Day 28 - Four Things

Today's Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:1-21

Today's Devotional: When it comes to cultural toxins, the bottom line is that we must flee from sin and the things that can cause us to sin. Instead, we must strive for a life of purity. Strive for the things that matter to God and not for the things that matter to others.

Response by: Chad Schuchmann
We are NOT a body with a soul...we ARE a soul with a body.

This phrase is prevalent throughout this devotional series and through what Pastor Craig has preached on over the past four Sundays. Last week, Pastor Craig preached about Good, Great and Supreme.

So often, we focus on good and important things, but in doing so, we neglect the supreme. I've often found myself echoing this when it comes to our spiritual lives. As a father, I understand the desires parents have for their kids to gain a good education, a good job, get married, have kids, be successful...but these are all societal and cultural desires and influences. These are not necessarily bad choices but the question is, are they the supreme things we should focus on?

What about our souls? Why are we are so concerned with the next 60-80 years of the lives of our kids and yet often neglect what happens after that? What about their eternity?

When it comes to cultural toxins, it is very easy to get swept in and consumed. Instead, Paul suggests something different for Timothy in four steps (vs 11-12)

1. Flee Cultural Toxins
2. Pursue Righteousness
3. Fight The Good Fight of Faith
4. Take Hold of Eternal Life

Does this mean we stop reaching for the positive and good things we desire for our families, our children and those we love? Certainly not. But it does suggest we put our focus first on that which is most important, which is eternal, which is forever.

We are NOT a body with a soul...we ARE a soul with a body!

Something to talk about: What things do you need to start focusing on that will help you draw closer to Christ?

Day 27 - The Clear Lens

Today's Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-17

Today's Devotional: When we interpret everything according to God's Word and the purity of His truth, we will realize there are a lot of things people are doing that really don't draw us closer to God. This is why it's important that we test everything according to God's Word because the Bible contains absolute truth. God's Word should be our guide. Why do you think it is so difficult to filter out cultural toxins in today's society?

Response by: Nick Baker

I recently went to the eye doctor for a checkup. I prepared myself for the anxiety-ridden exercise of “Which looks better…number 1 or number 2? Number 3 or number 4?” And so on…and so on. It’s not hard. All you have to do is validate which option is clearer. But sometimes it’s tough to differentiate. Sometimes “number 1” is sort of clearer than “number 2”. And sometimes “number 3” is a little sharper than “number 4”, but “number 4” seems a little brighter than “number 3”. I don’t want to get this wrong. This is my vision we’re talking about. One slip and I’ve got lenses that are an inch thick. That is a lot of pressure!

In his second letter to Timothy, Paul warns that Timothy will come upon people who are opposed to Christ’s teachings. But, if he focuses on the truth and understands the impact of Paul’s obedience, sufferings, and perseverance, Timothy will see that the Lord can deliver believers from a sinful environment. Further, Paul challenges Timothy to bring others along for the ride and to view the world around them with the love of Christ on their heart; focusing on the truth found in scripture.

We are also charged to view our daily surroundings through the different lenses of the world and of Christ. Sometimes the heavenly lens looks sharper than the worldly one…but other times, it seems like the difference is negligible. Paul reminds us that if we want to see the truth in clear, high definition, we need to view our surroundings through the perfect lens of Jesus. There is no other lens that is as sharp as that of the Lord’s. We don’t have to worry about trying to determine if the lens of man is better than the lens of God. The lens of God is always crystal clear.

Something to talk about: What lens are you viewing your landscape through? If things look a bit cloudy, is it time to get a new prescription? If you shed the toxic blinders over your eyes, how much clearer is the view?

Day 26 - Inspect Every Action

Today’s Scriptures:  1 Thessalonians 5:21-28 and Psalms 24:1-6

Today’s Devotional:  How do you deal with cultural toxins when you encounter them? You test them by asking these questions: 

1. Am I being entertained by sin? 
2. Is this pleasing to God?
3. Does this lure me away from Christ?
4. What are some things you can do to completely remove cultural toxins from your life?

Response by: Jay Vance

From Psalm 24:

(3)Who may climb the mountain of the Lord?  Who may stand in his holy place?  (4)Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies.  (5)They will receive the Lord’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior.

After reading the devotional, I read what David said in Psalms.  I enjoyed the imagery that it gives, a visual in what it takes to reach the glory of God.  Only those who are pure will receive the blessing of the Lord and climb his mountain.  But how do we go about getting there?  The questions asked provide us some great insight.  What are the things that entertain us, and are those activities pleasing to God?  If they are, fantastic; but if not, then why do we continue to do them?  I think that the three questions posed above are a wonderful guide for us to follow when making ANY decision.  Especially the third question, does this lure me away from Christ?  If the activity we are considering is moving us away from God, why do it?  

Remember what we are told in Thessalonians 5:  

(21)but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. (22)Stay away from every kind of evil.

Something to talk about:  How would looking at the questions posed above change your life?  Would it affect a large number of decisions in your life? 

Day 25 - Filter

Today's Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:12-14 & 2 Corinthians 6:17-18

Today's Devotional: It's very easy to get trapped by cultural toxins because it's easy to rationalize them in our head. Most of us have probably had the following thought: what may be dangerous for you may not be dangerous for me. God's Word says something different. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 6 that just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

Response by: Morgan Coil

The standards I use to filter out my cultural toxins are my values. When faced with a cultural toxin such as a bad word, bad music, or bad behavior I try and reference back to my values... Do I value this "toxin" more than what matters to me the most? When I have my values in check, it's much easier to say no and fight these cultural toxins. What helps even more is to physically write out what you value so they're easy to reference to.

As far as my standards matching God's, I obviously am his imperfect child so my system of filtering is not always in it's prime condition. But the neat thing about the system of filtering I try to follow is that it's another reason to have a deep connection with The Lord. Taking the time to just pray and find your values within your inner self is powerful!

Something to talk about: What standards are you using to filter out cultural toxins in your life? How well do you think your standards match God's?

Day 24 - Can You See The Toxins

Today's Scripture: 1 Corinthians 5:6-8, 2 Corinthians 7:1, John 15:1-17

Today's Devotional: When it comes to cultural toxins, a little bit of poison can go a long way. As a result, it's important that we strive to cleanse those toxins from our system before they do long-lasting damage to our lives.

Response by: Doug Giffin

As I sit here snacking on a Reese’s and drinking a Dr. Pepper I’m having a tough time coming up with any cultural toxins present in my life.  Maybe tonight while I watch t.v. it will come to me.  I may have to think long and hard but I should have plenty of time as I have a ton of shows DVR’ed and I can always find a movie or two to watch.  Unfortunately I probably won’t have any time to go to the gym again tonight but I’m sure tomorrow night will be better.  Heck I’ll probably be so busy tonight I’ll never be able to get to that writing project I’ve been thinking about or talk to Brandie or do our taxes.

What are ya gonna do though, huh?  I mean, a guy has to unwind.  I work hard and my job is really stressful.  I owe it to myself to take it easy once in a while and just hang out.  I’ve earned it and I gotta take care of me.  Besides, I give a lot of that hard-earned money to the church anyway and I help out in a whole bunch of ways.  Why, there’s a lot of people that don’t do a fraction of what I do.  I can’t be everything to everyone can I?

Still the fact that I can’t come up with even one cultural toxin that affects me really bugs me.  Any ideas?

Something to talk about: Name a cultural toxin that started out in your life as something small, but grew into something larger. How has that growing toxin polluted you?

Day 23 - Above the Influence

Today's Scripture: Romans 12:1-21

Today's Devotional: The toxic lie so many of us believe is because everyone else does it, it's okay for us and won't harm us. The truth is just because everyone else does it, doesn't mean that it's right for us spiritually.

Response by: Brad Krebs
I love those commercials.  The anti-drug awareness programs that outlined the dangers of drug use, especially on kids.  The message was simple, your life is better when you avoid the negative actions of drug and alcohol use.  By living above the influence your future is much brighter than succumbing to the influence.

The devotional reading from today hits on a similar topic.  It focuses on the lie that if we do what the world is doing, that we will live unharmed and prosperously.  The thought that it doesn’t seem to hurt others, that it won’t hurt us either.  Unfortunately it’s not true.  You may not be physically harmed or emotionally harmed, but it will lead to spiritual harm.  To find more details, we can examine the scripture from today’s reading.  It hits in the first two verses:

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. ~Romans 12: 1-2 

Let your body be a living and holy sacrifice!  Wow, what a demand!  If I was more knowledgeable of biblical history, I would go into great detail about this, but I only know enough to give you a cliffs note version.  In Jewish culture, it was customary that animals offered for sacrifice must be flawless. It would be easy to sacrifice an animal you couldn’t use, but it meant something to you, if it was perfect, and would hurt to lose it, it was a perfect sacrifice.  So to live your life as a living sacrifice God is calling us to live a life free of flaws.  And in verse two, Paul argues that you cannot live this blameless life when you conform to the customs of the world.  When you do things of God, you become closer to God, when you do things of the world, than you grow apart from God.

I know I have used the excuse that it doesn’t affect me.  This movie, or this drink, or this song doesn’t affect my walk with Christ. But honestly, it does.  I am a different person when I neglect my calling of God and live in the customs of the world.  My inner demons get louder and more prevalent, but when I focus on my daily devotions and scripture, and surround myself with what is good, I find it amazing on how much easier life becomes!

Take a look at some of the worldly pressures in your life that are pulling you away.  It is an ongoing battle to be a living sacrifice, but by avoiding the worldly callings, that battle may become a little easier.

Something to talk about: How have you seen toxic influences in your life affect your relationship with God and others?
 

Day 22 - Cultural Toxins

Today's Scripture: Proverbs 25:26-27 & 3 John 1:11

Today's Devotional: Our lives are full of cultural toxins, which are those things that are culturally acceptable, but hurt our souls. Cultural toxins can be found in the books we read, the magazines we read, the music we listen to, the television shows we watch, and in the movies we watch. When we allow cultural toxins into our lives, it pollutes us. This week you will learn what God's Word says about the dangers of cultural toxins and the importance of focusing on things that draw us closer to God.

Response by: Nick Baker

When I was in college, I took a long weekend trip with some friends to Estes Park, Colorado.  We spent one of the days hiking and at one point we came upon this little waterfall and stream.  Two of us decided to take a drink straight from the stream.  We knew the dangers of drinking fresh water that had not been treated…namely, countless bacteria that lived naturally in the water that our bodies were not accustomed to…but we figured “What are the odds that something bad will occur…besides, what’s the worst that could happen?”  Later that day, I learned exactly what those odds were and how bad it could be.  Long story short, I spent the next few hours in an incredible amount of discomfort.

The water looked fine.  It was right in the middle of nature.  Untouched by human hand.  Clean.   Wrong!  Just because the water looked fresh and inviting doesn’t mean that it was made for me.  I learned the hard way that consuming something that looked fine, even though I knew about its toxic elements, had consequences.

Solomon writes in Proverbs 25 that “a muddied spring or polluted well is like a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.” (verse 26)  Once dug, a spring or well should provide clear, clean water.  If it becomes dirty, however, it is polluted, ruined, and no longer provides a benefit.  We are no different.  God created us as clean creatures in His own image.  Unfortunately, we live in an impure world filled with cultural toxins.  When the priorities and influences of earthly desires get into our system, the output is no longer pure.  It has changed to reflect what is within.  The Apostle John warns in his third letter that we need to make sure we don’t copy the toxic world around us.  Instead, we should imitate that which is good, right, and acceptable.  Good comes from God, while evil does not. (verse 11)


Something to talk about: If you were a well, what cultural toxins would be in your water?  How have you seen these toxins pollute your life?  Are you imitating the earth’s evils, or God’s goodness?