One of the most unread books of the Bible would have to be, at least from my experience in my own reading and hearing sermons preached, Song of Solomon.
In S.O.S, chapter two, verse fifteen, we read, "Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes." At first, this just seems like good gardening advice, but after closer review, study, and meditation, one will see that this verse means far more than that.
I once read a book called, "The Deputation Manual for Missionaries," by Austin Gardner and Tony Howeth. In the very beginning of that book, it talks about the little foxes. It says that we need to get those little foxes out of our lives before, slowly but surely, they ruin us.
(I'll admit, I too wouldn't have come across the verse about the little foxes had I not read that book, so you can thank Pastor Gardner and Brother Howeth for this blog, because it is based off of their ideas and writing.)
Even after reading their book, I still had a few foxes left in my life: music, TV, friends (because friends can pull you away from God, yes.) language, and on and on.
However, as God has been working in me, and changing me to fit His plan for my life, those little foxes are slowly, but surely, dropping out of my life.
I'm not saying I no longer sin, because I do. All I'm saying is that the things I used to enjoy, even though I knew they were wrong, no longer seem to be as fun. I don't want to listen to my old music. I don't want to watch the same TV shows as I used to. I don't want to say those words, or think the same thoughts. There are people who I once called a friend that now think I'm an idiot, bigot, loser, or some other name because I moved to Atlanta. Or because I'm concerned that the world's Muslim population is growing at a rapacious rate.
But the funny thing is this: I'm ok with it. I'm not worried about those people, because the Bible says that people will revile and mock you when you follow God. Just dust your booths off and keep going.
God is taking the worldly things I used to love and changing my heart so that I hate them. Things I'll see someone doing something I used to do, and think, "Man, I hate that." Now, I'm not saying I hate people, because I don't. I just hate sin.
I dunno, I always get excited to write a blog, and by the end, I'm afraid I haven't properly illustrated my point, or didn't write what I wanted to write.
All I'm saying is this: God has changed me into someone I never thought I could be. Even though I always said I've been called to be a missionary, which I am, I never really thought I'd end up being one, but not anymore. At this point, I don’t really want to do anything but glorify God, and get the gospel of Jesus to lost and dying souls.
In S.O.S, chapter two, verse fifteen, we read, "Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes." At first, this just seems like good gardening advice, but after closer review, study, and meditation, one will see that this verse means far more than that.
I once read a book called, "The Deputation Manual for Missionaries," by Austin Gardner and Tony Howeth. In the very beginning of that book, it talks about the little foxes. It says that we need to get those little foxes out of our lives before, slowly but surely, they ruin us.
(I'll admit, I too wouldn't have come across the verse about the little foxes had I not read that book, so you can thank Pastor Gardner and Brother Howeth for this blog, because it is based off of their ideas and writing.)
Even after reading their book, I still had a few foxes left in my life: music, TV, friends (because friends can pull you away from God, yes.) language, and on and on.
However, as God has been working in me, and changing me to fit His plan for my life, those little foxes are slowly, but surely, dropping out of my life.
I'm not saying I no longer sin, because I do. All I'm saying is that the things I used to enjoy, even though I knew they were wrong, no longer seem to be as fun. I don't want to listen to my old music. I don't want to watch the same TV shows as I used to. I don't want to say those words, or think the same thoughts. There are people who I once called a friend that now think I'm an idiot, bigot, loser, or some other name because I moved to Atlanta. Or because I'm concerned that the world's Muslim population is growing at a rapacious rate.
But the funny thing is this: I'm ok with it. I'm not worried about those people, because the Bible says that people will revile and mock you when you follow God. Just dust your booths off and keep going.
God is taking the worldly things I used to love and changing my heart so that I hate them. Things I'll see someone doing something I used to do, and think, "Man, I hate that." Now, I'm not saying I hate people, because I don't. I just hate sin.
I dunno, I always get excited to write a blog, and by the end, I'm afraid I haven't properly illustrated my point, or didn't write what I wanted to write.
All I'm saying is this: God has changed me into someone I never thought I could be. Even though I always said I've been called to be a missionary, which I am, I never really thought I'd end up being one, but not anymore. At this point, I don’t really want to do anything but glorify God, and get the gospel of Jesus to lost and dying souls.
That's quite inspiring. To be able to be so uncocerned with what others think of you, that is. Just don't let it swing too far in that direction would be my only advice- because there is such a thing as "too much of a good thing." I hit that point a year or two back when I let my uncocern for others get out of hand and turn into misanthropy. "Buncha retards, if they'd actually quit being such stubborn mules and look at the evidence..." Which is kinda true, but that didn't justify my attitude, since the second great commandment is to love ones neighbor. Well, just a thought. But it really sounds like you're headed in the right direction. Good for you. If only all Christians I knew wanted to glorify God, and get the gosepl of Jesus to lost and dying souls...
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