Don't Be a "Dem as" 9-10-13

“Hear the Word, accept it, and bear fruit.” 
Mk. 4:20

Demas allowed the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches and desires for other things choke the Word (2 Tim. 4:10; Mar. 4:19). ~Let's not be akin to Demas and leave our first love for this captivating seductress.

May we not only hear the Word, but also truly accept it.

“Accept” meaning to acknowledge God’s words as our own, to take them upon our self, to receive God’s words as they are, not some twisted version to fit our fancies.

How about we explore a present day example:  The “twisted version-ing” of genuine love:

Most people agree, and time and history have proven that loving a child through permissive parenting doesn’t produce the most favorable teenager. True. But why? The bottom line: Permissive, tolerant, accommodating “love” isn’t TRUE LOVE at all,
and the teenager knows it!

True love embraces what is BEST for another, what’s actually in this child’s BEST interest, and not necessarily what “the child feels is best”.

~If a parent truly loves their child, the parent will NOT let little Johnny

do anything he wants, when he wants, how he wants and with whom he wants.

Makes sense, right?  ~Then why should genuine love be any different for adults (two year olds in grown up bodies)?

In today’s culture, many adults believe we should be embraced, even applauded, for doing what we want, when we want, how we want and with whom we want. And if someone questions our intent or actions, we scream “judge/terrorist/bigot/hater!” and demand our “rights”.

If this were a 2 year old, what would you call him? Uh-huh, exactly.

Interesting. Our culture demands that we don’t care about what’s in the best interest of another, merely that we embrace whatever feels best at the time for another, regardless of founded future costs and pain produced.

Well, contrary to societal standards, if you see Shaun or Betsy flirting with a captivating seductress, PLEASE speak up!  We do NOT desire to be “a Dem as”.

I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea.

They sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the One sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.” Rev. 5:13

Blessing and honor and glory and power are His, no one else’s. Jesus pours out unfathomable blessings to us as we live our lives to His glory …may this be our foundational reality this week.

Much love, ~Shaun and Betsy