The Plumbline

Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. (Philippians 2:14-16 NLT) Do everything - not some things, or just the things that feel good, but all things. Without complaining or arguing - now scripture has gone to meddling, hasn't it? We might be able to say we are willing to do some things without complaint, but ALL things? The more we complain, the less we invest. The more we argue, the further from the point we find ourselves. No wonder God asks us to do ALL things without complaint or argument! If we want to shine like bright lights in a very dark world, we need to put aside our need to always be right, always be in control, and always be heard. Sometimes we just need ...

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. (Galatians 5:16 NLT) While none of us is immune to 'cravings', we can do a great deal to 'curb' them. Do a simple Google search and you will find all kinds of ways to 'curb' cravings depending on which type of craving you have. People share their insights into food, substance, or habit cravings in order to help others eliminate their own. It is always wise to learn from others who have gone through and come out the other side of some form of craving, isn't it? Then why would we neglect the guidance of the Holy Spirit in helping to curb the cravings of our sinful nature? It is futile to think we can just 'ignore' sinful cravings. Our sin nature makes those desires known over and over again. We don't know how to curb them on our own, so we need the assistance and wisdom of the one who knows not only what will 'curb' them, but what will a...