THE DOWNWARD WAY

"For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you.
They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and DENY Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord"
(Jude 1:4 NIV).

There are some D words in the Scriptures that are warnings for us. I am sorry that this is not a very positive devotion as I much prefer to only write positive words. However, I must be faithful to the whole counsel of God. We as parents must also be faithful to all that God says in His word--the challenges as well as the lovely promises we like to claim. Therefore, because we want to hear all that God says to us, let's face the following warnings that lead to the downward path and teach them to our children also.

You will notice that God uses very strong words.

1. IT'S DAMNATION

a) To blaspheme against the Holy Spirit. Mark 3:29 says, "He that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation."

b) To eat of the bread and wine at communion and yet still live in sin. 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 says, "Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. . . . For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself . . . "

c) To despise the truth and instead take pleasure in unrighteousness (2 Thessalonians 2:12).

2. IT'S DANGEROUS

Matthew 5:21, 22 tells us that to be angry with someone without a cause is dangerous.

3. IT'S DECEPTION

a) To serve any other god except Him. Deuteronomy 11:16 says, "Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them."

It's interesting that God uses the word "deceived" when speaking about other gods as it is a very fine line. It is very easy to become passionate about something such as exercise, diet, or even a multi-level marketing selling and not even realize that it is taking more of our love and passion than God Himself.

a) To read God's Word and yet not obey it. James 1:22 says, "Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."

b) To continue living in sin and yet think we'll still get to Heaven. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (ESV) says, "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." Of course there will be thousands of such people in Heaven, but those who have been washed from their sin by the blood of Jesus. However, to continue in these sins bars us from Heaven.

c) To be prideful. Obadiah 1:3 says, "The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee."

4. IT'S DELUSION

Thessalonians 2:10-11 tells us that when someone will not receive the love of the truth in order to be saved, God sends them a delusion.

5. IT'S DENIAL

There are many Christians today who think they can live in immorality, fornication, and adultery and get away with it. That's not what the Bible says. Jude 1:4 (NLT) says, "Some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God's marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have DENIED our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ." To live this way is to deny our Lord and Savior. Our "tolerance" to these sins does not change God's Word! Read the warnings in the rest of Jude 1.

6. IT'S DESPISING

Proverbs 15:32 says, "He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getting understanding."

7. IT'S DESTRUCTION

a) To walk with the wrong crowd. I raised our children on the following Scripture: "He that walks with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed" (Proverbs 13:20). Encourage your children to memorize this Scripture.

Especially as children get into their teens they become very aware of their peers and want to be like them. However, the young people they hang out with can determine their destiny. Many precious young people have gone astray from the faith, and even into rebellion, because they got into the wrong company. As parents, we must carefully guard the friendships of our children. This is one of the blessings of homeschooling. Many children from Christian families go astray, and are often destroyed, because of finding the wrong friends at school.

b) To refuse reproof and harden your heart. Proverbs 29:1 (NIV) says, "Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed--without remedy."

c) To be proud. Proverbs 16:18 says, "Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."

d) To speak foolish words. Proverbs 18:7 says, "A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul." Read also Proverbs 10:14 and 13:3.

e) To choose the easy way. Matthew 7:13 (ESV) says, "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many."

8. IT'S DEMONIC

To have envy and strife in your heart is devilish. James 3:14-15 (HCSB) says, "But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don't brag and deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic."

Now lift up your head, for next devotion I will share about the DELIGHTFUL way.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

www.aboverubies.org

 

PRAYER:

Dear God and Father, please save me from ever entering any of these downward paths. Please anoint me powerfully to keep my children from these paths. Amen."

 

AFFIRMATION:

The downward path is not for me,

On the upward path I choose to be!