ARE YOU LIVING UP TO YOUR DEDICATION?

Keep Your Vision Clear

We are living in times that are becoming more difficult for Christians. Satan and his agents try to blur the distinction between good and bad, clean and unclean, moral and immoral, ethical and unethical. (Romans 1:24-28; 16:17-19) He has made it so easy for us to pollute our hearts and minds by means of a TV remote control or a computer keyboard. Our spiritual vision can become blurred, or out of focus, so that we fail to discern his crafty acts. Our resolve to live up to our dedication can be weakened and our grip on the "plow" loosened if we compromise our spiritual values. -Luke 9:62; Philippians 4:8.

Paul's words to the congregation in Thessalonica are therefore most timely: "This is what God wills, the sanctifying of you, that you abstain from fornication; that each one of you should know how to get possession of his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in covetous sexual appetite such as also those nations have which do not know God." ( 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5) Immorality has let to some being disfellowshipped from the Christian congregation-those who neglected their dedication to God. They allowed their relationship with God to weaken, so that he no longer counted in their lives. Yet, Paul said: "God called us, not with allowance for uncleanness, but in connection with sanctification. So, then, the man that shows regard is disregarding, not in man, but God, who puts his holy spirit in your." -Thessalonians 4:7, 8.

Next time: What Is Your Determination?

Watchtower, 2001