Of late I’ve found myself watching certain TV news, journalistic programs, which are designed to keep people, like me, informed on world events. In watching, it really is amazing to me how many problems man makes for himself: whether in foreign countries or here at home. God designed man to live a simple, peaceful life and to worship Him. If we look to God’s Word, we will not be overwhelmed with the distractions that are presented by the world.
It says in 1 Timothy 1:1,2 (KJV) ‘I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men: for kings and for all that are in authority; that we may live a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.’ That’s a ‘quiet and peaceable life’! That’s from God’s point of view. And yet, while watching certain Sunday morning, journalistic programs: watching our new President try to handle what’s handed him, and then watching all the ‘circus acts’ going on in various countries around the world, it’s a wonder.
Of course, the ‘quiet and peaceable life’ is primarily for believers’ and even then we really have to work to enjoy it: meaning we’re still going to have to deal with tribulations at times. So, let’s look past the distractions of the world, and look at things from God’s perspective. In Galatians 5:19-21 (KJV) we see listed the works of the flesh. God knows everything that’s going on in the world, line by line by line. None of the dictators and ungodly rulers in this world hide anything from Him: neither do they give Him a second thought!
However, Verses 22,23 of that same chapter list the fruit of God’s spirit: ‘love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.’ What that means to a fellow believer, is that there is nothing going on in the world or in our lives, that the fruit of the spirit cannot deal with. And the fruit of the spirit can only be gotten by knowing God’s Word and operating the manifestations of the spirit.
11 Timothy 3:12 (KJV) tells us, ‘Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecutions’ ‘Shall’…not ‘might’ – – That doesn’t necessarily mean a gun to the head, but the distractions of the world can bring a negative heaviness into our lives. That heaviness can and will slow down our productivity for God! When that happens, you’ve got to be able to stand on your own spiritually, as no one can live your life for you. And in this, the household of believers’ is very important. Ephesians 6:12 (KJV) tells us ‘For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.’
Ephesians 6:11 (KJV) tells us to ‘Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. That ‘whole armour’ covers everything that you’re ever going to have to deal with in the course of your lifetime or until the return of Christ!
That ‘whole armour’ consists of operating the manifestations of the spirit and keeping your head in God’s Word. When you see that God’s Word tells you that you are a son of God with all power, that’s what it means. If you don’t want to put the effort into working on believing it, then you’ve made a problem for yourself.
So let’s decide not to have a problem: decide to work God’s Word in your life and heart and then you’ll see that you won’t be boggled about with all the distractions. That’s what I’m trying to do, and when I work on that, I have fun and having fun that way is funglimpses to me. Thanks for reading! Will Grove