THE BEACON - Electronic Edition - 5/6/02 "Make No Provision For The Flesh" How do we win the fight against fleshly lusts? Several answers come to mind. Pray. Fill your heart with God's word. Fill your time with spiritually beneficial activities. Associate with people who will influence you for good. In Romans 13:14 Paul identifies another key: "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts." To make provision for something is to think ahead, to make plans, to provide opportunities. Paul's word literally means forethought. Its other occurrence is in Acts 24:2, where the lawyer Tertullus praised Felix, the governor, because through his "providence" beneficial reforms were occurring throughout the land. Obviously, making no provision for the flesh requires that we not plan ways of fulfilling illegitimate carnal lusts. But it goes beyond that. It requires that we think ahead and, when possible, avoid even the opportunity for such conduct. Here is the principle in action. Teens, when you are planning a date, make no provision for fleshly lusts. Do not go to movies that glorify sensuality and fornication, and thereby arouse desire. Stay away from dances for the same reason. Be selective about parties; skip those where alcohol is featured. Avoid dark, lonely sites that provide the occasion for unchaste behavior. Parents, when arranging your homes, make no provision for fleshly lusts. It may make me unpopular in some circles to say so, but when you allow your kids to have televisions, phones, and internet-connected computers in their bedrooms, you are providing a world of possibilities for wrong conduct. Families, when you are purchasing in-home entertainment, make no provision for fleshly lusts. If you don't subscribe to cable or satellite channels which air nudity and "adult" content, there will be no opportunity for any family member to watch it. If you refuse to listen to profanity, you will be much less likely to speak it. Shoppers, when you are choosing your clothes, make no provision for fleshly lusts. Plenty of modest choices exist for those concerned about such things. Err on the side of caution. Don't underestimate the appeal of exposed or accentuated flesh. Brethren, when you place membership at a congregation, make no provision for fleshly lusts. Realize up front that you won't always get your way, that others may be more talented than you, that we are all working together for the same cause. Remind yourself of that often and give thanks for your brethren. If you want to know what this last point is doing here, read Paul's illustrations of fleshly conduct in Romans 13:13. Let's not deceive ourselves into thinking that strife, jealousy, and bickering are any less carnal or any less sinful than drunkenness or fornication. No matter the sin, make no provision for fleshly lusts. - by Frank Himmel ______________________________________________ Does He Mean This Much to You? Some people never grow too old, or too tired; nor do they live too far from the meeting house to be present for every service. The weather never gets too hot, nor too cold, as long as travel is possible. It is never too dry, never too wet, but that some people make arrangements to be at worship. Do you think it is strange that people should act that way? Not at all. They attend services because of their relation to Christ. To them He is more than life or death, joys or sorrows; more than earthly comfort, entertainment or earthly gain. Christ is their all in all. Such people do not have to tell their neighbors how much they love the Lord. Everyone knows that they do by the way they live. The apostle Paul said, "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Phil. 1:21) "I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live: yet not I, but Christ lives in me, and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of Him who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Gal. 2:20) -via Old Paths II, Jamestown, IN ______________________________________________ Obey The Law! "The speed limit is set too low on that stretch of road! How can they expect a person to drive that slow?" "The tax law is too complicated. No one can figure it out!" "I know I'm supposed to report that, but no one does these days. I don't think it matters." Self-justification comes pretty easily, doesn't it? We're speaking specifically here about our obligations concerning civil law. It's not hard to rationalize our misbehavior - to make excuses for our sins! God's word is amazing clear on this subject. Read Romans 13:1-5: "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. {2} Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. {3} For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: {4} For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. {5} Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake." Do you see it? You need to obey civil law because there is the real possibility that you will be caught and punished if you don't. But, beyond that, the Christian has the higher motivation of maintaining a pure conscience before God. If you violate the laws of the land, God holds you spiritually accountable. Would you want to lose you soul for a few extra MPHs, or a few dollars shaved off your tax bill? Other passages repeat the same message (see 1 Peter 2:13,14; Eccl. 8:2-5). As Christians, let's be sure that we are obeying the law - obeying God in the process - and setting a good example before others. - by Greg Gwin ______________________________________________ Trends . . . Americans are conflicted over the centrality of religion to personal morality. The public is split about equally over whether belief in God is necessary for one to be a moral person (50% say such belief is not needed, 47% disagree). There is somewhat more agreement that children raised with religious faith are more likely to grow up to be moral adults. Six-in-ten (61%) believe this, but about a third hold that children raise without religion are just as likely to grow up to be moral. A comparable majority (58%) says the strength of American society is predicated on the religious faith of its people, while 36% think that society would be strong even if most Americans lacked religious faith. - via Pew Research Center Ephesians 6:4 "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." _____________________________________________ Some quotes worth pondering . . . "How good a parent you are may depend on whether you think teenagers HAVE problems or ARE problems." "The true disciple is obedient rather than ambitious, committed rather than competitive. For him, nothing is more important than pleasing the one who called him." "Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records." "You need long-range goals to keep you from becoming discouraged by short-range failures." ______________________________________________ News from Collegevue . . . May 5, 2002 It's a delight to see you here today and to be able to join together in studying The Word and worshipping Almighty God. Thanks for coming. If you are visiting with us today, please accept our special welcome and our invitation to return at your earliest opportunity. BAPTISMS: We are so glad to report two baptisms during the past week. Kay Cook and Abraham Montano both confessed their faith and were baptized for the remission of sins. Please pray for them as they live their lives for the Lord. Continue to pray for those who are sick, including: Kermit Abner, James Sanders, Twila Dozier, Norma Goodman, Robert Vick, Lucille Vick's brother, Joyce Calahan's mother, Ellon Quillen's mother, and others. Our sympathy goes out to Mary Riggins and her family in the recent death of her mother. The funeral was held on Thursday. We hope you will be praying every day for the work in Cuba. Greg and Larry Paden will be leaving on Tuesday for 10 days of preaching and teaching there. The daily devotional study books for May & June have arrived. Pick up your copy today. This evening we'll meet at 5:30 for a period of song practice. We'll especially be working on some new songs. Please come. Colletta Poole has a new address. Update your directories to show her at 1502 Kinzer Lane, Apt. 11B, Columbia, TN 38401. Figures for the week of 4/28/02: Sun.: AM, 164; PM, 133; Wed., 157; Contrib., $3759 ______________________________________________ "The Beacon - Electronic Edition" is sent out weekly from Columbia, TN, and contains articles and information taken from the most recent "paper" bulletin of the Collegevue Church of Christ. We hope you will use this material in any way you can that will glorify our Father. Please give proper credit to the respective authors. - Greg Gwin ggwin@edge.net