Hello all who come to this page,
And welcome once again! A couple of years ago, my oldest child became a teenager and with sweetness and a beautifully submissive attitude she came to us to see what we thought about her buying an i-touch (we were gizmo-less folk at that time). We began to explore the idea of that together, as well as talking about many other aspects of life and growing in independence and what kinds of foundational truths can help us make God-glorifying decisions. It prompted our family to make a list of guiding questions for us to make use of, and it has gradually morphed into the following )which can be applied to many decisions that come our way in life)...I share as a means of potentially encouraging you somehow:
How does “this” edify or build up or equip or comfort or
promote peace in Christ?
- Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
- Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.
If we are “surfing”/spending time in front of electronics
(or fill in the blank with some other activity), is it aiding our growth in
Christ or acting as a distraction? Are
we meditating/thinking on those things which are true, pure, etc?
- 1 Tim 4:12-16 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit,* in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
- Phil 4:8-9 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
Are we choosing triviality or profitability?
- Matt 12:35-36 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
- Eph 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
- 2 Thess. 3:10b-13…essence, are you being a busy body or doing good
What will we do in secret, when no man sees us but God to
whom we will give account does?
- Eccl 12:9-14 And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs. The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright — words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God and keep His commandments,
For this is man's all.
For God will
bring every work into judgment,
Including every secret thing,
Whether good or evil.
Do we remember the mission God has privileged us to become
a part of when He adopted us into His family?
- Eph 4:11-24 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head — Christ — from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
- Matt 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Are we only asking “what’s wrong with it?” or do we also ask “what is right about
it?” ~ see 1 Cor. 10:23-24…it may be “lawful”, but is it helpful…it may be
“lawful”, but will it edify?
- 1 Cor 10:23-24 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me,* but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being.
- Heb 10:19-25 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
