often use our sense of smell to identify people that have similar
cultures and even interests (pizza!!!).
This also works for what you feed your soul. We
might think what we watch in movies, TV, music videos, video games,
etc doesn't affect us - but we're only kidding ourselves.
You may WANT to watch that TV show or movie, or
listen to that new song - but think again. You are kidding yourself
if you think Christ won't notice or care. You laughed and enjoyed
that teen/sex comedy, BUT it will cost you your relationship with
Christ.
2 Corinthians 6, "...for what fellowship hath righteousness with
unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? "
We are called to be holy, as HE is holy. What does
that mean? Don't murder? Don't hate? Good starts, but if you take
time to study the requirements of the "Holy" Priesthood in the Old
Testament, holiness had VERY STRICT guidelines under the law.
"AHHH", you say, "But we are
not under the Law anymore. We are under Grace!"
Very true. This means that WORKS cannot save me.
Instead, it is faith in CHRIST'S righteousness that makes me
righteous before God.... Once I accept Christ as my Savior, I am
covered by the blood He shed on the Cross on my behalf. (Romans
1:16) But we are commanded again and again to live holy lives
(Romans 12:1-2), think only holy thoughts (Philippians 4:8), say
only holy things (James 3:10).
Here's the deal: GRACE means I obey out of LOVE
for my Savior instead of out of FEAR of condemnation (as in the day
of the Law). Now... I'm glad you understand GRACE, but Grace doesn't
do away with the command to live HOLY.
"I'll just ask
forgiveness!"
Tell me you haven't thought that. This is sooooo
common, I've actually heard teens say this! This is covered in a
little history lesson where King (KING) Saul disobeyed one of God's
instructions. He was commanded NOT to take any spoils of war in
battle, but destroy everything. He didn't. He kept quite a LOT of
stuff. When Samuel, the Prophet of God, calls him on it (funny story
really), Saul stammers and said... "ahh, We were going to SACRIFICE
it to God.. YEA!" Then comes the famous line,
"...to obey is better than sacrifice... For rebellion is as
the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as
iniquity and idolatry."
(1 Samuel 15:22-23)
Did you catch that? As bad as WITCHCRAFT, INIQUITY
and IDOLATRY! Rebellion is WILLFUL disobedience - even
when you PLAN to "repent" or say your sorry. God rejects false
repentance. Repentance is only true when we see the sin as God sees
it and DECIDE to never do it again - and take steps to avoid that
sin. Repent means to do a 180.
Ezekiel 18:30-31, "...Repent,
and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity
shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your
transgressions... and make you a new heart and a new spirit:"
Stop kidding yourself
Don't think that you can gobble down SIN and still
have God in your back pocket when you need a favor. You're not
playing with a puppy that you can kick away and still comes back for
more... We serve a HOLY GOD. Get REAL with Him! Start
removing the "garlic" from your life. God HATES mediocre "christianity"
It makes Him want to SPIT us out like lukewarm water (Revelation
3:16)!
-- Meditate on God's Word
-----------------------------
Romans 12:1-2, "I beseech you
therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is
your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but
be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove
what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
Philippians 4:8, "Finally,
brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are
honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good
report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think
on these things."
Psalms 34:13, "Keep thy
tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile."
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