Friday, June 08, 2007 @7:54 AM
Good morning
I have been asking God what He has to say to our Sparkers question
Jeanette asked last Sunday whether it was right or wrong to play Ma-jong
Last night I had an answer given to me in a compact form
Right out of Romans 12 (New Living Translation Bible)
Q was asked as we were studying the life of Joseph:-
Diligent, best attitude even in a "born loser" situation
He was an exemplary butler in Portiphar's house
He avoided Mrs Poti as much as possible
He refused her sexual advances and finally ran from her
Sometimes trying to avoid temptation is not good enough
When temptation is strong.we must turn and run
Running from sin is not cowardly
It will save our life
The Q was asked at which point does a temptation become sin?
This is so typically us - clever homo sapiens
I recall Edmund Chua on 'The Ways of God Are Holy'. He said
We often want to know the most intricate doctrine
When all we need is really foundational truth about God
His Ways are Holy. We have Zero holiness in us.
Back to playing Ma-jong.A direct answer from the Bible
Romans 12:2
"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world,
but let God transform you into a new person
by changing the way you think.
Then you will learn to know God's will for you..."
with regards to pubbing gambling smoking shopping
gaming partying.....
"The behavior and customs of this world" are usually selfish and often corrupting.
Therefore many Christians wisely decide that such behavior is off-limits for them.
YET it is possible to avoid most worldly customs and STILL BE proud,covetous, selfish,stubborn and arrogant.
Our refusal to conform to the world must go deeper than the level of behavior and customs.
Only when our mind is renewed by the new attitude Christ gives us are we truly transformed.
So take heed what Edmund Chua said to us
How are we going to continue life in the ways of God?
~Purify ourselves from contaminants
~live a life in the fear of God
~order our life in such a way so that it becomes pleasing to God
~ the challenge is to journey through life to discovering the will of God
love unti=P