Persuasion

This morning, we were doing some car swapping and I needed to borrow Mel's car so I dropped him off at his office close to downtown. He listens to Christian radio each morning so without messing with the radio controls..I ended up listening on my way back home to what was already programmed. I recognized the voice immediately...it was R.C. Sproul, a noted theologian who I have had the privilege of hearing several times....but who is way over my head in His depth and knowledge. But I like to listen to Him becasue every once in while he hits on something that even I can relate to...in my simplicity.

Today he was finishing up a five part series on Nehemiah.
About the destruction of Jerusalem and the rebuilding and the continuous need for each generation to reclaim our need for God and His ways. He was talking about a relative of a character named Sanballat trying to infiltrate the Israelite community and how important it was to keep worldly ways from penetrating Godly thoughts. It was a topic Sproul discussed in his usual manner of depth saying that the problems that the Israelites had were not so much the ones that were coming from outside the camp...but it was the influence of perpetrators who had managed to get within the walls that were causing damage....and what we need to guard again is who gets in.

Well he hit it...a chord that wiggled my thoughts. It occurred to me while I was listening to him explain how one bad seed on the inside could taint everyone and everything, that that is what happens to me on a daily basis. I let one bad thought creep into my mind then that one bad thought, as small as it may be, has the potential to influence and effect all of my other thoughts. It happens all the time.

Sproul's point was to beware of who and what we allow inside our world ....for there is a great potential in that one small seemingly, non threatening, impure, lie or as we rationalize untruth to eat us up and taint whatever is good. IAnd we end up being at odds not only with ourselves but those who are around us.

The creepy and sneaky influence begins small but gains momentum and taints our thougths, our speech, our behavior and our deeds. But it all comes back to what we have allowed or who we have allowed to enter our gates of
cleanliness. I don't know about you but it is full time job trying to keep some of that dirt at bay. I have to be on the ball and be watchful and protective over what God wants me to hold as treasure in my mind. Things of excellence...and goodness and kindness etc. For there are thiefs who surround us who are constantly trying to steal our joy or our peace or disrupt our ability to depend on God to help us purge through the yuck stuff

Galations 5:8-10 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9"A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." 10I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be.
Our enemy is not so much on the outside but it is the influence on our inside that causes us so much static.
It is not only what I am thinking that counts, but how I am thinking....are my thoughts lined up with God's or have I allowed a perpetrator to steal my identity and influence my mental transactions...which show up in my physical behavior. My identity is in Christ...he is who I should be standing with and standing on....he is the only one who has the ability to not only recognize something that doesn't belong but he also has the authority to throw it out.

It is my choice.....do I choose to let something that taints my thoughts remain or do I honor God and let Him escort it out.

Dear Lord, each day we are responsible for who and what we allow to influence us. Help us to be wise in our decisions and steadfast in our walk. Amen

Praise God wherever you are or whatever situation he has allowed you to be in....for His glory will