Staying Sharp

'And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.'

- Ephesians 5:11

There was a buzzing sound like a giant hive of angry bees, but it was actually the noise of twenty or more chainsaws hard at work. A group of Christian brethren was cutting firewood. I'm sure all of the men had made sure their chainsaws had sharp chains and full tanks of fuel and bar oil. An excavator had pushed the trees over and they were lying in a farm field. It was difficult to cut for very long without sticking the tip of your saw into the dirt. After this happened a few times, the chain was dulled and needed sharpening. A quick filing sharpened the chain and it was able to cut well again.

Compare this to our earthly journey as we strive to live godly in a sinful world. How do we react when we hear offensive language or worldly music, or when we see the continuing trend of indecency in fashions of the world? These things are the work of satan as described in Galatians 5 17-21, but we can slowly become dulled to such sin.

Romans 12:9 states "Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good". If we are walking in the light as followers of Jesus, we can have no part with the works of darkness. If we can feel comfortable with the social ills of our modern society and worldy entertainments don't strike us as evil, our conscience has been dulled and is in need of a sharpening. May we turn to God's Holy Word for encouragement so that we may strive to keep sin exceedingly sinful.

-Neil Smith - Snover, MI

A strong security against sin is to be shocked by it.

When you are watching television does it bother you too see some man walking around without a shirt on or kissing some woman that's not his wife or have your senses been dulled?

When you walk around the store or Wal-Mart and you hear men and women cursing, does it make you cringe with every fiber within you or have you become immune to it?

Does it bother you too see young precious girls parading their bodies around like a piece of meat and young boys looking forward to the 'thug' and 'gangsta' life or do you turn a blind eye to it?

Oh we can't change every single person we ever see, but what are we doing? Where is our passion? Is it the Word of God, in prayer, in fellowship, in soulwinning or is it consumed with the carnality of this world? Our flesh doesn't want to do the things of God. It's hard to be a sold out Christian. Our flesh would rather watch a movie than pray. Would rather play online than study the Word. Would rather go shopping than go to church. You must fight your flesh daily if you want to be all that you can be for Him!

Sisters we have to daily search our hearts and keep them PURE for Yahweh! We are called out to be a peculiar people, the light of the world. We need to begin shining just a little bit brighter for the Messiah.

Join me.

~Dawn