I want to say that you will get the most out of this if you read through the book of Amos. It is 9 short chapters. You will understand more that way.
We sit here in our plush homes in Johnson County whining because we can't help but give into the temptations that surround us, when there are people starving to death everyday. I want to take a look at a warning that was given by Amos. He was a minor prophet that lived in Tekoa and was sent by God to Israel during the time between when Jeroboam II and the death of Uzziah. Amos 1:1 says specifically 2 years before the earthquake. Tekoa was a small village southeast of Bethlehem in Judah. Remember this is when the country is split. Amos was a Shepherd; the lowest of the low coming to speak to the rich and famous. It would be like one of the Hispanic transient workers going to those in our government and warning them.
Amos starts out with a warning to Israel's neighbors about the coming Assyrian government. Then he moves to Israel. Amos reminds them that these are God's words not his. In Chap. 3 he is telling them that without immediate change on their part God's judgement will fall on them. Chap. 4 explains that their worship was false and not genuine. They were going through the motions of the Mosaic Law however they were worshipping idols as well. God is a jealous God and expects from His children complete respect. It also is telling them that their wealth will not save them. As He did to Egypt He sent plagues and drought and such. They still didn't seek God. In Chap. 5 we see God pleading for them to return to Him, that even with the Assyrian government breathing down on them it is not too late. This shows God's great love for His children. By verse 21 He is telling them that their worship means nothing because they are just going through the motions. When you go to church God is the only one who can truly see your heart. What would He say about your worship is it genuine or are you going through the motions? Chap. 6 shows us how the wealthy were eating and living it up and not giving a second thought to what God through Amos was saying. We can sit back and say how could they be so blind but we do the same thing. "I don't know why....." Maybe it is because God is trying to tell you something but instead you just make excuses. Chap. 7 gives a vision of what is to come. All the awful thing that will happen since Israel refuses to turn from evil. Chap. 8 speaks of mourning and 9 has 2 parts the 2nd is a restoration of Israel; a promise of God's blessing that was given to Abraham and his descendants. We buzzed through that to get here to this promise. This is the time when Jesus will return as King no longer will Israel have to fight to protect her borders. God will forgive, come, rule and reign. Please read Amos 9:11-15
You may say; so what does that have to do with anything we have been talking about. This is what I will say to you: God does 3 things over and over in scripture. He promises a blessing for obedience; He gives a warning for disobedience and then He acts. We tend to have the same sin issues over and over just like the Israelites. Rarely; in fact I'm not sure I have ever heard any one say; "You know a funny thing happened yesterday I was envious of my neighbor's new car and I've never been envious before. God knows our hearts and our struggles. My challenges this week are no different than the ones I had last week. What God is asking of us is to be repentant and striving to live better daily. I do better about keeping my mouth in check when I am praying daily and in His Word daily seeking Him. I do better because I am surrendering to Him and allowing the Holy Spirit to work through me. IT IS NOTHING I DO ON MY OWN! He has promised that one day he will return, that we will get a new body; a perfect one. We will rule, reign, and praise Him forever. This life is fleeting and we need to work at serving Him daily.
You need to ask yourself; "Am I like Israel? Acting like a spoiled rich kid that thinks that everything should be handed to me on a silver platter? Well, I didn't eat... I should be rewarded with weight loss because I deserve it. After all its not my fault that I could only workout one day this week. I had to run kids around I should get some down time of my own to read a book or watch my favorite TV show (I do DVR it so I am not wasting time watching commercials). Its not my fault it was Father's Day and we needed to celebrate that with my husband's favorite meal or by going out to eat at a restaurant that didn't have healthy choices, after all he got to pick. We need to stop acting like spoiled rich kids. There was a song long time ago called Excuses, excuses.
REMEMBER: The difference between living a life of excellence and living a life of mediocrity is 1-2 hours of laziness.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Food Pornography
At the height of my Coke-a-cola addiction I would find myself at Sonic between 2pm-4pm because I could get a large coke for 92 cents; (yes I do know the exact amount for the Sonic closest to my house.) I didn't usually get a Route 44 coke because that would be very indulgent. I hope the sarcasm is not lost on those reading this. I sometimes would stop almost without realizing it; I would crave it so much. One could say I lusted after it. Do you have a food or drink that you lust after? That if it is in your reach, as the Lays commercial used to say "you can't stop at one"? Well this is sin plain and simple.
Have you ever gotten mad because your husband looked too long at a woman that you would say was prettier and skinnier than you? What would happen if you husband would get mad at you for doing the same thing but with a food that you both know you should not eat.
DO NOT misunderstand me! I know the consequences are much more severe for a man who follows through with sexual lusts, but there are consequences to following our food lusts that do affect our marriages. I know our bodies change as we get older, but we are called to take care of our earthly bodies.
Proverbs 11:6 says "The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, but the unfaithful will be caught be their lust." The NKJV uses the word naughtiness for lust. Their is always consequences for sin. We can run or hind from it. So lets look at the word lust. It has 5 noun meaning and 2 verb meanings according to dictionary.com.
"1. intense sexual desire or appetite
2. uncontrolled or illicit sexual desire or appetite; lecherousness
3. a passionate or overmastering desire or craving (usually followed by for); a lust for power
4. ardent enthusiasm; zest; relish: an enviable lust for life
5. obsolete a.) pleasure or delight b.) desire; inclination; wish
6. to have intense sexual desire
7. to have a yearning or desire; have a strong or excessive craving (often followed by for or after)."
So "to lust" is not always bad or sexual. We are going to concentrate on definitions 3 and 1.
I believe God is calling us out on this. Let's go to I Thess. 4:3-6 "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified."
We are told to not live as unbelievers, giving ourselves over to sexual immorality. Most of us would say "Well, that isn't hard. I don't even feel pretty, or sexy enough to have sex with my own husband, let alone some other man." If we look at it this way. We too many times in our marriages thrive in the chase and when that is over we get lazy and stop trying to look great for our husbands. We then wonder why their eyes wonder. If you can't stand in front of the mirror in a pretty pair of panties and bra and say "I'm sexy" then get to where you can. Go back and read Song of Solomon. God gives a beautiful account of love within the bounds of marriage. I want you to understand that I am not saying that if your husband cheats it is your fault because we are all in charge of our own decisions.
Lets talk about the other definition of lust. The one that is more applicable.
James 1:14 says "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." The ESV uses the word lured. Dr McGee states it so sell when he explains that no one else is to blame. We give in to sin because we are not perfect, however that which tempts us may be different for each one of us. It is within our DNA; our back round or our personal choices past or present. This Greek word lured or lust is a fishing or hunting term which means to draw out with bait. Satan knows how to bait each one of us.
Do not let you weakness be your defeat, but instead defeat you weakness and conquer sin.
In conclusion, lets not be like the Israelites who continually ignored God. Ps 81:12 says "So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, to walk in their own counsels."
We need to stop giving in to sin and walk boldly to the throne of grace and kneel and worship the King.
Go and read Psalm 15 and substitute "Do I" for "who may". Can you do that and know that is truly what is in your heart.
Have you ever gotten mad because your husband looked too long at a woman that you would say was prettier and skinnier than you? What would happen if you husband would get mad at you for doing the same thing but with a food that you both know you should not eat.
DO NOT misunderstand me! I know the consequences are much more severe for a man who follows through with sexual lusts, but there are consequences to following our food lusts that do affect our marriages. I know our bodies change as we get older, but we are called to take care of our earthly bodies.
Proverbs 11:6 says "The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, but the unfaithful will be caught be their lust." The NKJV uses the word naughtiness for lust. Their is always consequences for sin. We can run or hind from it. So lets look at the word lust. It has 5 noun meaning and 2 verb meanings according to dictionary.com.
"1. intense sexual desire or appetite
2. uncontrolled or illicit sexual desire or appetite; lecherousness
3. a passionate or overmastering desire or craving (usually followed by for); a lust for power
4. ardent enthusiasm; zest; relish: an enviable lust for life
5. obsolete a.) pleasure or delight b.) desire; inclination; wish
6. to have intense sexual desire
7. to have a yearning or desire; have a strong or excessive craving (often followed by for or after)."
So "to lust" is not always bad or sexual. We are going to concentrate on definitions 3 and 1.
I believe God is calling us out on this. Let's go to I Thess. 4:3-6 "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified."
We are told to not live as unbelievers, giving ourselves over to sexual immorality. Most of us would say "Well, that isn't hard. I don't even feel pretty, or sexy enough to have sex with my own husband, let alone some other man." If we look at it this way. We too many times in our marriages thrive in the chase and when that is over we get lazy and stop trying to look great for our husbands. We then wonder why their eyes wonder. If you can't stand in front of the mirror in a pretty pair of panties and bra and say "I'm sexy" then get to where you can. Go back and read Song of Solomon. God gives a beautiful account of love within the bounds of marriage. I want you to understand that I am not saying that if your husband cheats it is your fault because we are all in charge of our own decisions.
Lets talk about the other definition of lust. The one that is more applicable.
James 1:14 says "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." The ESV uses the word lured. Dr McGee states it so sell when he explains that no one else is to blame. We give in to sin because we are not perfect, however that which tempts us may be different for each one of us. It is within our DNA; our back round or our personal choices past or present. This Greek word lured or lust is a fishing or hunting term which means to draw out with bait. Satan knows how to bait each one of us.
Do not let you weakness be your defeat, but instead defeat you weakness and conquer sin.
In conclusion, lets not be like the Israelites who continually ignored God. Ps 81:12 says "So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, to walk in their own counsels."
We need to stop giving in to sin and walk boldly to the throne of grace and kneel and worship the King.
Go and read Psalm 15 and substitute "Do I" for "who may". Can you do that and know that is truly what is in your heart.
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