There’s a measure of mystery that we are not to understand in how God uses the things around us, other people, and even our own actions, to affect change within our hearts and minds.  Many times, intellectuals want to debate the theology of how man can make “free” choices, God can be sovereign, and God can be altogether good while evil is in the world.  My answer to those all those questions is “Yes”.  It never gets old seeing the first reaction of someone when I say that.  I can see their mind straining, thinking there is a mountain of theology out of my one word answer… I usually stop them fairly quickly.  It’s not that we cannot make headway to understand how those seemingly contradictory things are actually compatible, but the reality is that we’ll never completely understand those things.  I humble myself to recognize that I cannot, as a simple man, understand the mind and ways of God fully.  All that being said, the reality is that our choices do have positive and negative consequences both externally and within one’s heart.

What I try to quickly encourage people with, is that while it’s not a bad exercise to pursue those deeper theological questions some – they are largely separate from the day to day experience of life we all share.  For example, as I’m writing this, I’m not pondering the magnificent purpose of God in my choosing one word verses another, debating the eternal impact of my choice to use the word “the” in a sentence; I simply am trying to lead the life God has given me to live, as His adopted son, and follower to encourage others towards Him.

I say all of this as a backdrop to my encouragement in today’s WFTD to seek after wisdom in how you live your life.  Your works will not save you, but to deny that they will have an impact on you as a believer is a misunderstanding of scripture.  As a follower of Christ, you are completely free to do whatever you wish.  That freedom can be used one of two ways, one, to pursue God’s will and bring more of Him and His joy into your life, or alternatively, to pursue things that gratify your flesh, ignoring God’s will.  The latter if habitual and unrepentant might give cause to encourage someone’s introspection as to why they believe they are a follower of Christ, if indeed they have no desire to follow Him fully?

Turning our attention to our works and without wanting to get into a theological debate, let’s assume that drinking is not inherantly sinful (I would argue that it is not).  We are still called as Christians to use wisdom in how we exercise that freedom.  Meaning that while I can enjoy a glass of wine or a beer amongst friends over dinner, I have decided that it is not wise for me to go out to bars and pound back drink after drink with shots.  I tried that whole – I’m going to witness to people at the bar justification back in my early twenties.  You know what happened?  I got drunk a lot…  Not a good plan.  Likewise, while there is nothing inherantly sinful about being surrounded by attractive women, I’ve decided it is not wise for me to accept invitations with co-workers to go to Hooter’s or the like.  Here’s what I want to encourage everyone with; the world, and all it’s temptations will bring to bear enough of a struggle on our lives without our shooting ourselves in the foot.  Arm yourself with wisdom in how you lead your life, so that you might enjoy victory more often than defeat.

1 Corinthians 10:23 – “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.” 

What is helpful to you, may look different from someone else.  I may say it is unhelpful for me to go to certain bars, whereas other Christians can tell me they have a peace about going there.  My goal today isn’t to give you a list of do’s and don’ts.  My exhortation is to seek in prayer over God’s Word what is helpful to you personally, that grow your affection for God, and help you walk in obedience to Him.  What are the things in your life, that you can do, but maybe shouldn’t do?  What are the things that you have in your life that maybe aren’t helpful to growing closer to God?  What are the things you don’t have in your life, that maybe you need in your life?  Get a peace about what those things are in prayer, and then act on them.  Surround yourself with others who are likewise committed, to encourage one another in love.  We have freedom, but without wisdom and the love of God to guide it, it will never result in the God honoring joy that is prepared for us.

Colossians 3:1-5 – “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.  Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”

Grace and Peace,
Adam