You've been taught better

Growing up, my parents had their challenges with me. Not that I was a really bad child (remember, I was the perfect child, right), I just had a curiosity strong enough for three, and enough stupidity to follow through with those curious thoughts.

Anyway, the number of times I heard, "You've been taught better," is innumerable. I can't say I heard it everyday or even once a week but I heard it often enough to know that I had been taught better. My parents instilled in me the way I should act and respond and respect others. However, it took a while for those teachings to take root. I still have to do some hoeing to clean up my act.

Today's word comes from Ephesians 4:22, NIV, which reads, "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires."

There are things in this world that vie for our attention, which are not bad at all. Then, we have the things that tug at us constantly, which come from "deceitful desires". While we are saved and try everyday to put off the old man, those old desires find a way to creep back in. However, we have been taught better.

GOD knows our frame, which is dust; He created us. He knows what we can handle and what we can't. We may try not to acknowledge it but He knows even the thoughts and desires we secretly keep hidden. Paul writes, that we have been taught to put those away; we've been taught better about those former things.

Here's the deal...we can't do it in our earthly strength. We are not strong enough to fight off everything that tries to pull us away from the joy of our salvation. But GOD is! We must listen to His teaching. We must rely on His strength. We must commit to His direction. Then, we can truly put off that old self and live the life GOD intends. We've been taught better!

Be Blessed,
Mickey T