Do Your Actions Say That You'll Put Jesus' Moral Values on the Back Burner When There's a Juicy Story?

And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they out not. I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give non occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 1 Timothy 5:13-14

In reality, this passage is really talking about widows, but it seems to me that these same standards would apply to all adults, married, widowed, or not. The main thing that drew my attention was the wandering from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies.  Are we guilty of this?

Do we get caught up in juicy stories about what someone else did or said? Are we champing at the bit to share this information with others, especially when to do so might end up hurting the other person? Do we realize that when we do these things, we are being less than examples to our own children and younger generations? Do these actions undermine our own Christian Faith and moral standards? Something to be prayerful about....

Do We Say By Our Actions that These Things Are No Big Deal?

And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not Me, saith the Lord of hosts. Malachi 3:5

Sometimes I think that with all that's in the media, we have become numb to the things that the Bible speaks against. You don't hear an uproar from the public and it seems like no Big Deal when shows and movies are created about Satan, sorcery, and witchcraft. Additionally, premarital sex and adultery become some funny portion of the show or movie and those things are commonly portrayed these days during the family period of time that used to be hands-off for these topics. I don't hear people complaining any more about what our youth are being exposed to. Has it become No Big Deal?

With all the pending changes, do you think Christ would think it's No Big Deal if the hired people don't have significant wages or health care to take care of their families? Do you think Christ would think it's No Big Deal if the widows and the fatherless have to fend for themselves, because we no longer feel compelled to help provide for their needs? Do We Say By Our Actions to Christ that These Things Are No Big Deal?

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2

Do Your Actions Say You're Not Ready to Give Up That Temptation?

The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of the temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.: 2 Peter 2:9

O.K. Here's another thought-provoking passage! It reminds me of the times I'm overeating something I really want to eat. Sometimes, God will bring it to my attention, so that I don't continue to overeat which harms my health. Instead of my responding by stopping, there have been those times when I continued to eat the item, while pretending God hadn't given me the instinct to stop, but He had. Fortunately for me, God has never given up on me and I eventually listen.

This might apply to all of us in different ways. If smoking is harming your life, do you pretend God hasn't given you the instinct to stop, but He had? If drinking, taking drugs, using too much technology and the list can go on forever...is harming your health, do you pretend God hasn't given you the instinct to stop, but He had?

The thing is, Jesus Christ wants us all to be in relation with Him and doesn't give up on any of us and will deliver us from these temptations if we let Him. Do Your Actions Say You're Not Ready to Give Up That Temptation?

What If You Substitute Technology for False Prophets: Are We Selling Out Our Private Lives?

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresises, even denying the Lord that brought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by the reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. 2 Peter 2:1-3

Although I don't totally know what all of this means, I do realize that we are being told not to follow the ways of those who would make merchandise of us and might lead us astray. For some strange reason, technology was what popped in my mind.

I'm not talking about the actual technology itself, but the ability to use the technology. You know, when you want to use an App or use social media, they make you sign a waiver, so that they can use your information, most often to sell it, but they say it's to improve their performance for you. Isn't that nice of them to care so much about your needs? If you don't agree to sign this agreement, you can't use their technology services. [Of note: Google and Blogger have always allowed me to opt out of information sharing without being penalized.]

The thing of concern is that the more we get pulled into signing our lives away with technology agreements that allow them to sell our information, aren't we made merchandise and the very technology is being adapted to allow unsuspecting consumers to be eavesdropped upon? If You Substitute Technology for False Prophets in this passage, Are We Selling Out Our Private Lives? It's a lot to be prayerful about!

Do Your Actions Say That You Thirst After the Approval of Others More Than Christ?

[Jesus says,] Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Do we have a big empty spot in our lives that leads us to crave the approval of others instead of Christ? Do we end up dressing the way they dress with clothes we really can't afford? Do we talk and act like others, when we know that Christ wouldn't approve?

Are we spending time daily reading the Bible and praying to our Lord? Are we being an example to our families and the community of our faith in Christ? Do you have a hunger to be deeper in relationship with your Savior? What do you thirst after?

 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:25