Last week, we looked at the importance of being constantly reminded of God’s Word. The Psalmist said ‘Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word’ (Psalms 119:67). Consider also Psalms 119:11.
In Lamentations, I love the attitude of the prophet when he said in Lamentations 3:21 – 24 ‘This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassion fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him’. (Emphasis mine).
However if there is anything we should crave to forget or rid ourselves of, it is ‘filthiness’ and ‘superfluity of naughtiness’.
Other translations render it as ‘uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness (Amplified)’ or ‘moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent (NIV)’.
I desire we consider this from the angle that the Christian ought to lay aside regularly. Christianity isn’t just about amassing some religious form of knowledge. Need we remind ourselves again that ours is a culture borne out of the life we have received in Christ Jesus? In simple words – It is a lifestyle.
Yorubas (A tribe in Nigeria) have a saying that, ‘It is the inability of the mad man to take his eyes off things that causes his luggage to become unduly plenty.’
The Christian ought to realise the Word is not just some other information. It is life. It is our very existence. It defines who and what I live for. In line with this, other irrelevant thoughts, actions, motive ought to give way to the manifestation of God’s word in our lives.
James goes further in chapter three of his glorious epistle to admonish us of the effect of the outpouring of this life in us which should birth a radical change in our speech. Notice the order.
The change is not for the congregation. It is not for the pulpit. But it is a change resonating with the frequency we have been called to in Christ Jesus.
As Christians…
- Darkness ought to give way to light.
- Wickedness ought to give way to righteousness.
- My lust and curiosity for evil ought to be replaced by a continual longing for righteousness.
Back in school I felt I could just switch between lives … Like Dr Jeckyl and Mr Hyde. But a constant look into God’s word leaves me with no other contemplation than we have been called into a single fellowship. 1st Corinthians 1:9; 1st John 1:3. To this, I ought to devote all.
Lastly, Paul again is more graphic when he says that we demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Laying aside all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness is a constant and continuous activity for the believer hinged upon the dawning of God’s word in our lives. Consider 1st Thess 1:9;
To be continued…
Cheers!
-Dr. Bolaji Akanni
