I have a new tee shirt that I often wear this time of year. It never fails to get at least one laugh. In the front Santa is reading through his letters and he comes across one that says, "Dear Santa, Define Naughty."
Of course the whole concept is based upon a past president who wanted certain words defined before he answered questions in an attempt to get out of a jam his own lusts had gotten him into. While I hope everyone knows I do not approve of that sort of behavior at all, the humor in the shirt provides a quick and needed lesson this morning.
And let me say, the lesson is needed as much, if not more, for my spiritual family as it is for the general population. Too many times over the years I have had people ask me something similar. It all boils down to the fact that we don't hate sin enough. We try to get as close as possible without crossing a line we have defined in our minds as being the boundary marker to that sin. Why in the world can't people see that the very attitude is sin? We are supposed to hate sin and stay as far away as possible. That is the mark of purity. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart (2Tim 2:22). Did you catch that? You flee from sin not sidle up to it to see if maybe you can participate just a little bit.
God did not spell it all out. He expected us to use common sense. When he gives us the list of the works of the flesh in Galatians 5, he ends it, "and such things." That means we should easily be able to see what is right and what is wrong. We should stay away from "such things" just as we stay away from the spelled-out list. "It's not on the list," becomes an invalid excuse for someone who truly desires to live a righteous life.
So if you see me in my shirt this month, remember the point I am making today: Sin is something you flee, something you abhor, something you wouldn't touch with the proverbial "ten foot pole." If you sent God that letter, He wouldn't think it funny at all.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Matt 5:8).
Dene Ward
Of course the whole concept is based upon a past president who wanted certain words defined before he answered questions in an attempt to get out of a jam his own lusts had gotten him into. While I hope everyone knows I do not approve of that sort of behavior at all, the humor in the shirt provides a quick and needed lesson this morning.
And let me say, the lesson is needed as much, if not more, for my spiritual family as it is for the general population. Too many times over the years I have had people ask me something similar. It all boils down to the fact that we don't hate sin enough. We try to get as close as possible without crossing a line we have defined in our minds as being the boundary marker to that sin. Why in the world can't people see that the very attitude is sin? We are supposed to hate sin and stay as far away as possible. That is the mark of purity. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart (2Tim 2:22). Did you catch that? You flee from sin not sidle up to it to see if maybe you can participate just a little bit.
God did not spell it all out. He expected us to use common sense. When he gives us the list of the works of the flesh in Galatians 5, he ends it, "and such things." That means we should easily be able to see what is right and what is wrong. We should stay away from "such things" just as we stay away from the spelled-out list. "It's not on the list," becomes an invalid excuse for someone who truly desires to live a righteous life.
So if you see me in my shirt this month, remember the point I am making today: Sin is something you flee, something you abhor, something you wouldn't touch with the proverbial "ten foot pole." If you sent God that letter, He wouldn't think it funny at all.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Matt 5:8).
Dene Ward
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