Reject all that is contrary to the Word of God.
Those were the words that hit me like a ton of bricks at Mass in the prayer right after the Lord Have Mercy. I was spacing out from lack of sleep–that woke me up!
Those words were God’s confirmation to me that I did the right thing in a recent situation that was tormenting me.
The world around us screams sin is ok! You can be whatever sex you want rather than respecting you are made in the image and likeness of God and He doesn’t make mistakes. “Nice” people go to heaven. It’s ok to murder babies. It’s women’s rights after all! (What about the baby’s or the father’s rights? Or what does God who creates the life say?)
There are crazy TV ads about saving elephants. Why do people think it is more virtuous to save an elephant than a human life? You really have to start to wonder unless your eyes are so closed you can no longer see.
You shall indeed hear but not understand, you shall indeed look but never see. (Matthew 13:14)
But! As Christians, we must continually reject everything that is contrary to the Word of God. Yet how often do we actually do it?
There is too much evil being thrown at us each and every day. Do we just go along with the culture and what everyone else says is ok? Or do we FIRST check it against what God says?
Sadly even many churches are steering people in the wrong direction — hanging rainbow flags, not preaching about sin, tolerating immorality, on and on.
Do we always take a stand for Christ and the truth of the Gospel? Or do we wimp out?
There is an evil world out there. The devil is alive and well. He is the prince of this world and is the great deceiver, tempter, accuser. In John 12:31 Jesus says, “Now judgment is upon this world; now the prince of this world will be cast out.”
Christ has overcome. We do not have to fear. We can go forward boldly. To live and preach the truth.
The problem is that evil starts insidiously at first. We may barely notice it. Or we let it go, turning a blind eye, thinking it will take care of itself or just go away.
But just like a weed, if we don’t chop it out right away when we first see it AND at it’s root, it grows and grows, unwanted! Choking out life and truth.
I have seen garden weeds at least 5 feet tall! The weeds will choke out the other beautiful plants. In time, we may not be able to distinguish a weed from other plants if they mingle in amongst them too far and wide.
Unfortunately my flowers never seem to grow well but the unwanted weeds ALWAYS do! This mirrors the sinful human condition if you ask me.
The slaves of the householder came to him and said, “Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?” He answered, “An enemy has done this.” (Matt. 13:27-28)
We need to know our enemy and how it behaves in order to conquer it.
But we can just as well spread good seed like the farmer but we have to make the effort. We need to keep the weeds at bay or they will continue growing if no one stops them. They will choke the very life out of us. We must conquer evil with good, but we cannot sit back complacently. Or wait for someone else to do it.
When we are faced with a decision about what to do morally or spiritually, we can ask ourselves: Is it contrary to the Word of God?
If it is, don’t take part in it. Stand firm. Work against the evil however you can. Do not let it run rampant.
A phrase that drives me crazy is “What would Jesus do?” (WWJD) Don’t be deceived. People have a lot of wrong ideas about what Jesus would do. Often it more accurately describes what THEY would like to do
So be careful because the devil is always on the prowl looking for someone to destroy. Many things can look good on the surface but at their core they may be rotten.
Find other Christians for strength. There is power in numbers. That is why they want to silence us.
Ask forgiveness for when we screw up and do better next time.
And Always Stay On Guard. Ask for God’s help to always:
REJECT ALL THAT IS CONTRARY TO THE WORD OF GOD.
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes looks straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. (Proverbs 4:23-27)
