August 25, 2026

Shedding the World

Thriving in a World Bent on Evil

Let's face it, it's not easy being a Christ-follower in a world saturated with evil. One way to help is to read the Scriptures and strive to do what God says is right in His eyes. For example:

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31-32

Walking in that light, as He is in the light, puts us at a disadvantage with worldly participants, the ungodly, those who still walk according to the course of this world, but do we want to be associated with anything that is not of God? When we were drawn to Jesus and chosen as his follower, we left all fear of the repercussions behind and put our trust in him. Yes, we do face trials of many kinds, but the advantages of being a child of the Most High make it worth it because our Father loves us. Like a parent to a child who reaches for a hot stove, He protects our hearts from our most harmful decisions and will stop us from touching that hot stove, but will sometimes let us face the consequences of the less harmful, heart-related decisions as a way to strengthen our resolve and turn to Him with the faith that He will solve our problem. It is also helpful to set aside our anger and let kindness and forgiveness be what others see in us. We want to be known for our love, and not as participants in worldly affairs.

August 24, 2026

Shedding the World

Put On the New Life

We've all met them: people deeply involved in Christian activities who exude something entirely different. It makes you go "hmm" and question their character, or make you think that if they are doing things that you considered unbecoming of a Christ-follower, that maybe it's not wrong, especially if they are the leadership. Hopefully this isn't a description of your character, and you're not one of those who take advantage of God's grace but have changed your life after conversion to transform, as best you can, into the likeness of Jesus. A phrase fits this process: "putting on the new man." 

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24

You've heard it said that "one bad apple can spoil the barrel." A so-called Christ-follower who continues in worldly activities can cause others to find Christianity a stench to their nostrils, and even turn them away from following Jesus. Those people will have to face him at the judgment and give an account for such vile activity. The point is that if you are truly saved, you will put on the new man, and that man, being the image of Jesus, will refrain from doing filthy things that are unbecoming of a Christ-follower and appear to others as righteous and holy.

August 23, 2026

Shedding the World

The Conflict Between Grace and Corruption in the Heart 

Some would say, "Oh, we're not under the law; we are under grace," and that is true, but would you need grace if God's law didn't exist? Did you know people can go to hell with their eyes wide open, aware of God's law? Matthew Henry says it this way: "It is possible for a man to go to hell with his eyes open, illuminated with common convictions, and to carry about with him a self-accusing conscience, even in the service of the devil." They may know God's law and be convinced of their sinfulness, yet continue in behavior opposed to God. Did you also know that there will be people in hell who have said the sinner's prayer but never changed, thinking that those few words will save them from the fire? However, unless they have a change of heart, a soul-crushing conviction when they sin, or a check in their spirit when they are about to cross the line into sin, and turn their life around, they will end up in the very place that they were trying to avoid. If you are truly saved, the law will be written on your heart, and you should have self-awareness when you are about to venture into sinful behavior. If you don't, you should be worried and fearful that you may not be under the grace you sought. Seek salvation in Jesus Christ before it's too late and become filled with the Holy Spirit, who will show you the truth about your state of being. 

Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. Romans 7:20-25

August 22, 2026

 

Shedding the World

There Will Be Signs: The Fruit of the Spirit

I do not doubt that when you are full of the Holy Spirit, there will be outward signs. God, through Paul, gives us a list, but you don’t have to try to achieve this list; you will undoubtedly show these signs if the Holy Spirit lives in you. 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

These signs are what Paul means when he says that when we are in Christ Jesus, we are not under the law because there is no law against having the fruit of the Spirit. You may have to go through trials; we all do, but having the fruit of the Spirit will also prosper you; look at what God says through David in Psalm 1:

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Psalms 1:3

I don’t believe wealth is a sign of godliness, because the enemy can also make you wealthy, but there will be a price to pay; God can bless you with outward prosperity and use it to further His kingdom. David, Job, Jacob, and others who trusted God were very wealthy. However, if you want true prosperity, you will show spiritual fruit outwardly. 

August 21, 2026

Shedding the World

But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:18-21

There is no need for me to expand on each of the works of the flesh that are pointed out in these scripture verses. If you don't know that these things are wrong, then you have a lot more to worry about than which ones you are guilty of, namely your future. However, what is important to take away from this is that you won't participate in these things if you are walking in the Spirit, because the Holy Spirit lives within you and makes it clear to you that they are wrong, and a person who confesses Jesus as their Savior wouldn't participate in such vile activities. That's why Paul emphasizes that we are not under the law. The law brings attention to worldly things, but we are not of this world because of our salvation. 

These scriptures paint a picture of the most heinous sins, but what about the rest? The "such like" included in the verses above? Because Scripture doesn't always point out every detail, we may encounter sinful behavior that isn't as clear to us; that's why we must stay in constant communication with the Father and run our actions past Him by praying before we engage in activities that may cause us to sin. He will give you a check in your Spirit and the option to opt out so you don't cross the line. You will not be tempted beyond your ability to overcome it. 

The more you get to know God by studying the scriptures, the less likely you will participate in activities that break His heart. 

August 20, 2026

Shedding the World

Keep in Step with the Spirit 

The hardest part about staying spiritually minded is living in this world with its enticements. The next hardest thing is realizing that nearly everything we are drawn to is likely unholy. Isaiah 64:6 says, "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." Our spirit and flesh fight against each other all day long, and the only real way to combat it is to stay prayerful, armored, and do our best to act in a godly manner. God's commandments remind us how He expects us to behave, and Scripture lists sinful behaviors throughout the Bible. These things may seem obvious to a Christ-follower because we have the Holy Spirit to remind us, but they may not be as clear to those who walk in the flesh. 

Paul sent a letter to the Galatian church giving them the details of what is considered sinful acts in Galatians 5, and held nothing back. If they were like us, they probably didn't take it very well, because who wants to be called out on their bad behavior? Change comes when you realize that there are things that are unholy that may not necessarily be pointed out in Scripture as sinfulness. Those things may not become obvious until you get to a place in your walk, like Isaiah and Paul, where you then see how dirty you are; that's when your need for our Savior materializes in your mind. Don't get me wrong, we are hidden in Jesus, and thankfully his righteousness becomes ours, but most of us haven't reached Isaiah and Paul's level of holiness where we're so aware of our sinfulness that we think everything we do is filthy. Here's the good news: Jesus accepts us at whatever level of holiness we achieve; you don't have to overthink it.

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Galatians 5:16-17

August 19, 2026

Shedding the World

The Things God Hates

Those That Sow Discord Among the Brethren 

Being a part of a loving church is one of God’s gifts to those who love him, so when someone tries to cause trouble within it, those people often receive the consequences for their actions. John writes a letter to Gaius, an elder of a church. Here is the relevant scripture:

I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. 3 John 1:9-10

John didn’t hold anything back; he told the truth and now that story of strife within a church is published in every Bible. One time, after telling a story about some trouble within a church I attend, I caught some flack for publishing it on social media; I didn’t use a timestamp and no names were used, and I wasn’t being malicious, but the information was helpful as a tool for what we shouldn’t do to others and how we should act as the church body. 

There is a way to tell if you are on the right side of an issue: it’s the way the other people act towards the opposing side. We see this today in the left verse right conflict. My grandson was graduating from kindergarten and the director of the school, who had caused conflict with our church and enticed some of the families in our church to leave with her; she was in charge of his graduation. She had to stay as director to tie up some loose ends before she parted ways. She had invited some of those families to attend to support her; I guess she was afraid of how we would act towards her because she knew that my husband and I would be there to see our grandson graduate. I have never witnessed so many nasty sneers and ugliness towards me and my husband in my entire life. These were people we knew and loved and were supposedly Christ-followers. We had no ill feeling towards them; we just chose not to follow along with their plan to divide the church. I approached the director a couple of times times to tell her that I loved her so she would know that we didn’t have any hard feelings towards her, but instead of receiving me as a sister in Christ, she treated me like I had stolen her candy. She was very nasty towards me. That’s when I knew that we had made the right decision to stay and support our pastor. 

John told the story of Diotrephes to warn the church that his actions were evil. These same things happen in churches today and we should learn from them and remember to keep our focus on Jesus so we don’t veer off the path and turn down the path towards evil. 

Know this: if you are the divider in the church, you are the one who is in the wrong. If you don’t like what’s going on, state your concerns with the authorities and quietly leave. You don’t deserve a trophy or fan fair for your decision. 

Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. 3 John 1:11

August 18, 2026

Shedding the World

The Things God Hates

A False Witness That Speaks Lies

Lying is such a stench to the nostrils of God that it is mentioned twice in the seven things He hates. However, lying on the stand in court takes it to a different level. Not only can it harm a person's reputation, but it can also lead to their punishment, even unto death, if it is a capital offense they are accused of. The best example of this is the accusations against Jesus that led to his death on the cross. We know that he never sinned, but there were people coerced to say that he had, so they could beat him and hang him on the cross to stop him from pointing out the truth about who the Pharisees and Sadducees really were. They were the liars. 

Then there was the story of Naboth, which somewhat reminds me of the story I told yesterday about the pastor. Naboth had a vineyard that Ahab wanted for his own, but Naboth didn't want to sell it to him, so Jezebel devised a scheme to take it from him by accusing him of blasphemy against God and Ahab, the king. She found two witnesses willing to spread that rumor, which in turn caused him to be stoned to death so that she could take the vineyard for her husband, the king. Those vile men lied, bearing false witness against Naboth, causing his destruction so a depressed king could have his garden. 

If you have ever wondered whether the Bible is relevant today, I assure you there is nothing new under the sun. In the story I told yesterday, two men were also coerced to sow discord in the church by saying that because the preacher couldn't control his own family, he wasn't fit to lead a church. It's the unfortunate truth of what a modern-day preacher has to face in this season of deception.

If you are ever called as a witness and find yourself on the witness stand, it is far better to tell the truth and face the consequences of the people rather than face the punishment of God, who hates a liar. 

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: Matthew 15:18-19

August 17, 2026

Shedding the World

The Things God Hates

Feet That Make Haste To Run To Evil

One thing I’ve noticed while studying the things God hates is that a person who commits one is usually the type who commits all of them, often at the same time. A pastor of a small church in a rural town in the South had a wife who was unhappy in their marriage. She was very jealous of him and would break down whenever he spoke with a woman. This man was no womanizer, but sometimes, as a preacher, you may be required to have a conversation with the opposite sex in the public eye. Rather than quietly leaving him, she devised a scheme to keep her position in the church and force him to resign. She even had a new preacher picked out to take his position. She began to set things in motion, but after being caught in a lie about him cheating, and then getting called out by the other person she accused, she began spreading the lie that he was a cheater to all the employees of the church that she had reign over, and if they wanted to keep their job, even if they didn’t believe her, they had no choice but to go along with it. The preacher felt he had no option but to resign; however, the people who knew him, including the church leadership, wouldn’t accept his resignation because they discerned that what they were hearing was an evil scheme with demonic empowerment. Fortunately for this little church, God was still on His throne and gave the preacher the courage to keep preaching and teaching the people who had trusted him. This church could have been dissolved, but that wasn’t a part of God’s plan. It wasn’t easy for the preacher to recover, but Jesus never promised that following him would be easy; in fact, he warned his disciples that they would be persecuted. Fortunately, the preacher had his day in the court of the Lord and received “not guilty” from our compassionate judge.

God hates people who run towards evil rather than turning away from it. If a Christ-follower decides to do their own thing rather than consult with God and listen to His Holy Spirit, they too will reap the consequences of their actions. It’s also not a good idea to devise a scheme against one of God’s anointed.

These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19

He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes; Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm. Psalms 105:14-15

August 16, 2026

Shedding the World

The Things God Hates

A Heart That Devises Wicked Plans

When we look back to 2020 and its timestamp, which we remember so vividly, we find a perfect example of a heart that devises evil plans. From the creation of a virus to the pharmaceutical "solution," there was a common denominator in the wicked plan to experiment on and destroy many lives. Whether this was a certain doctor or the governmental institution that he represented, there was a master mind that devised the plan that maimed or killed a lot of people. First, they introduced the sickness, then spread fear through propaganda, knowing full well most people would recover with solutions already on the market. Part of the evil plan was to take those solutions off the market so you couldn't use them, opening the door for pharmaceutical companies to release a new medication before it was properly vetted. By the way, they are now using some of that same technology in the tried-and-tested vac*cines today, so you risk your own health by not using your God-given wisdom when considering injecting your body with substances that you know nothing about. Make sure you do your research. All of this is to say that if someone has evil intentions in their heart and devises plans for the downfall or harm of others, know that God sees it, and they will receive their just deserts. And even if we don't see justice done, you can be sure this doctor and his evil counterparts will get what's coming to them, and it will be worse than they ever imagined.

Side note: if you still trust that doctors and the government have your best interests at heart after all of this, then you've been hoodwinked and need to pray for God to open your eyes to the truth. It's all just a money-making scheme and a power grab. 

And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD. Zechariah 8:17

August 15, 2026

Shedding the World

The Things God Hates

Hands That Shed Innocent Blood 

A child is probably what we think of as the most innocent, though others have been accused who are also guiltless, whose lives have been taken away. Can you imagine living in a country where it is legal to snuff out the life of a child while it’s still safe and secure in its mother’s womb? I’m sorry to say it, but that’s where we are, and it’s sick. The hands of the politicians who made that an option are dripping with the blood of the innocent, as well as the morally corrupt parent who is capable of such an atrocity. Not only that, but the doctors who are performing such procedures and making money from their vile activity will face the fire in eternity unless they repent and follow Jesus. Even if they are saved through Jesus, they will have to live with the shame of their guilt for the rest of their lives and deal with whatever earthly punishment is required of them. Though by law a mother may be free to choose between life and death for their child, they are not free from the consequences of such a disturbing act. We all sin and are unworthy of salvation, but this happens to be one of the seven things that God hates. Thankfully, for the many who’ve participated in such an atrocious act, forgiveness is available if they seek Jesus and repent. 

Remember this song? Jesus loves the little children; all the children of the world; red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world. 

But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. Isaiah 59:2-3

August 14, 2026

Shedding the World

The Things God Hates

A Lying Tongue

A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin. Proverbs 26:28

We’ve all encountered them, and we may even have them in our families: the known liar. Our family has a close connection with one who spews hatred about us and uses flattery to make the person she’s talking to think she is truthful. Her sweet tone of voice is part of her weaponry. She can hold you captive with her every word and make you believe that what she is saying is true. She mixes in just enough verifiable truth that you assume that it’s all true. She has hoodwinked many into believing her. What’s worse is she claims to be a Christian and was raised by a preacher. Unfortunately for this liar, God has released the enemy to collect the debt she owes, and now, in her grandmotherly age, she is paying the price. 

Remember, it is better to face the consequences of the truth than to participate in something that God hates. 

August 13, 2026

 

Shedding the World

The Things God Hates

A Proud Look

What in the world is a proud look? It’s pride! We all like nice things, but lifting your chin in the air like you’re better than others is considered a proud look. You’ve seen these people; they look down their noses at you, as if you are nothing but dirt; these people are in the church. I’ve got news for them: our flesh is nothing but dirt! We are made from the dust of the earth, and no amount of money will make you more than that. However, our soul and spirit can be refined by God for service to Him. The earthly things you have don’t change who you are, but if you’re not careful, they will cause you to have pride, which is the downfall of many. 

What can we do so that we don’t fall victim to pride or haughtiness? Ask the Holy Spirit to give us humble eyes to see others the way Jesus saw people, with a heart broken for their condition. If anyone had a reason to situate themselves above others, it was Jesus, but he, who was and is God, lowered himself to come in the form of a servant and made himself of no reputation. 

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: Philippians 2:7

August 12, 2026

Shedding the World

Preface

Let me start by saying that God created this world, and everything He does is good. However, He also created evil! I know it’s hard to believe that our God, who is holy, just, righteous, and loving, is also the maker of the evil one, but I’m sure He has His reasons. It could be that the greatest test of our lives depends on our ability, with God’s help, of course, to reject evil and choose Him. 

Somewhere I crossed a line without knowing it, and likely because of the workings of the Holy Spirit, I started noticing that the things I’m drawn to, and love, turn out to be part of Satan’s evil plan of deception. As an example, start listening to the lyrics of your favorite musical artist from back in your day and the new music, and tell me if you think those came from the mouth of God; some Christian artists may be divinely inspired, but they are the few; sadly, we also need to be careful of those. Imagine belting out the lyrics of songs that were written solely to worship Satan. We might not mean to worship him, but he is smitten when a Christ-follower sings songs that are an anthem to him. The closer we get to Jesus, the more we begin to see the truth and realize that we are filthy beings and are only good because of Jesus. Fortunately, that’s a good place to be.

In this series, we will learn how to live in the world, but not be of the world.

Jesus said in John 17:15-16: “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”