DON'T PANIC, SEEK THESE FOUR: II Timothy 2:21-22

"Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." II Timothy 2:22

Only one thought on fleeing. Notice Paul does not say to think, pray, or resist. He just says, "Flee". Don't think, just flee. 

I once was at a situation where someone threw a military grade tear-gas canister into a high school basketball game. People just ran out in complete panic, knocking each other down and running every which way. It was mayhem. Sometimes I think that is what our attempts at repentance look like. We're all over the place, knocking into things, just doing anything. Paul gives a four specific spiritual points to seek.

First he tells us to seek righteousness, then faith, love and peace. The opposite of evil desires is righteousness, acting Christ like. Acting Christlike is faith in action. Remember in I Timothy 5:1-2 Paul had exhorted Timothy to treat others, and specifically younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. To act righteously is to love as Christ loved us. Faith in action is manifested in love. When you act righteously, by faith, in love, you will be at peace with God and others. Seeking God this way with others who call on the Lord out of pure hearts is what church is all about. That's Christianity. 

Father, help us to seek righteousness, faith, love and peace together in Christ. Praise be to you in us today!

CONTROL YOURSELF IN HOLINESS AND HONOR: I Thessalonians 4:3-4

We live in a world that has a very specific purpose. That purpose is to lead us away from God. So, I find it odd that so much of the world's beliefs about self-control are held by Christians. The world tells us that we can not control our desires and that love is something you fall into.  The world tells us that we are animals and we can't control those deep animalistic desires. That's not what the Bible teaches.

"It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable." I Thessalonians 4:3-4 

God's will should be the goal of all we do. If God wills it, then shouldn't it pretty much be a done deal? Yes, he is faithful to complete the work he began in you. His will is that we be sanctified. That we purify ourselves from this world. The world pushes sexual immorality. We avoid it. 

The world tells us that we must give into urges  but God tells us learn to control your body. You learn to control your body by seeking to be holy and honorable. Holiness has to do with being set apart. Sometimes we just need to be apart from what ever it is that seeks to control you. That is why is Proverbs it says to run. Don't think about it, run. 

The other side of sanctification is the do part. Do honorable deeds. Treat people honorably. That is why service  is so important. Thinking about others requires you to die to yourself. Service is about others, not yourself. Service is about being God's hands and feet, reaching out to others in Jesus' Name and letting God love through you. 

It is God's will that you learn to control your own body. Decide what to do with yourself. Choose to serve. 

Father, help us to avoid sexual immorality, teach us to control our own bodies in holiness and honor. Praise be to you in us today!