all equally charged with the great commission. It is not just your pastor's duty. We are told how we are supposed to conduct ourselves daily. I have been greatly disturbed by some of the things I have seen done in the name of 'good clean, inexpensive, Christian fun'. To mention only one: my daughter's youth group was taken to a shopping mall, where they each took turns and acted like mentally or physically handicapped people, going through the aisles and check out counters. The passage we just read tells us that this is wrong. I am sure these and similar actions grieved our Lord, and pleased Satan. To be sober means to evaluate your plan of action, counting the cost, before taking the action. I am sure most of the youth really didn't mean to be hurtful to those less fortunate than they, but they were led in to thinking that it was alright, and didn't test the advice they were given against scripture. In the passage above, we have also seen a little more of the weaponry in the Lord's army. I Timothy 4 expands further: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. But refuse profane and old wives fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we 171 ________________________________________________________________________________ trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. These things command and teach. Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.". Once again we are reminded of the cost of service, and also, we are advised to study continuously. We are shown that pharasean type rituals and displays are to be avoided in favor of letting your faith shine forth in testimony of the power in the gospel. The true measure of our Christian walk is not in how we conduct ourselves in church and among our Christian friends, but rather by how we conduct ourselves in our every day life. Ephesians chapter 6 expands further. "Children obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise: That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Servants be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. And, ye masters, do the same thing unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour 172 _______________________________________________________________________________ |