Tolerance

The Bible tells us that in the last days, men will call good evil and evil good. I believe we are living in that time right now. We live in a time when sin is tolerated too much. It is now considered "normal" to live together before marriage, lying and cheating are no longer frowned but practically required in the business world. Sinful lifestyles are to be "accepted" nowadays and if you don't you are quickly labeled "intolerant".

Well, I am sick and tired of it and so is God.

But I can't change the world. I will let God take care of that (and He will). But one thing I can change is me.

As I thought about the word "tolerance" this week, I asked God to show me what He wanted me to learn about it. I have to admit, I don't quite think I was prepared for His answer.

Christian, before we get our bony, pointy finger of judgment in position and ready to aim it at the wicked and sinful world, we must get up and stand in front of a mirror and wave that bony finger at ourselves first.

That is what God told me about tolerance this week. What am I allowing or tolerating to permeate my life that God would not allow? The words I speak, would He tolerate them? The thoughts I think, would He tolerate them? The shows I watch, the music I listen to...would God tolerate any of it?

"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written. Be ye holy; for I am holy." 1 Peter 13-16

That is the highest standard imaginable, one of which I am always short of obtaining, however I must continually strive for.

God pinpointed something in my life this week though about this subject of tolerance. He highlighted the selection of music found on my iPod. Now, I have plenty of good music on there but there are some songs on there that don't need to be...songs that He would not tolerate and therefore, I should not tolerate. So this week, I am going through my iTunes and doing some much needed cleaning. After the iPod, I am know there are more areas of my life God will highlight and have me examine, but this blog is a devotional, not a confessional. :)

But I do ask you, Christian, take some time this week, or better yet, take some time today and ask God to help you examine your life. What are you tolerating? Would God tolerate it, too?