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Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at the table. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. --John 12:1-3 You know, there are few better examples of what a true worshipper looks like than Mary of Bethany. Her dedication and love for Christ is such an inspiration to me. Mary was a living testimony to what Paul talks about in Romans 12:1, which says to “present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Mary came with all that she had and with all that she was to worship Christ. She was so focused on Him and centered on Him that she paid no attention to the many distractions around her. She absolutely and recklessly abandoned herself and she generously and extravagantly gave all of herself in worship to Christ! Friend, that’s how we’re to worship Him each and every day. As a believer, is there anything that’s distracting you from worshipping the Lord? If so, I urge you to confess it to God and ask Him to help you refocus on what’s truly important…becoming a true worshipper of Him!   FOCUS TODAY…AND EVERY DAY…ON GIVING ALL OF YOURSELF IN TRUE WORSHIP OF GOD

 

Don’t Be an Expert on Evil

Monday, June 10, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.”

Romans 16:17–19

There is no question that we live in an evil world. Sin is paraded proudly through the streets and promoted by society, entertainment, politics, and sometimes even religion. It is everywhere around us. Yet despite the prevalence of sin, God calls us to be pure and holy. One of the key ingredients to reaching that goal is to not spend too much time focused on evil. We should not withdraw from the world, trying to isolate ourselves from sin. But we should separate from sin in our personal lifestyles and we should avoid curiosity or interest in the details of the sin around us. We do not need to study every detail of the latest sinful trend, becoming experts in evil.

There is a widely held false philosophy that claims the cure for human failing is education. If only people know more, they will do better, according to this way of thinking. Yet both the Bible and history contradict this. Knowing more, especially about sin, does not make us more likely to do right. Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. said, “Education without God makes men clever devils.”

Instead we need to be focused on what is good and holy and true and right. When these things fill our hearts and minds, we will find it easier to resist temptation. Paul told the believers at Ephesus the importance of this truth: “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,” (Ephesians 3:17). Be an expert in good rather than evil.

Today's Growth Principle: 

If we spend our time learning about good things, evil is much less attractive.