RUN FROM YOUTHFUL LUSTS....
2 Corinthians 6:17 tells us this: “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”
Come out, and be separate! Be different! Be unique! Be fit for the Master’s use! Any stone that remains defiled will lack use. On any construction site, there are useful materials and waste materials. It’s the unfit/unusable materials that are
often called waste materials. It means they are not needed to accomplish the task at hand. Likewise, with God, it is the stones that are clean that He considers needful and fit for the task He has at hand.
So you must organise yourself to become useful His hands, and until you take responsibility and clean up, you may remain frustrated in life and ultimately in marriage. You may be wondering what exactly you need to do to clean up. If you look at verse 22 of 2 Timothy 2, Apostle Paul give us the answer:
“Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.” In verse 23, he talks about not getting into foolish arguments and breed strife. We'll discuss that much later in this series; but for now, I want to focus on the three points:
A). Run (not walk, not stroll) from youthful lusts. B). Pursue the four specific points stated, and C). Enjoy the company of those whose hearts are pure towards God. Let's take point A!
Simply put, lust means to have a strong craving or desire for something. It is usually associated with sex, however it's much deeper than that. I consider lusts to mean anything you yearn for; something that stirs a passion in you that more often than not, doesn't add any value to you, and negatively impacts your spiritual growth. The term ‘youthful’ is not just for those who are young. Really, many of us (if we are honest with ourselves) have gone through a phase of youthful lusting at one point or another, age notwithstanding.
You alone know your area of lust; it could be sex, drugs, alcohol, pornography, etc.
These things should not be taken lightly, that's why you and I are told to literally RUN from them. It's important to use your single days to invest the most into your relationship with God. So many single ladies and gentlemen are already entangled in the web of youthful lusts, and if you are, you have to consciously make a U-turn from that destructive path. It may feel so good to engage in or it may seem like so much fun in the moment but it ALWAYS leads to regrets. Instead of following the crowd, separate yourself and let your light so shine.
These things should not be taken lightly, that's why you and I are told to literally RUN from them. It's important to use your single days to invest the most into your relationship with God. So many single ladies and gentlemen are already entangled in the web of youthful lusts, and if you are, you have to consciously make a U-turn from that destructive path. It may feel so good to engage in or it may seem like so much fun in the moment but it ALWAYS leads to regrets. Instead of following the crowd, separate yourself and let your light so shine.
Don’t allow the devil to keep you bound, thinking you can never be free. He doesn’t want you to be useful to God so he'll try to make you accept his lies as truth. You have to take the step to come out; God is ever ready for you. Whatever your lust may be and no matter how far you have engaged in it, please don't condemn yourself. It's never ever too late to get on the right track with God. Wherever you have made an error, go to God and allow Him to clean you up and make you a brand new stone. God’s grace is available in abundance and the blood of Jesus is there to cleanse you from head to toe, but your willingness to come out and be separate is key, because He will not force you.
And please note; when He sets you free, don’t keep going back to your past. Flee from places and people who draw you back and hinder your progress, receive grace and begin to walk in the light that you have found. If you are in a relationship with someone who is pulling you further away from God, don't be sentimental about it, that relationship needs to become history. Any relationship that is not positively impacting you, most especially spiritually, is not worth continuing. That may seem harsh but it's true. - Kemi Oyedepo
Leave today with this thought - I cannot afford to be perverse. I must maintain a sanctified and clean life because it is vital for my life and ultimately, my marriage & family.
source: CPY Family
source: CPY Family
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