We are to keep ourselves “unspotted from the world.” (Jm. 1:27) yet as we ‘drive’ through our lives we get muck splashed at us from the world. So how do we keep from getting spotted? Here are some of the important ways:
Stay spiritually healthy.
-Study the Bible.
We are to follow right and wrong
by God’s standards, not right and wrong by the world’s standards. (Rm. 12:2)
Study to shew
thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly
dividing the word of truth. 2Tm. 2:15
KJV
also- Dt.
11:18-20; Ps. 119:11; Ac. 17:11;
2Tm. 3:16,17
-Pray and listen to God.
Prayer should be like breathing- an
automatic response to continue our life.
Continue in
prayer and watch in it with thanksgiving, Cl. 4:2
also- Ps. 6:9;
Is. 55:6; Mt. 26:41; Php. 4:6; 1Th. 5:17
But He answered
and said, It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every
word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." Mt. 4:4
also- Mt. 4:4; Jh.
10:27,28; 14:26; Hb. 4:7; Rv. 3:20
-Meditate on the Word, on God, on righteous things.
(about right living) Meditate on these
things… 1Tm. 4:15
also- Ps. 1:2;
19:14; 105:5; 119:15; Is. 26:3; Php. 4:8
Remove spiritually unhealthy or ungodly influences from our lives.
-Throw out, flee those things that are contrary to God’s Word.
We are to be separated from the
world's schemes; their motives; their desires, and all their foolishness.
The world seeks to live for their own
desires; true Christians seek to live for God's glory.
Abstain from
every appearance of evil. 1Th. 5:22
also- Am. 5:14,15; 2Cr. 5:17;
Gl. 5:1,16; Cl. 3:5; 1Tm. 5:22; 6:11; 2Tm. 2:22;
Jm. 4:7,17
Obey the Word
as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves
according to the former lusts in your ignorance, but according to the Holy One
who has called you, you also become holy in all conduct, 1Pt. 1:14,15
also- Dt. 11:26-28; 12:28;
Pr. 3:1,2; Lk. 11:28; Jh. 14:15; 15:10; Ac. 5:29; Rm. 6:16; Cl. 3:16; 1Jh. 2:4
Avoid the I’s of the World
-I want Tree was good for food (Gn. 3:6) TV, treats, food, money, sex, alcohol,
new clothes/ shoes...
-I must
possess Fruit was pleasing to
eyes Technology, new car,
nice house,
collections, computers...
-I must be Would make wise like God Successful, powerful, in control, rich,
intelligent, happy...
because all that
is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride
of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jh. 2:16
also- Lk. 9:23;
Cl. 3:5; Gl. 5:16; 6:8; Php. 2:3; Hb. 13:5
Live in Christ
O Jehovah, I
know that the way of man does not belong to man; it is not in man who walks to
direct his steps. Jr. 10:23
Therefore as you
have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, Cl. 2:6
also- Gl. 2:20; 5:16,25;
Ep. 5:8; Php. 1:21; 1Pt. 2:21; 1Jh. 2:6
Only in relationship with Jesus we can be
truly unspotted and live a life that’s unspotted by the world. Though doing is important, it’s way
more important to be. Doing alone
only leads to a legalistic focus on rules and regulations, and ultimately in
self: what am I doing for God (I
being the key word here)? Whereas being focuses on He who made the
rules: Jesus Christ, and being with Him. The focus of being therefore is
Him. (Katrina Marti)
The point is this. We cannot remain spotless on our own, but can
only remain spotless living IN
Christ which actually entails all of the above.
We need to know Him, His Word and His will for our lives and then follow
Him (Mt. 4:19), knowing that we will fail often, but that He will give us
strength to get up and try again. And
when the muck of the world gets splattered on us, we’ll go to Jesus to clean it
off again- and for a while we’ll see more clearly…
(Jesus said)
“I can do nothing on
my own.”
Jh. 5:30
but…
I can do all things through
him who strengthens me.
Php. 4:13