In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
1 Peter 5:5 NLT
http://bible.com/116/1pe.5.5.NLT
The correct spiritual position is looking up, reaching up, towards God.
Whatever changes this position of honoring God is a distraction and a danger.
Acts 19:19 ESV
And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.
These followers of Christ did not ask themselves, but shouldn’t we sell them and use the money to feed the poor. No, because they saw the danger in those things that are demonic and are not glorifying the Lord. They not only wanted nothing to do with it themselves any longer, but they didn’t want it to be an influence in the lives of anyone they might sell them to. Why would we want to contribute to the negative influence of others and receive money for doing it. Isn’t that like being a hired hand for the enemy? Getting paid to influence someone else towards the pit.
And they didn’t hang onto it saying, “but I’ll be able to use it as common ground with those still involved in it, so that I can better witness to them”. They weren’t still making excuses for clinging to their old lives because they knew that it was a snake, that its bite was dangerous and poisonous.
Continue reading “Fire is for burning what is cut away and cast off”
“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.
Luke 16:10 ESV
http://bible.com/59/luk.16.10.ESV
It’s the little stuff. It’s always the little stuff.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23 ESV
http://bible.com/59/gal.5.22-23.ESV
Love does not replace the law. Love does not break the law. Love fulfills the law.
Love is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. God is Love.
But love is not just a feeling. Love is not just good intentions. Love is not just words, nor is it just actions.
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV
http://bible.com/59/2co.3.18.ESV
The King James version says “with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord”. In this chapter about God’s great new covenant, where Paul has just finished defending his ministry, he is telling those in Corinth what it is to be unveiled. You see, just like today, many were blind without understanding.
Harold J. Ballinger 