Man was not made to be alone. God created man and woman and made them to be together.

“²²And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. ²³Then the man said, ‘This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.’ ²⁴Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” — Genesis 2:22-24 (ESV)

God meant for man to “leave” his home and be fully with woman. When I read these verses, I see that man is to be the pursuer of woman. I am to be the one out there looking for her and seeking to care for her and protect her and be there. I am so comforted with the companionship that I have with my wife.

When pursuing Lori, I may have been somewhat distant to my family. I may have been focused on her a bit too much. I may have had my eye on her and only on her. But, as I read, isn’t that the way things should be. I have to leave my family to be with her and create a life for the two and more of us. I am to seek and be in the relationship with her fully and devote myself to her and all that is that relationship. There is and will be time to be with my family knowing that there is another or more that have been added to it. I am to engage and be fully with her and all that is her as we seek a life together.

A number of years ago, we, as a family, moved from our home town to another part of the country and frankly upset our families that we had done so. I felt bad for it in the beginning, but realized that it was what was best for our family of four (me, Lori, Bryson, and Aarron). I/we left to be our own and in that time, we became closer and more alive as a family unit as we were thrust into relying on each other and finding friends to interact with as well. We were able to find a church family and good friends that we loved and they loved us back. We had moved forward, together and it was great.

I have to remember that leaving to be with Lori was God’s plan for my and we are still leaving together everywhere we go.

What relationship have you devoted to that you would move out with them? Are you willing to leave to pursue them? What if you found the one that God had in store for you and struck out with them to create your own life together?

I am sure that we are all aware that there is a decided difference between we and thee. What I am describing is the difference in the classes of people in the world. And I am not just speaking of the US or any other place. There are the elites and there is everyone else. We like to think that everyone is equal (at least we like to use the words to say so). The reality is that there are those that have and those that have not.

We see this just about everywhere. Sporting events, yes, everyone has the equal right to sit or partake in the viewing of the contest from anywhere, but is those elites that can afford or have been “granted” or have “won” the chance to sit close enough. In business, the parking lots are filled with those that conduct the work for the business, yet the closest and/or covered parking is for those with the highest positions in the company.

Now before we get too far into the debate of politics or social justice, I want to be clear that I am only making the above points to draw attention to my study this morning. I am still in the study of the word “liberty” and this morning’s passage in James is about partiality. I read and was reminded this morning that I am to treat everyone with the same liberty, regardless of their station or position.

“¹My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. ²For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, ³and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, ‘You sit here in a good place,’ while you say to the poor man, ‘You stand over there,’ or, ‘Sit down at my feet,’ ⁴have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” — James 2:1-4 (ESV)

I know that I have to be careful when interacting with people to be sure that I am treating everyone with the same equal liberty. In my role as a trainer, everyone in class is my favorite. Everyone has unique talent to make the group stronger. I am called on to bring that talent to light for everyone to benefit. I am responsible to maintain each person’s self-esteem to be sure that they realize their value to the whole.

We are all called on to treat everyone equally. There are those that can “afford” other, more elite things based on the lives they have built for themselves, and I have no argument or animosity toward them or what they have accumulated as a result of the hard work they have done. That, however, is not a basis for treating them differently than those that cannot “afford” the elite things. When the elite things are stripped away, the elites are no different than others.

“¹²So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. ¹³For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” — James 2:12-13 (ESV)

My role is to provide liberty to all I come in contact. I am to treat everyone as equal in the eyes of God. I am to serve as the example of how Christ would act and I know that He would bring all together in the same room and give them all the same seats and speak direct with each and every one of them equally.

What have you seen that are the divides among people? Do you find yourself giving way to those “elites” over others, simply based on their status? What if you treated everyone with the same liberty that Christ would, all are equal?

Each year I choose a word to guide my learning and actions. For 2023 I have chosen the word “act” with the intent that I have heard, accumulated, and learned a lot, now is the time to act on those hearings, accumulations, and learning.

“²²But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” — James 1:22 (ESV)

This morning I was brought to the book of James for my reading and study of the word “liberty”. This was the first verse in the passage that caught my eye other than the verse related to liberty. I was again enlightened by God to my word choice for the year. I am to be acting on the Word of God and not just simply hearing and keeping it to myself. All others need to see my actions as those speak louder than just the words we use.

“²³For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. ²⁴For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.” — James 1:23-24 (ESV)

Just knowing the Word of God is not enough, I have to act on it to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to experience His love for themselves. I have to act with the freedom and liberty that I have been given through my acceptance of Christ as my savior.

“²⁵But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” — James 1:25 (ESV)

I am to act on the liberty and not just know about it. I have to be in the work and working with my liberty as provided by Christ. I am the one who has to show who and what Christ is and not just keep Him to myself and think selfishly that I have something that others do not. I have to work to give everyone the opportunity to have what I have in Christ and experience the love and freedom that comes with that gift from Him.

What liberty and freedoms do you have in your life that you tend to keep to yourself? Are you working to act on and with the liberty provided by Christ? What if you did not keep God’s Word to yourself and demonstrated to all, through your actions, the love and liberty provided by Christ?

This morning as I continue to study the word “liberty” I am led to a passage in 1 Corinthians where Paul is instructing to “Do all to the Glory of God”. He is specifically speaking to eating at someone’s home and partaking in food that may or may not have bee used as a sacrifice. In his letter, Paul had already addressed the eating of sacrificed food in public and that it should not be done for the sake of others.

“²⁷If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. ²⁸But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— ²⁹I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience?” — 1 Corinthians 10:27-29 (ESV)

Paul indicates here that in the private home, we should be the gracious guest and accept what is given for what it is, and not what it “may” represent. When presented without any description, then there is nothing to discuss. As the receiver, I am just here to partake and not to question the validity of that which is served.

Now when the host announces the origin of the meal and it is contrary to our beliefs, we should abstain so that they are able to see the glory of God in all that we do. My goal is to spread the gospel to all and bring glory to God in the process. When I am accepting of something that I know to be out of bounds, I may cause the host to stumble in the glory of God. I am not to do anything that would cause another to stumble in their faith. As a follower of Christ I live under the New Covenant and have been granted liberty to eat and partake in things that under the old covenant, may have been forbidden.

“⁷However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. ⁸Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. ⁹But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.” — 1 Corinthians 8:7-9 (ESV)

I am not to do anything that may cause another to stumble in their faith. If that means that I should abstain from something that I am not prohibited from partaking to maintain the conscious of another, then that is what I should do. I have to remember that my role is to bring glory to God and spread His Word to all. When I openly cause another to stumble I am not fulfilling my role.

What are you doing that you know to be right that may cause another to question? Are you thinking of only your own rights and liberty and not theirs? What if you thought of others first and their salvation and bringing glory to God instead of holding fast to those things that are allowed that may cause others to stumble in their faith?

When I think of liberty, I think of that which is a part of the United States and the idea that I have freedom from tyranny and freedom of expression and freedom of religion and freedom of just about anything else one can think. I believe that freedom is a right that has been bestowed on me thanks to my living here and that it cannot be infringed upon. That is not fully true.

I have liberty as a child of God, but that liberty is from the bounds of sin and nothing else. I am still held to all that is before me, only in the wake of sin in my life, I have been forgiven.

“¹The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;” — Isaiah 61:1 (ESV)

It is of sin that I have been forgiving and from the consequences of sin I am protected. I have been guaranteed nothing else in this life. I am free from sin and that is all.

The best part is that it is not just in the United States this freedom and liberty are available. Whether I am here, or traveling abroad to anywhere, God is with me and provides safety and liberty from the bounds of sin. I am free and for that I am thankful.

Now, I don’t just get to experience the freedom from sin. I have work to do, and that work is continual. I have to follow God wherever He would have me go and do whatever He would have me do. I have to do His work. To go along with the work He has for me, I have to repent continually for the sins I have committed and know as well as those I have committed and do not know (for they are there for sure). Just because I have been forgiven and have accepted Christ as my Savior and Lord, I am still a sinner and will struggle with sin each day. The evil one will continually come for me and just when I let my guard down and forget the work I am doing for God, he will be there to influence me in the wrong direction to take away my freedom.

Liberty is a gift from God and for that gift, I am obligated for thanks to Him. I have to remember that I have freedom, not from what the world might think, but from the consequences of sin as that debt has been paid.

What freedoms do you have in your life? Do you realize that those freedoms can be removed at any time? What if you put your faith in the one freedom that has been granted and will not be taken away, the freedom from sin?

Have you every found yourself in a group or in a position where action needs to take place, yet there continues to be debate and discussion that delays action from being taken? I know that I have and find that everyone seems to be polite and inclusive to everyone so that everyone has a voice in the situation. Where this may be the right thing in the interest of the inclusive ideal, this is not always the right thing needed in every situation and there for leads to indecision and potentially missing the opportunity to take action at all.

This indecision is a decision. Let me explain my position. The group has decided that everyone’s voice is more important than actually taking action. The action itself then falls further down the list of priorities and therefor is delayed in the interest of consensus or good will toward others. What is decided is of little to no concurrence as long as everyone has had a chance to weigh in and/or debate. Where this is a grand idea and can lead to an environment where everyone gets along, the action that was needed takes a back seat and in some cases, no seat at all, to the ideal of inclusion.

There have been a number of occasions where I have been in a group of people trying to decide where to go to eat. Each member is asked where they would like to go and inevitably someone in the group objects, for whatever reason, and the debate continues. Meanwhile, there are those that are in the breakfast conversation to fellowship with friends and the place that happens is not important. The debate continues for 15 minutes only to decide on a place that is no longer serving due to the timing we would be able to arrive, and the process begins again. The indecision results in a canceling of the plans due to time constraints that would have been avoided had someone just made the decision to go as opposed to then needed consensus as to where. The reality is that the where was not as important as the why and due to the indecision, the why was not accomplished.

I am not saying that all decisions should just be made and inclusion is not important, it is. What I am saying is that at some point, the decision needs to be made so that we can get on with things and take action as opposed to just talking about action. Jesus was saying this to the people of Laodicea in Revelation.

“¹⁵I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! ¹⁶So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” — Revelation 3:15-16 (ESV)

When action is needed, decisions must be made. Standing around debating the decision may work in minor inconsequential situations. When things come after and require additional actions to be taken, those decisions must be made. Sometimes the whole is of more consequence than the part when it comes to decisions. The situations drives the decision making process. It is important to look at the larger picture to understand the whole and decide on the actions that should take place to satisfy the situation’s need as opposed to the decision’s need.

What actions have you seen that were delayed or canceled due to indecision or apathy? Were you one that was more interested in the decision than the situation? What if we reviewed the reason for the decision and decided to take action as opposed to deciding to decide and not taking the action?

I recently wrote about self-control is used to avoid the trappings of lust and this morning I read in 2 Peter of the willful entering into the trapping.

“¹⁰and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority. Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones,” — 2 Peter 2:10 (ESV)

There is a lot that goes into the full passage here in 2 Peter, this verse was the basis of my study this morning and really spoke to me of the choice I have each day and in all situations. Again God provides what I need when I need it. He brought me to this passage to extend on the self-control learning from my recent writing.

Here we see the relationship between self-control and a choice. If I have the ability to control myself and avoid the trappings of lust, I also have the choice to avoid lust and not allow myself to enter into that trapping. I know, they sound the same and as I write I know that. Stay with me.

I have choice in life. I have the choice of right and wrong. I have the choice to wear blue or red. I have the choice to mow the grass or pay someone. I have the choice to long after something destructive or something that brings glory and honor.

See what I did there (or maybe not). I have the choice of lust. It not something that is just innate and a part of me. I choose my own actions. God gave me free will and that includes the ability to choose. I have the choice to willfully act against that which is best, and lust is certainly not that. I have the chance each day to choose God over my own desires. I have the chance each day to choose to do His will or go it on my own. I have the choice to bring the gospel to the world or bring my own desires.

Too often I see that people shuck the blame for their own actions and either throw the blame on another person. They will claim that it was some inability to control the situation and they are somehow the victim, when they were the one that created the situation. This is simply the excuses of those not realizing that they have and made a choice and are now looking to somehow remove the consequences of the choices that were made.

We have a choice to make at every moment of the day. That choice is ours and we are responsible for that choice and by extension, the consequences that come with that choice. Sometimes those consequences are positive, and others times, not so much. The choice is yours as are the consequences that go with them.

What choices are you making in your own life? Are you falling into the trappings of lust by choosing that destructive path? What if you stepped back, understood that you have free will, thanks to God and chose to honor Him with your work instead?

“³For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; ⁴that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, ⁵not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;” — 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 (ESV)

This morning as I read in 1 Thessalonians about lust, I was drawn to verse four and how it relates to the lust. Notice the phrasing of Paul, “you know how to control”. I do not want to get into the debate of context about the verses although that is important. What I am focused on this morning is the area of self-control as a means to avoid the trappings that come with lust.

I have already defined lust in an earlier post as having to do with deep longing for something. That deep longing is driven by our idle minds and our lack of attention to other things that are more useful and productive. It is hard to continually have a longing for something when one is engaged in another thing that takes up all that you are. When one is idle the mind is seeking something and that is where the lustful thoughts come to mind.

Let me give an example that I think we all can relate. Our mobile devices are great at keeping us connected and are useful in managing efficiency of our actions and schedules. How much time are you spending on your device. I find that my time on scrolling is increased when I have nothing else to fill it. The nature of my job is so that I am actively engaged all day with others in a training environment. I am constantly communicating with the participants and that lends to little or no time for extraneous things. As such my time on my device is drastically reduced as I have something else to fill my time (not to mention my battery lasted for three days without charge this week). When I am not training a class or actively involved in some other activity I find myself with my nose in my phone looking for stimulation.

What does this have to do with self-control and lust. Well, when I am active with some other activity, I do not give my mind the chance to look for stimulation. I am not longing for anything as I don’t have time for that nonsense. I am focused. I have every opportunity to focus daily and drive myself to doing things to fill my time. I should be working on positive movement and not sitting idle waiting to be stimulated. I am in control and should progress as though I am.

“²And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.” – Genesis 2:2 (ESV)

During days one – six, God was busy at work. When He had completed His work, He rested and then got right back at it. I have to remember to put my head down and work. I will be able to rest in the evening when the day is done and then get up the next and get after it again. I have the control of my environment and the actions I am taking. As I go through the day I have to remember not to allow time for deep longing and lust. I have to keep with the work so as not to look for stimulation in all the things that are destructive. To avoid the trappings of lust I have to engage in self-control.

What actions or in-actions are you allowing to impact your deep longings for things of destruction? Are you idle too much and seeking stimulation from outside areas? What if you used your self-control to fill your time with actions moving forward, rested, and then got back after it to avoid the trappings of lust?

This morning as I was reading and studying, I realized that lust is all about the self. I read in Proverbs 11 where the wisdom is directed at the opposites of good and evil. As I look closely at the contrast, the evil is centered around self gratification and the lifting up of oneself. It is the good and righteous that are concerned with others.

“¹³Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered. ¹⁴Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” “²⁴One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.” “²⁶The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.” — Proverbs 11:13-14 & 24 & 26 (ESV)

I was reviewing the word “lust” in verse six and as is good practice, I read the entire chapter to understand the context of the verse and found the contrast of righteousness and evil. After reading God’s word here in the chapter, I realized that good is about others and evil is about self. This falls directly into the idea of lust. With lust being an intense longing, it is all about the self longing and gratification and not that of others. This is where we go wrong and where we find ourselves consumed with that we long for.

“⁶The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.” — Proverbs 11:6 (ESV)

Focus is good, but being consumed can lead to destruction. It is good to know where you are headed and focusing on the destination, but we should still be conscious of the journey to be sure that we are not missing something that could benefit others as we go. I have a good focus in the mornings with my study to know that I am working to learn and grow in my faith with my study. I also am aware that I have an audience, no matter the size or whether known or unknown that are looking at my thoughts and deriving their own from them. That awareness keeps me from being consumed and knowing that I have a purpose for others and not myself.

It is lust where we are driven to do things in the interest of self. I have to remember that ultimately it is not about me, only about God and the work He has for me to spread the gospel and bring glory to Him.

What do you have in your life that is solely for the self? Are you focused on those things or are you consumed by them? What if you turned to serving others as opposed to self instead?

“³⁰Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples. Trample underfoot those who lust after tribute; scatter the peoples who delight in war.” — Psalm 68:30 (ESV)

When there is lust involved, there is a blinding to all else. The lustful desires are all consuming and all rational thought is lost and therefor can and will be overtaken by those with rational thought.

Here, in the passage it is noted that those bringing tribute will be trampled and destroyed. These are after the tribute and that which comes with it and have their thoughts, feelings, and actions directed to that lust. As they are blinded by the lust for the tribute, they are easily defeated in battle and in every other instance.

I have to remember that as I approach life and all that is presented with it, I am much better off with my focus on God and bringing glory to Him as I bring the gospel forward. It is not about me or what I want or desire. I will receive what is due based on my actions to bring glory to God. My life is His and that is where everything is.

Lusting after even the smallest of things will bring a focus to those things that are not bringing glory to God. My reward is found in the end based on my devotion to Him and my focus on bringing glory to Him. Not for the works done, but for the heart I have in the works to ensure that all is devoted to Him along with my life and all.

What are you lusting after that may be getting in the way of your focus on God? Are you looking for the one thing or things that bring you joy in this world? What if you focus was on God and His works so as to avoid the destruction that comes with lustful desires?