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Introduction

In this world, it is easy for believers to drift from their core mandate. This owns to the fact that sins are glamorized and they are consistently and systematically presented to believers as attractive or goodies. These capture the attention of believers and prevent them from focusing on Christ Jesus and His teachings.

Attractive Distractions

Excessive and uncontrolled lust is one of the enemies of believers because by it they fall. James teaches believers to be watchful of lust. He warns that
let no man say when he is tempted, he is tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil. He adds that every person is tempted, when he is drawn away of his or her own lust, and enticed. And when lust is conceived, its result is the sin, and sin, when it is completed, results in death (Jas 1:13-15).

Apostle John also cautions believers against worldly lust. He explains that lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and pride of life are all that are found in the world and its people, but lustful life does not come from God the father but the devil (1Jn 2:16-17). A life that is controlled by lust such as adultery or sexual immorality, is uncharacteristic of believers. Therefore, adhering to the control of worldly lust is an enmity to God (Jas 4:4).

Programs presented to our homes through television sets and other media channels, arouse and nurture unwanted lusts in the lives of the children of God. Such programs are made to be attractive to the senses of men so that they could be enticed and lured into unwholesome practices.

Overcoming Attractive Distractions

It needs to be said and understood that the world would pass away with its lust but he that does the will of God abides forever (1Jn 2:16-17). This knowledge should move all people with fear and owe to strive to overcome lustful desires.

All humans have the natural inclination to walk in the lust of the flesh and fulfill its desires (Eph 2:3). According to scriptures, the primary action required on the part of the believer to overcome lustful desire is to walk in the Spirit (Gal 5:16). This means that Christians must live daily by the teachings of Christ and under the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Job did something more practical to remain justified before God. He said that he made a covenant with his eyes; that he would not look lustfully at a young woman (Job 31:1). Believers must learn from Job and discipline the members of their bodies, and not yield them as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin. But they are encouraged to yield themselves unto God as those that are alive from the dead, and their members as instruments of righteousness unto God (Rom 6:13).

Paul also informs us that he was able to avoid attractive distractions and worldly lust by keeping his body and bringing it into subjection. This was done so that after he had preached to others, he himself would not be disqualified (1Co 9:27). Self-discipline is necessary for avoiding distractions. There is the need to restrict the body and bring its members under control so that it does not get what it demands.

Furthermore, “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier” (2Ti 2:4). Christians ought to remain focused on their mission and calling. It is so easy to be engulfed in the affairs of this life but with determination to live right, and with God´s help, we shall overcome.

Conclusion

God desires that believers excel in every area of their lives. In Christ Jesus, this is realizable if we maintain our focus on Christ and consistently avoid attractive distractions. It behooves believers to ignore all evil lusts and serve God with owe. Christ must be made the center of their lives and seek to please God all the days of their lives.

Prayer: May the Lord God empower us all and help us to maintain our focus on God in this evil world. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen!

Introduction

The universe we see today, with its complexity and beauty, is the product of team discussions held by the Most Powerful Beings – God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. They discussed among themselves what kind of universe to be created, What kind of creatures and how should ´man´ look like. Yes, God knows it all but He decided to involve the Son and the Spirit in His creation. No wonder, everything that was created was good (Gen 1:25). Here, the power of two or a team is discussed.

The Creation Story

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth” (Gen 1:26). The ´Let us´ means that God was speaking to some other person (s) but not to himself. But it needs to be mentioned that the ´us´ does not refer to God and His Angels because He does not take decisions with them. In the Kingdom of God, Christ is Superior to Angels. Angels are only ministering beings (Heb 1:5-13, Heb 2:5). Christ and the Spirit of God were actively involved in the work of creation (Col 1:16, Joh 1: 1-3).

The Creation of the Woman

“And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him” (Gen 2:18). As a matter of fact, the original intention of God for creating the male person first was not to leave him eternally lonely because God had already created all animals in pairs; male and female, and had predestined them to reproduce after their own kind. This implies that God had the idea of creating a woman for the man so that they could be fruitful and multiply so as to replenish the earth.

Two are better than One

People with rich social capital, either by marriage or other social relationships, are blessed with good health and long life. As rightly put in the Bible;

“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Ecc 4:9-12).

A person might have a limited view of a phenomenon but two may bring different perspectives to the scene. Two people are expected to discuss issues better than one person. You would have someone to talk to and confide in when you are two. A second person may be able to point out to you areas in life where improvement is needed. One is also able to receive protection, inspiration, and encouragement from another person.

For two persons to be better than one, they must agree (Amos 3:3). In a union where people have different visions and it is characterized by a misunderstanding, then they would not succeed. Jesus affirms that if two people shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, then it shall be done for them of His Father which is in heaven (Mat 18:19).

The highest order of friendship, being a marriage between a man and his wife, is supposed to be stronger than any other form of human relationship but it is not always the case. However, if the Holy Spirit of God is allowed into the marriage, it becomes threefold cord which is difficult to break (Ecc 4:12). It, therefore, depends on us whether or not we shall invite God into our marriages and enjoy them or would reject Him and keep struggling in despair.

Conclusion

People should not choose to be alone all the time because that is risky. Access to social capital is a great gain. Believers need to have persons that they can trust and lean on in times of need. Two persons are able to achieve more than one.

Prayer: May God be the third person in our marriages and relationships so that we shall remain unbreakable in Jesus’ name. AMEN!