Category Archives: Stealing

Adultery, Bible, Devotion, Heart, Idols, Scripture, Stealing

WHERE’S YOUR HEART?

ROMANS 2:22

“You who say that one is not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who loathe idols, do you rob temples?”

Our hearts can be wicked things. We sacrifice what is good and holy for things that give us fleeting pleasures. When I read today’s verse in which Paul gives a couple of more questions to the Jews, it hit me that these were both heart issues. No one commits adultery if their heart is true to their spouse. No one is going to steal from God if their heart is devoted to Him. Let’s examine our hearts today and see where we stand.

Paul laid out a pretty flagrant sin when he mentioned adultery. I am sure Paul knew Pharisee with whom he had served who were adulterers. After all, women were seen as subservient and beneath men in their culture. Why not dishonor your wife by sleeping with another woman? And he probably also knew Pharisees who skimmed some of the temple funds or other items that were meant to go to God’s work. These were both “ouch” moments.

APPLICATION

In Matthew 6:20-21 Jesus tells us, “‘20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’” Where is your heart today? You may not be committing adultery or stealing from the church, but is your heart true to our Father Who has given you all things?

We are commanded to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and mind (Matthew 22:36-38). If we do that, our hearts shall be directed toward purity and holiness. Those are foreign concepts today. I was in an Uber this weekend in the Dominican Republic. When my friends and I got in the car, the music was blaring. Did the driver turn it down? Nope! And the music (if you call it that) was all about women and treating them inappropriately. I actually told my friends when we got to our Airbnb that I felt I needed to go in and purify my ears.

Now I didn’t know that driver, but I can tell you that you cannot listen to that kind of music and walk holy before your God. Your heart will be divided. You will be pulled toward adulterous and idolatrous thoughts. I even felt myself being drawn to the beat of the music in that short car ride. Keep your hearts pure and devoted. God will give you the victories you need.

O Father, purify my heart and keep me focused on Your heart.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Christ, Scripture, Stealing, Teaching, Testimony

GOT TO WALK THE WALK

ROMANS 2:21

“you, therefore, who teach someone else, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one is not to steal, do you steal?”

When I first started my role as VP for Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes in Chattanooga, we got a call from a trucking company asking us if we wanted half a trailer load of fabric softener that had been turned down by a local retailer. I said we would be glad to receive that. Wouldn’t you know it, when it arrived in the semi, it was pouring rain. I couldn’t ask my staff to unload all that softener if I wasn’t willing to help. So, I quickly changed clothes and climbed up in that trailer to help unload. My staff were impressed that I, the VP, would do that. I had to do what I was asking them to do.

Paul begins a series of five rhetorical questions in today’s verse. The first two are here. He asks if they are teaching themselves what they are teaching. Then he asks if they preach against stealing, are they stealing. Most commentators agree that Paul wasn’t accusing them of these things but merely asking these questions to drive home his point. They had to practice what they preached. People were watching!

APPLICATION

When I read this verse and the two following, I immediately thought of Philippians 2:14-15 which say, “14 Do all things without complaining or arguments; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,” As followers of Christ, we have to be above reproach. We represent a holy God and therefore must be holy ourselves.

In Paul’s role description for elders in Titus 1, he tells us this. “6 namely, if any man is beyond reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of indecent behavior or rebellion. 7 For the overseer must be beyond reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not overindulging in wine, not a bully, not greedy for money,” It is unfortunate that too many of our church leaders don’t practice what they preach. We have to do better!

Why is this important? Like I said earlier, people are watching. The world is looking for followers of Christ to mess up so they can expose our “hypocrisy.” They don’t understand that we aren’t perfect, just forgiven. However, that does not excuse us from living our lives as an example for others. Today, choose to be obedient to Christ in all things. You never know who is watching.

O Lord, help me exemplify Christ in all things.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Abuse, Accused, Bible, Confession, Forgiveness, Greed, Stealing

ROBE STEALER 

MICAH 2:8 

“‘Recently My people have arisen as an enemy—you strip the robe off the garment from unsuspecting passers-by, from those returned from war.’” 

Some people do not care about others at all. They will steal from them without any concern. When I worked at a children’s home once, we had a problem with people coming onto our campus on Sundays while we were all gone to church and stealing stuff from us. Stealing from a ministry caring for children is pretty low. 

Micah is telling them the Lord’s words about their thievery. They were even stealing the outer garments (which were used also at night for covering) from peaceable people. These people who were the victims were trying to walk with God and please Him. These thieves didn’t care. They saw the garment and took it. That’s why God is leveling His judgment against them. 

APPLICATION 

I am sure you have never done anything like that. If you have, I pray you will ask for forgiveness right now. That’s right – stop reading and get on your knees. God has not forgotten that sin, which was really against Him. You may have forgotten, but He has not. 

In fact, we read about this in Psalm 51. Verse 2 through 4a says, “2 Wash me thoroughly from my guilt and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my wrongdoings, and my sin is constantly before me. 4 Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight,” 

If those verses describe you, spend some extended time in prayer asking the God of the universe, who gave His only Son to die for you, to forgive you and cleanse you. I always feel better physically after a bath. A spiritual bath also makes us feel better. Try it. 

Thank You, Lord, for protecting me from those who would take from me from a callous heart. 

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