DO NOT BE TIED TO THE WORLD

International Bible Baptist Church

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DO NOT BE TIED TO THE WORLD

Day 124

May 4, 2024 • James 4:4

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Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

James 4:4

At first glance this verse seems to completely contradict yesterday’s verse (see 1 Timothy 4:4). That verse said to gladly receive everything God created and even to find pleasure in those things. Today’s verse says that if we aim to enjoy the world, we can’t be God’s friends.

The Greek word for world here refers to the evil system under Satan’s control. This verse is not saying that we cannot enjoy anything in this world. Instead, it is making the point that if we make it our aim—goal, life focus, final destination—to enjoy this world’s evil, we cannot be God’s friend. Nothing is wrong with enjoying life and God’s blessings. Friendship with the world, however, involves seeking pleasure at the expense of others or being involved in sinful practices. Taking pleasure in God and his blessings is good; taking pleasure in the sin of this world is not.

We can enjoy the blessings God gives us in this world because this is where we live. While we can bring light into darkness, we can also pray that we will never become “friends” with that darkness.

GOD’S PROMISE TO ME:

• You are my friend as you take pleasure in me.

MY PRAYER TO GOD:

Heavenly Father, give me the discernment to know when I’m about to compromise. I want to enjoy your creation without embracing the world system. I don’t want to be your enemy. Help me to appreciate my friendship with you. Amen.

GOD EMPOWERS YOU TO BUILD HIS KINGDOM

June 18, 2024 • 2 Corinthians 6:4, 2 Corinthians 6:7

2 Corinthians 6:4,7 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, All Christians have a responsibility both to practice and to proclaim their faith. Evangelism is not optional. But what about when hard times come? Don’t we get a break? Aren’t we exempt from the “Great Commission”—at least until our lives calm down? Not really. Trials aren’t an excuse for not sharing our faith; on the contrary, they are an opportunity to speak out for God. The apostle Paul says as much in the passage above. It is during these times that God gives us the strength to endure in order to keep going in our task of kingdom building. In fact our endurance fuels our message. Trials didn’t stop Paul from announcing the Good News; they should not deter us either. GOD’S PROMISE TO ME: • I have forgiven your sin and reconciled you to myself. • I have given you Good News to share with others. MY PRAYER TO GOD: God, you have given the gospel to me so that I might show it and share it. Help me to see beyond my problems today, to my real purpose—building your kingdom. Give me creativity in using my struggles to speak for you. Amen.

GOD IS HOLY

June 17, 2024 • Leviticus 19:2

Leviticus 19:2 Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy.. God is holy. His holiness separates him completely from sin. The Bible tells us that we must be holy. But how can we be holy when we still have our sinful nature? Some people would have us think that we must try really hard, live a certain way or do or not do certain things, and then we can be classified as “holy.” However, to try to attain holiness is an impossible task. Instead, the Bible tells us that we become holy in God’s eyes because of what Christ has done. “To them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:” (1 Corinthians 1:2). “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” (Ephesians 1:4). “In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:” (Colossians 1:22). “Because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:” (2 Thessalonians 2:13). We mustn’t get caught up in thinking that we must work hard to be holy. God has made us holy through Christ. GOD’S PROMISE TO ME: • I am perfectly holy. • Everything I do is holy. • You are already holy in my eyes because of your faith in Christ. • I will help you live a holy life. MY PRAYER TO GOD: Thank you, Lord, for your holiness. You are perfect! That fact gives me great peace. I choose to trust that you already see me as holy and that your work in my life will help me mature in holiness. Amen.

GOD IS MERCIFUL

June 16, 2024 • Titus 3:5

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; God is merciful. Mercy means undeserved kindness. God saved us by sending his Son to die on the cross for us. Was it because we are so deserving, wonderful or good? Certainly not. We are undeserving sinners, but in his mercy, God washes away our sins and gives us a new life through the Holy Spirit. Because God is merciful, we too need to be merciful. In Matthew 18 Jesus told a parable about a man who owed a king a lot of money. The man asked the king for mercy, and the king kindly canceled his debt and let him go. The man left and found someone who owed him a small amount of money. That man begged for mercy, but received none and was thrown into prison. When the king heard about it, he said to the man whose debt he had forgiven, “Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?” (Matthew 18:33). And the king threw that man into prison. God has shown us much mercy, so we should show mercy to others. They may not deserve it, but then again, neither did we. GOD’S PROMISE TO ME: • I am perfectly merciful. • I saved you because of my mercy. MY PRAYER TO GOD: Thank you, Lord, for your mercies. I could not have been saved otherwise. Help me extend mercy to others, even when they don’t deserve it. Amen.