Today’s Devotional – October 28th (“But I Just Watch The Good Programs!”)

By admin On February 7th, 2021

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Today’s Devotional – October 28th

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“But I Just Watch The Good Programs!”

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“Be not deceived:

evil communications corrupt good manners.”

1st Corinthians 15:33

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Whenever the topic of the harmful effects of TV watching comes up in a group discussion, the following proclamation will undoubtedly be made… “But I only watch the good programs!”

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TV – highquality – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons License

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CHRISTIANS VERY NAIVE!

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Unfortunately, this argument seems perfectly logical within Christian circles as well!

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And most of us have made this very same comment, haven’t we? “But I only watch the good programs!” And that’s very sad! And one reason that it’s so sad, is because it makes a very disturbing commentary on the naivety of we Christians in today’s world!

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“COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM!”

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That we Christians could ever think that listening to, and watching the secular world, can be harmless, even good, is sad, very sad!

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After all, God asks us the question, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for…what communion hath light with darkness?” 2nd Corinthians 6:14.

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Are we not the “children of light”, and the people of the world are “of the darkness”? (1st Thessalonians 5:5)

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HEY, I NEED TO UNWIND!

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Now at this point in this discussion, someone might say, “Well, what’s wrong with a nightly news show, or what’s so bad about a wholesome family movie? I’ve had a hard day! I need to unwind!”

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Well, that’s a very good question! What is wrong with the most innocuous and benign television shows?

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To present a proper perspective, it is necessary to put on our “Son-glasses”, and look at this situation from a heavenly vantage-point.

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ABC-Good Morning America – wikipedia – share-alike license

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THE TRUE “GREAT COMMISSION”

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The great question to be answered by the Christian is this: “Just what great commission has God given to the individual Christian?”

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Well, the first response is probably going to be, “To go ye out into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature”. And yes, this is one of the great commissions given by God to His people.

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PURIFICATION OF THE HEART

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But there is a much more important commission, which God has given His people.

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What is that, you ask?

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The greatest commission given to each and every Christian is found in just one tiny verse.

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Listen… “And every man that hath this hope in Him (Christ’s return), purifies himself, even as He is pure.” 1st John 3:3.

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Yes, to purify our hearts is the greatest commission given to the individual Christian. And a purified heart must be filled with heavenly things.

Question Marks – At a loss – svg – Wikimedia Commons – Share-Alike License

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*WORDS DON’T JUST GO IN ONE EAR…AND OUT THE OTHER!***

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So having laid out this basic concept of the Christian’s great focus in life, let’s get back to the question regarding watching only the good shows.

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Whatever a person absorbs in his or her thoughts, becomes part of that person’s intellectual makeup. In other words, thoughts just don’t go in one ear and out the other ear, as some suppose.

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Now, because we live in this world, we cannot help hearing the words of secular people, to a certain extent. But when we choose to sit for hours, immersing ourselves in the words of lost souls, beholding and dwelling on their faithless words and actions, then God won’t simply take away those ungodly words and images. He will allow them to remain within our hearts.

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This is why God warns… “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” 1st Corinthians 15:33.

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Exclamation Mark – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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***COMMON TALK IS* *CONTAGIOUS***

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“Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causes to err from the words of knowledge.” Proverbs 19:27

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So, as disciples of Christ, why would we want to spend hours each day, polluting our hearts with the common and worldly-minded conversation of even the best of shows?

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Take for instance, a G-rated movie. Now what could possibly be wrong with watching a G-rated movie!? Well, perhaps nothing! But unless the conversations in that G-rated movie are in harmony with Scripture, then that G-rated movie must also be considered unwholesome.

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In other words, are the various conversations and ideologies espoused, in harmony with Scripture? Or is there an abundance of foolish talk and jesting?

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“Are ‘little white lies’ portrayed as acceptable in that movie?”

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“Are the characters in this movie promoting the idea of going after the dreams and aspirations and attractions of this, the Devil’s world?”

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“Is pride one of the common underlying threads in the story-line?”

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“Would I be comfortable watching this movie, if Christ were literally sitting next to me?”

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“Is this movie going to inspire my children to draw nearer to Jesus, or is it merely whetting their appetite to watch more and more movies?”

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And even if there were a movie which was totally Christ-like, then what’s the next movie going to be like? Because let’s face it! The Devil is only allowing just a mere handful of truly wholesome movies to slip through the cracks. He only allows enough, so to get Christians and children into the TV-watching habit.

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Betty Boop – WIKIPEDIA – Public domain.

The Shirley Temple Show 1961 wikimedia public domain

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AN UNBELIEVING FAMILY

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Now if the Christian has a spouse who has a somewhat different world-view, then the Christian may not be able to lead his or her family away from these things. In such cases, unceasing prayer and consecration to God may be all that can be done on behalf of that family. But God hears and answers the prayers of a true worshiper of God! And so, there’s much hope for them!

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Family Portrait – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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HOW DID JESUS UNWIND? OR PAUL?

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So every true-hearted Christian must ask his or her self the question: “How would Jesus unwind and relax, if He was walking the earth today?”

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Or what about Paul? How would Paul entertain himself, if he were here today? Would these two men unwind with a good movie, or a computer game? Or would they rather go for a walk and pray and give thanks and cry out for a renewed strength and beseech God for a fresh and deeper baptism of the Spirit?

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Well, Disciple and Follower of the Master, go and do thou likewise! And if we are ensnared, and cannot do as Jesus did, then we must not cease praying for freedom from these very addictive pastimes and amusements, until we finally get total victory over every besetting addiction; until we stand totally free, even as Christ.

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Prayer – USMC – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me freedom from every besetting addiction in my life, whether they be lusts of the flesh or lusts of the eyes, or the proud ways of Man. Give me total victory over the “old man”, so that the “new Man” can live out His life through me…

Morning Prayers – Ebenezer Newman – Downard – 1860 – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

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THE VALLEY OF DECISION CONSTELLATION GROUP

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“Multitudes, multitudes in the ‘Valley of Decision’…

for the day of the Lord is near in the ‘Valley of Decision’.”

Joel 3:14

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AT THE CROSSROADS OF LIFE…

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As we all know, life is made up of one decision after another. Some are of little consequence. Others are more important. And then there are those times which require life-changing decisions.

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The Bible speaks of the Valley of Decision…“Multitudes, multitudes in the ‘Valley of Decision’…for the day of the Lord is near in the ‘Valley of Decision’.” Joel 3:14. Of course, this valley is a spiritual concept and not a literal place.

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**But God has inscribed this very truth in the heavens. It is called “The Valley of Decision” Constellation. It speaks of that valley that each person must walk through.**

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LOCATING THIS CONSTELLATION GROUP…

Look eastward in the early summer through fall. Find the Cassiopeia Constellation. Cassiopeia is the Mount of Blessing. In the sketch, it is the farthest mountain to the left. In the sky, it is the northern-most of these three mountains when facing eastward. It resembles a pyramid. Then find the next pyramid to its right (south). Then go a little further south to the next third pyramid. The third snow-cap is the Destroying Mountain Constellation. These three pyramids are the snow-capped portion of these three mountains in this sketch. (of course, you won’t see the snow-caps in the sky. They are just an embellishment in this sketch to present a concept-EDITOR).

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Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” Micah 4:1, 2

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TOMORROW:

“October 29th (Thou Art Weighed in the Balances! )”

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Signs Of Heaven