Some sage advice from Paul and James.  Hearken Diligently to some Godly council.

1 Corinthians 10:14
“Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.”

Flee from idolatry.  The Lord means business.

Exodus 201-4
King James Version (KJV)
“And God spake all these words, saying,
I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.  Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.”

The Lord is pretty clear.  He wants our undivided love and obedience.   We must learn to love, listen and obey Him. 

He has delivered us, gave His life for us.  His desire and direction for our life, will always be better then our own.

Philippians 2:12
“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

Work out your own salvation:  Your own, is the key here, as much as we want everyone to know and love the Lord.  You are the one who counts.

As we grow in the Lord, we grow in the Fruit, people are attracted to tasty food.  The Lord should be a good taste in their mouths.

When they interact with us, our personality, honesty, trustworthiness, joy of and love of the Lord. Should draw them to ask, “what in our life, is different? ”  Why are we ….?

If we work on our selves,  others will notice.

“with fear and trembling”

Should we be in fear, trembling?  We should know the Lord wants us to be Holy, Separated unto Him, (sanctified), Consecrated,  (our lives dedicated to His Service).   Our minds renewed by the washing of the Word.  Our Faith increased by praying in the Holy Spirit.

Knowing the Lord, should relieve us, of Fear of Damnation and Hell….we are delivered from sin and death.  Our concern should be, of how we miss the mark.  Knowing we are forgiven, if and  when we realize it and repent.

James 1:19
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”

“swift to hear,”

How often have I heard what I wanted and not what was said, or meant? 

How often have we taken offense, where none was meant? 

Or Ingnored what we didn’t want to hear. 

The world refuses to hear and recognize the Love, Mercy and Grace of the Lord.  Pray that theirs ears are opened to the truth.

“slow to speak”

Boy, this is a lesson that is hard for me.  Like Peter, I am apt to say, “Not me Lord, I’ll never deny you.”   You know what happens.

Psalm 39:1
King James Version (KJV)
“I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.”

James 1:25-27
King James Version (KJV)
“But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.  Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

James 3:1-10
King James Version (KJV)
“My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.  For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.  Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.  Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”
Proverbs 6:2
“Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.”
12-14
” A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.  He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;  Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.”
16-19
“These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”

Our tonuges, what comes out of our mouth, is often a problem.  It reveals what is in our hearts.  Is it truth and life or sin and death?

2 Peter 3:14
“Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things,  be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”

“Such things”
2 Peter 3:13b
“look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”

We are looking for the promises of God, will we be found to be in peace, without spot, blameless?  Will we dwell in righteousness?

Again we must live a life of repentance.   Knowing when we miss the mark and be willing to turn from sin  to the Lord.

The only righteousness we have is given to us by the blood of Jesus.  He has bought and paid for all, only those who accept Him will profit.

If you want your friends and family to come to know the Lord,  do as I say, not as I did.  Love them in the love of the Lord.

John 3:17
“He came not to condemn the world, but that through Him the world might be saved.”

Lord, open my eyes and heart, to obedience and service.