Promises to Self

“Self,” I said to myself … Do you ever talk to yourself?  Enough that people are beginning to worry a bit about you?  I think I do – but I wish I had started much earlier. A couple of biblical stories reminded me that making promises to Self is a pretty good thing.

I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid? (Job 31:1 KJV)

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. (Daniel 1:8 KJV)

We’ve been told that teenagers can’t control their sexual urges. Apparently adults can’t either. We’ve also been told that there’s no harm in this, that anything goes as long as it does not harm another. If it feels good, do it.  If the urge is there, give in to it – unless, of course … but those ‘unless’ reasons are lessening.

No, I don’t think the ‘younger generation’ is going downhill.  I think mankind as a whole is sloughing off spiritual for the carnal. That’s nothing new at all. Today, with the vast communication advances, we hear more of what’s happening and with the billions on earth, there is more of the carnal available to be seen. There are also billions of dollars to be made in providing it to others. If it feels good, do it. We’ve all heard the advertising.

The “Thou shalt not”s are simply ways to control people, or so I’ve read. It’s a method to concentrate power, taking it away from those who buy into organized religion.

Well, if you’ll listen to our pastor over a few months you’ll hear that we aren’t so organized. In fact, our church put out an album done by our choir and musicians named “Just a little unorganized.” Instead, we are a group of people drawn together by like beliefs. We’ve come by different paths to the same conclusion – Jesus is the Christ, promised in the Old Testament, fulfilled in the New Testament. We’ve accepted His offered mercy, His saving grace, through faith.

We have failed in so many different ways, but we do much better following His doctrine, which includes making covenants and purposing in our hearts to keep them. We are less imperfect when we follow the instructions He has laid out in His word.

There does come a time, however, when our instructions are different. When it becomes necessary, if dialog ends and doors are closed with vitriolic orders to stay away:

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. (Matthew 10:14 KJV)

I do believe this verse could refer to us, too.  If we can’t get Self to receive Him, hear His words, do you think He’d hesitate to shake off dust?