These verses go on to say "Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh."

There is good reason for this warning. Light brings joy, peace, and comfort into your life. Darkness only leads to sadness and longing. Though you may decide to give up temporary pleasure, the lasting happiness that the Lord brings us is something precious that nobody can take away.

Yesterday, I was sickened and sad to watch the Notre Dam Cathedral burning in France. I watched the television closely as it burned from one end to the other, taking down the center spire and come crashing through the roof. So many years of history gone in an hour. At the time, they had yet to know the cause of it, but I couldn't help to think of the centuries it took to build. All the workers who dedicated their time and efforts to building something that would serve God's people for over 800 years. Then I realized, no structure or building, no matter how ornate or beautiful, can even begin to measure up to God's glory. We can be ultimately thankful that God's promises cannot be taken away from us, even though our buildings may burn. Our inheritance is within us and the Church cannot be held in any structure. The Kingdom of God will continue to grow and thrive as long as we are willing to put away temporary pleasures and exchange them for the lasting joy of our Lord.

In a book called “The Age of Longing” we read that an American girl married a radical revolutionary in Paris. She had lost her faith at an American University—lost all the religious faith she had, and all the things her parents had told her. She was asked why she married him. She said, “He’s the first person I have ever known who believes something strong enough to die for it. Although I don’t believe exactly as he does, I was attracted to this man who had found a cause.” I find that young people today are looking for a cause, and they are not looking for something easy.
Some time ago a university student in Moscow told one of my colleagues, “You Christians say that you are going to win the world, but we’ve done more in fifty years than you’ve done in two thousand years. And do you know why? It is because you are not committed. We are. We will win, you’ll see.”



Credit: Text and photo courtesy of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association - www.billygraham.org

This bible verse has more relevance today than, perhaps, any other time in history. In today's world, alcohol is still a threat to our personal salvation, but there are also  many other things putting us to sleep as well. This verse is in reference to being awake when the time of Christ's return comes, but it is also relevant to our daily habits. Think streaming services, gaming stations, network television, internet, and a plethora of other things that ensure we can be distracted at all times, day and night. All of these things are designed to take your mind off of your real life and puts you into a world of entertainment, where often, nothing bad happens. A place where every care in the world is just that...a world away.

Here are a couple indicators the bible discusses about what people will be like in the end times:

"They cannot be trusted. They will act quickly, without thinking. They are proud of themselves. They love to have fun more than they love God. They act as if they worshipped God, yet they do not let God's power work in their lives. Keep away from people like that." -2 Timothy 3:4-5
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Starting today, let's begin a journey of mindfulness. Let's be aware of when things are stealing us away from our precious lives with God, stealing us away from our children or families. Let's begin living in the moment and recognizing the needs of others and stop hiding behind our screens. You only have one life to live. Don't let it be robbed of you, because of cheap entertainment.

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The first degree of Holy Spiritual Transformation is meditating on one's self, which has to do with focusing on what makes YOU tick. What are your motivations and are they pure? What makes you feel worthy and loved? What obstacles must you overcome and pray about so you can serve unhindered? The great news is that God can help us overcome any issues we have. In fact, you may already know that Moses had an issue with stuttering, which affected his confidence.

Dealing with self-esteem is a big issue for many people. An article by Christel Humphrey, called "The Surprising Truth about Low Self Esteem, " says that self-esteem issues stem from something many of us wouldn't expect. She writes that these issues can stem from thinking too much about ourselves, rather than focusing on God to help us feel worthy of His love and have faith in his ability to help us overcome something that is making feel worthless. He is the only judge we need to worry about.

Feel free to read the article here:
"The Surprising Truth about Low Self Esteem" by Christel Humphrey
https://www.boundless.org/adulthood/the-surprising-truth-about-low-self-esteem/

Christ came so you could be saved. He paid the ultimate price so you could walk free. He took the shackles off your wrist and clamped them around his own so you no longer have to endure the prison of sin. In return, live for him. Defend him, love him, and honor his sacrifice for you.



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The path to righteousness is not always easy. Much like a worn-down structure that needs to be remodeled, items must be removed, some items must be nailed in, but in the end, a new, beautiful structure emerges. It is not an easy task, but after months and months of laborious effort, it is once again fresh, clean, and sturdy once more. Jesus was not just a carpenter of structures, luckily. He is also a carpenter of souls, building up and modeling children for His kingdom. The good news is he also endured much so he might see the joy and light that is the Kingdom.

Because change is hard, there will be times when you question what it is you're doing to yourself. You may decide to forego instant pleasures to trade up for lasting peace. You may have friends question why you no longer want to go out and make a fool of yourself with intoxication publicly anymore. You may say no to over-indulgence all together and instead, increase your health. None of this is easy! I tell you now, however, the amazing peace and joy you will receive because of your new found self-discipline and strength from the Holy Spirit will astound you. A caterpillar you once were, writhing and crawling upon the ground, will suddenly be transformed into a beautiful butterfly, gliding over the rest, resilient to all the things that feed on the ground dwellers. You will bounce on rays of the sun, much like the Kingdom, basking in its light and warmed by its presence.

Jason - Acolyte of Zion


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This is the 3rd prediction Jesus made about his coming death. It is known now what would come of this prediction, when ultimately, the Lord willingly sacrificed his life to save us from sin. This verse seems to hold metaphorical information for the rest of us as well. When we give our life over to God and serve Him, there will be people who mock us and attempt to make us suffer, but in the end, there is life waiting for us beyond measure. The amazing news is that the bible teaches us that if we believe, we can be assured that we will be safe:

Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”


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Today's verse is about action. The surrounding verses describe that Jews and Gentiles alike reserve the love of God when they submit and receive salvation, but it goes on to describe that one cannot do this unless someone takes the time to reach out to that person, because how can someone call on the Lord if they do not believe in the Lord? Let me put it this way. If you knew someone was running toward a cliff and knew they could not see that cliff, wouldn't you feel compelled to tell them before they reached the edge? You may not be able to control ultimately what a person chooses to follow in their religious and spiritual life, but at least you did your part by taking the time to discuss what has brought you peace and happiness. Life is full of opportunities to bring comfort and the gift of faith to others who need it and allow the Lord to do His beautiful work.



Searchlight relies on you to share our content to reach others across the globe. Please don't hesitate to share this post and make comments on social media. Credit: Searchlight Christian Organization original content. Photo courtesy of Fernando Hernandez posted on Unsplash.com