“You are not your own; you were bought at a price.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
All women like candles. I like candles. Therefore, I am a woman! The combination of these statements are an example of an illogical statement with a false conclusion. One tipping point lies in the word ‘all!’ All ladies do NOT like candles. Furthermore, making a dogmatic statement applicable to a particular group does not ALWAYS apply. Sometimes the logic stinks!
Most of our folks at church like smelly candles. Their glow and scent can provide a welcome, cozy feel. But yesterday I felt a little silly at the candle place, talking scents, with the sales gal. She was describing combinations of various smells in terms foreign to me. “‘Hawaiian Christmas’ carries the softness of pine with the warmth of tropical fruit!’” All I could say was, “uh…I’ll take one!” Which MAY become contrary to my mission! Let me explain.
Visiting my daughter 2 days before was what prompted my visit to the candle store. Someone had given her a candle that, when lighted, gave her a headache! She doesn’t want a headache… so she gave the candle to ME! Well, not to ME… to my wife THROUGH me. It was hers, now it was mine, I gave it to my wife… with an addendum! “Don’t get TOO thrilled… this one MAY give me a headache!” An hour later I asked her to please blow it out. Her response? “I’ll take it to work.”
In today’s ‘me’ generation, (which in my opinion includes everyone from WW II to today) the personal idea of ‘I can do what I want’ has slipped from opinion to law. Abortion, illegal immigration, trans-gender and socialist ideas are being radically forced upon the many… for the benefit of the few. Unfortunately, once those candles of thought are lighted, the results can easily give the rest of us quite a headache. Fortunately, God has something to say about the subject. “You are not your own!”
“I don’t belong to me,” will sound like an offensive lie to the majority… a smelly stench to those who think they can do as they please. If there was no God, they might have a good point! But sometimes, even those of us who KNOW God snort at the smell of this particular truth. Since ALL of us want things to be, or work out, our own way. MOST of us have been guilty of trying to force our wills on others. Admittedly, even ‘I’ have been known to try to tell GOD what to do! A stinky business at best!
LOVE is NOT a feeling. It is a decision! An ‘Act’ to DO something, that is usually contrary to the will of the self. It is NOT a request… but a COMMAND by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! We know it when we do it. We stink when we don’t! Jesus said that Believers are ‘The Light of the World.’ I believe He also implied… “as much as possible… try hard not to ‘stink’ in the process!” It is a way that just makes scents!
