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Weekly Wisdom Winnows
by Lisa Mendenhall
Moses made a firm decision. He wanted God more than the things of the world. The Israelites however, wanted God and the things of the world. They had not separated themselves in their hearts from the world which resulted in their inability to separate what was of the world and what was of God. Do you have a clear distinction of what is of God and what is of the world? Or, are the lines blurred in your heart? Do you find yourself watching movies that have foul language? Or maybe movies that implies infidelity? Listening to off-color jokes from friends? Taking things from your office that does not belong to you?
If you desire both an intimate knowledge of God (a close personal relationship) and the things of the world, then the image of God becomes distorted. You do not truly know Him. You know a different Jesus, a worldly Jesus, one that really does not exist. You have to make a heart decision to get the world out of you if you truly desire to know God.
One way to judge yourself in this area; Are you always making decisions based on what you know the word says and what would be pleasing to God or do you base your decisions on what you think is best for you and will make you temporarily happy?
Moses loved God for who He was, Israel loved God for what He could do for them. If you took away all of the physical blessings God has given you, and you had to live a horrible life here on earth, would you still serve God because of what He paid for you? Because He loved you so much that He gave you Jesus? Are you so sold out to God that what you have or don't have has no bearing on your relationship with God? Would you be willing to pay the price to follow Him if it did not benefit you in the here and now?
Mark 8:34-35, Jesus tells us if we desire to come after Him, we are to DENY ourselves(what we want) and take up our cross and follow Him. What is our cross? It is anything we suffer for Christ's sake. Whether it be separation from loved ones, persecution, putting away the desires of our flesh, our wants and our desires.
We are not to be conformed to the world -in any way. In John 15:18-19, Jesus said, if the world hated Him, it will hate us. The only way the world will love us is if we belong to it. Does the world and worldly people hate you? Or do they love you and your ways? The church has spent countless years trying to fit into the world, with the excuse of trying to reach the world for Jesus. We have unconsciously thought we could have the worlds approval and Jesus' approval at the same time. This cannot be. We should not fit in with the world. We are to shine as lights in a dark world.
We have a covenant with God and when we seek the pleasures of the world, the Bible calls us adulterers. Because we are married to Christ but having a relationship with the world.
God said to come out of the world. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 says to abstain from every form of evil. Ephesians 5:11-12 says have no fellowship with darkness but we are to expose it. It is shameful to even speak of these things done in darkness. A friend of John Bevere's, told him that while he was in deep prayer, he heard the Lord passionately question, "Why do my people entertain themselves with the very things that drove the nails through My hands?"
So is your lifestyle, you forms of entertainment and your relationships with others holy and godly? Do you have clear lines of separation from worldly things and people?
Okay, now I can hear you, "So how are we suppose to reach the world for Jesus?"
Don't you think that God is big enough and powerful enough to send those by your path that He knows are ready to turn towards Him? He is the one that knows the hearts of man. Also, you minister to the world by your lifestyle. They see what you allow and don't allow. They see if you are for real or not. Do you have anything of God showing in you for the world to see? Ask God to help you start drawing near to Him so He can help you get the world out of you and you can be a true witness for Jesus!
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'To separate the chaff from (grain) by means of a current of air. To rid of undesirable parts. To separate or get rid of (an undesirable part); eliminate: winnowing out the errors in logic. ...separate grain from chaff...separate the good from the bad...examine closely in order to separate the good from the bad; sift...' (www.dictionary.com) 'This study gave me direction and focus for my teaching. God had placed a longing in my heart to teach the body of Christ how to separate from carnal thinking and rid themselves of old ways that hinder their Spiritual growth. I desire to see them live victoriously, by the 'higher ways' of God's wisdom.'
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