³If it feels good, do it!²
³What¹s right for you may not be right for me.²
We live in a society where many live as if there is no absolute truth. Indeed, if you asked many Americans they would willingly volunteer that their most valued attribute is ³tolerance,² meaning they are willing to accept anyone¹s behavior as ³right² if the person is comfortable with the way he or she is living.
In fact, it is impossible to press forward in striving for the holiness God commands until we re-establish this important truth in our lives. God has given us three key elements by which to measure our lives:
The law of God delineates much of the so-called ³gray area² in our society today. Oftentimes the issues society pretends to be uncertain about are clearly defined in the Word of God. We can no more ignore these standards without natural consequences than we could ignore the law of gravity when jumping out of a tall building.
The lessons of God go even deeper than the Law itself. Much of Jesus¹ Sermon on the Mount was devoted to expounding on Old Testament law moving beyond the precepts of God to the principles behind them. From Jesus¹ teaching, we know that it would be futile to look for ³loopholes² in His law. First of all, there are none. Secondly, we are called to honor not only His commands but also the principles behind those commands.
The Lord Himself is our ultimate standard. When making a difficult
decision, we must always ask ourselves, ³how would this action be a reflection
of who God is?² Secondly, we must ask if those actions will ultimately
glorify Him, even if we find no specific prohibition in His law.
Application:
Ask God right now to show you how your home has drifted from the standards He has established.
Make a decision right now to choose God¹s standard for righteousness, and to reject the tolerant mentality of the world.