Are you flirting with the world? Are you cheating on God? Sounds like the questions are getting even tougher today. But this is not just about motivation any more. First unthinkable becomes thinkable, then suddenly it’s doable. Slowly worldly things creep up on us. Are you all for God? Or do you still play the field? Do you suppose God doesn’t care? This is a spiritual form of adultery we are talking about here!

You wouldn’t think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you’d be asking for what you have no right to. You’re spoiled children, each wanting your own way. You’re cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn’t care? The proverb has it that “he’s a fiercely jealous lover.” And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you’ll find. It’s common knowledge that “God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble.” (James 4: 2-6, MSG)

We can drift towards worldliness but holiness just doesn’t happen to us. Just like D. A. Carlson has said: “People do not drift toward holiness. Apart from grace-driven effort, people do not gravitate toward godliness, prayer, obedience to Scripture, faith, and delight in the Lord. We drift toward compromise and call it tolerance; we drift toward disobedience and call it freedom; we drift toward superstition and call it faith. We cherish the indiscipline of lost self-control and call it relaxation; we slouch toward prayerlessness and delude ourselves into thinking we have escaped legalism; we slide toward godlessness and convince ourselves we have been liberated.”

Each of us need to ask God in prayer how we are flirting with the world. First we don’t even notice when we start buying the lies of the world. Then we start making excuses to support our laziness in the Spirit. God will adore to show us what to repent and shower his powerful grace upon us. God will love to spend more time with us whenever we are ready.

So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet. (James 4: 7-10, MSG)

We have not been left alone to deal with the temptations of the world. The Holy Spirit will work on us if we just allow his presence in our lives. We need to quit dabbling in sin. We need to purify our inner life. We need to yell a loud NO to the Devil and a firm yes to God!

 

Gracious God,
Thank you for caring and loving us!
Thank you for calling us to purity.
Thank you for wanting to make us holy as you are holy.
Do your work in us.
May thy will be done in our lives.
May we delight in you all of our lives.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: How have you been flirting with the world? What made you turn around?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you continue your faith journey in the world but not of the world!

Photo courtesy of Sandy Lee