Comments on: Proximity to Sin http://axegrinder.org/2005/09/16/proximity-to-sin/ Fri, 18 Jun 2010 09:22:02 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Dolan http://axegrinder.org/2005/09/16/proximity-to-sin/comment-page-1/#comment-32 Dolan Thu, 06 Oct 2005 12:20:21 +0000 http://axegrinder.org/?p=15#comment-32 I was reading this scripture again and this part really stood out, “ …she gave also to her husband with her…” The lesson here is when selecting an accountability partner make sure they won’t do what you do. Adam was obviously there and didn’t say, “Eve, I am not going to eat that because God said we are not to eat of this tree.” I was reading this scripture again and this part really stood out, “ …she gave also to her husband with her…” The lesson here is when selecting an accountability partner make sure they won’t do what you do. Adam was obviously there and didn’t say, “Eve, I am not going to eat that because God said we are not to eat of this tree.”

]]> By: Deanna http://axegrinder.org/2005/09/16/proximity-to-sin/comment-page-1/#comment-16 Deanna Mon, 19 Sep 2005 16:40:30 +0000 http://axegrinder.org/?p=15#comment-16 That reminds me of The Parable fo the River that I read in one of Max Lucado's books . It is primarily a story of redemption and restoration. It begins with the four brothers who live in a castle with their father. The father has continually warned his sons about the dangers of the river and told them repeatedly to never go near it. Over time they get closer and closer to the river's edge until one day one of them leans far out to put his hand in the river. He calls to his brothers to hold on to his other hand so that he won't fall in but the current is too strong and quickly pulls all of them in. They are tossed in the strong current over rocks and debris through the rapids and eventually are thrown up on the river bank. After recovering from the ordeal they find that they are in a foreign land in a village of savages. eventually , one by one they each begin to become a part of the savages among whom they live. The rest of the story, as i said, deals with redemption and restoration so it does have a happy ending :) But the point is, as Bill stated, the danger of getting as close as we can rather than as far away as we can. We each have a responsibility to strive for a personal holiness, not something we can attain in our own strength and determination but in seeking Christ in every way, in everything, in every moment, letting Him take our every thought captive, trusting that He has spoken every spiritual blessing over our lives and that whatever boundaries He has put up are for our protection, not to deprive us. When we determine to pursue the river, whatever that river may be in our own life, we are pursuing our own destruction. Everyone of us has been "down river" a time or two, some take shorter trips than others, but they all begin the same way - by getting to close to the waters edge and thinking we are stronger than the current. D That reminds me of The Parable fo the River that I read in one of Max Lucado’s books . It is primarily a story of redemption and restoration. It begins with the four brothers who live in a castle with their father. The father has continually warned his sons about the dangers of the river and told them repeatedly to never go near it. Over time they get closer and closer to the river’s edge until one day one of them leans far out to put his hand in the river. He calls to his brothers to hold on to his other hand so that he won’t fall in but the current is too strong and quickly pulls all of them in. They are tossed in the strong current over rocks and debris through the rapids and eventually are thrown up on the river bank. After recovering from the ordeal they find that they are in a foreign land in a village of savages. eventually , one by one they each begin to become a part of the savages among whom they live.

The rest of the story, as i said, deals with redemption and restoration so it does have a happy ending :) But the point is, as Bill stated, the danger of getting as close as we can rather than as far away as we can.

We each have a responsibility to strive for a personal holiness, not something we can attain in our own strength and determination but in seeking Christ in every way, in everything, in every moment, letting Him take our every thought captive, trusting that He has spoken every spiritual blessing over our lives and that whatever boundaries He has put up are for our protection, not to deprive us. When we determine to pursue the river, whatever that river may be in our own life, we are pursuing our own destruction.
Everyone of us has been “down river” a time or two, some take shorter trips than others, but they all begin the same way – by getting to close to the waters edge and thinking we are stronger than the current.
D

]]> By: Bill http://axegrinder.org/2005/09/16/proximity-to-sin/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Bill Mon, 19 Sep 2005 13:14:48 +0000 http://axegrinder.org/?p=15#comment-14 I have noticed, through many more years in youth ministry than I care to admit, that youth, and adults, tend to see how close we can come to sin without actually sinning. When we talk about dating, the question will eventually be asked, "How far is too far?" We want a line that we can get as close to as possible, but not sin. I tell the kids, that's the wrong question. The right question is, "It it holy?" Instead of seeking a line to keep from crossing, we should seek an arrow that points us away from sin and back to God. We should do our best to get as far away from sin as possible, not try to get close to it! I think that your observation is right on! Bill I have noticed, through many more years in youth ministry than I care to admit, that youth, and adults, tend to see how close we can come to sin without actually sinning. When we talk about dating, the question will eventually be asked, “How far is too far?” We want a line that we can get as close to as possible, but not sin. I tell the kids, that’s the wrong question. The right question is, “It it holy?” Instead of seeking a line to keep from crossing, we should seek an arrow that points us away from sin and back to God. We should do our best to get as far away from sin as possible, not try to get close to it! I think that your observation is right on!
Bill

]]>