November 2024 - Good : Great

"But if we are talking in terms of making progress in life, we must understand that "good enough" is very different from "best." ( Paulo Coelho)

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" (2Corinthians 6:14 )

Because this verse is so often used in regards to marriage we forget to look deeper and realize that we are yoked together with more than just our spouse. Yes, being married to a believer is very important, but what about your friendships, your entertainment, your education? Fellowship comes in many forms. One of the biggest, and most often not considered as fellowship, is our entertainment. We are influenced by every book, movie, post, and people-authored entertainment; they are called influencers for a reason. This month let's examine our pastimes, see what needs to go, then challenge God to change those desires to what He would like us to desire.

1. Identify: What entertains you: What books do you read? What movies do you watch? What social media are you a part of? What friends do you hang out with? Make a list, and make it detailed. The more you know, the wiser your changes will be.

2. Examine: Today, many Christians seem to be trying to see how close they can get to the world without going over the edge, while Christ called us to see how close we can get to God. (Be ye holy: for I am holy. 1Peter 1:16b) "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." (1Corinthians 10:31) Everything you do should bring glory to God. So consider, does each thing on your list bring glory to God? Does it cause you to become holier? In our text it mentions light and darkness, to God it is either light or darkness; right or wrong. So if you cannot truthfully say that your entertainment is right, then it is wrong. Then there is the entertainment that is right, but the amount of time spent being entertained by it is wrong. "A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is His delight." (Proverbs 11:1) "A just weight and balance are the Lord's:" (Proverbs 16:11a) If reading, even a good Christian book, is taking time away from you doing your job, spending time with your family, going to church, doing your devotions, or any other Godly priorities in your life, then that reading becomes wrong. God said He delights in balance, so even good entertainment, if out of balance, is wrong.

3: Adjust or Eliminate: Now that you know what is wrong in your entertainment it is time to correct it. God says He will give us the desires of our heart. ("Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." Psalm 37:4) So this month, challenge God to change your desires so that He can then fulfil them. Nothing is to hard for God, ("For with God nothing shall be impossible." Luke 1:37)  and He loves to help His children. So even though it can sometimes feel as though the hole of entertainment is to deep to dig your way out of, remember that nothing is impossible with God. He delights in helping His children and He will deliver you if you ask Him. ("Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not." Jeremiah 33:3) Stop settling for 'good enough,' and reach for God's best.

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath  righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" (2Corinthians 6:14 )