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Devotionals 2002

Pt 3 Loving God More
November 6, 2002By Ed Wrather

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. - Matthew 22:37-38. 

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. - Luke 6:45. 

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things. - Philippians 4:8. 

Richard, serving a 12-year prison sentence writes, “My downward spiral that has led me to where I am today began at the age of 14 when I used to read my father’s Playboy, Penthouse and other adult magazines. It progressed on to a sexual addiction that involved many one-night stands, prostitutes and affairs while married. My addiction advanced until I committed sexual abuse against a child…If anyone reading feels they are hurting no one by viewing a ‘little pornography,’ I challenge them to take a hard look at everything they are doing in their lives. Just like with alcohol, not everyone that views pornography will necessarily become addicted to it. But just like alcohol, for those that do, it can become a destructive, controlling force in their lives.” (From letter written to Rick Shatz, President and CEO of Coalition for the Protection of Children & Families - National Coalition dot org) 

GIGO - the computer fact of garbage in garbage out is a fact in our human lives as well. When we put garbage into our lives, we are going to see garbage come out. Richard in his letter above describes how his life was trashed as a result. If we put the garbage of pornography or of drugs and alcohol into our lives, we will see a downward spiral into the nightmare of addiction resulting in our lives being trashed. 

If we are to love God more, we must control what enters into our lives. If the Lord is on the throne in your heart, then allow Him to filter and control what comes into your mind and life. If you love God with all of your mind you will be careful to think about those things commended to us in Philippians 4:8. Take captive those thoughts and things that are in opposition to God in the Name of Jesus (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). 

To love God more we must fill our minds and lives with the good and then good will flow out of us to the world around us. Instead of spiraling down let us spiral up - closer and closer to our Lord (James 4:7-8).


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