PRIVATE HOURS
I was having problems in the highways and byways and asked God about it...
Actions and speech during private hours (with family, including children, and our quiet times alone) directly affect the health of the spirit when we go out in public. If we make continuous foolish/humorous remarks under the guise of good will and fellowship, we are acting disobediently--with a smile on our face.
Mark 7:20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.Mark 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
Mark 7:22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
Mark 7:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
When we sin so, we are wounding ourselves. It is as if we are putting invisible (to us) holes and breaches in our own spirits. We then walk around with breaches and holes and do not understand why we may have difficulties interfacing with others when we are in public. We may not understand why we feel "silly" or unable to maturely interface with others. We must start at home. It is the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines.
As I thought on the grave effects of levity on my life under the guise of good will and friendship, I purposed to be on guard against this practice.
Being sober, serious, quiet, thoughtful, watchful, and grave are at the foundation of a whole spirit. These are types of things that we are commanded to be in the scriptures.
Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.1 Thessalonians 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
1 Thessalonians 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
1 Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
1 Timothy 3:11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
Titus 1:8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
Titus 2:2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
Titus 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
Titus 2:6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.
Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
1 Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1 Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
SO'BER, a. [L. sobrius.]
3. Not mad or insane; not wild, visionary or heated with passion; having the regular exercise of cool dispassionate reason. ...No sober man would put himself in danger, for the applause of escaping without breaking his neck.
4. Regular; calm; not under the influence of passion; as sober judgment; a man in his sober senses.
5. Serious; solemn; grave.SO'BERLY, adv.
1. Without intemperance.
2. Without enthusiasm.
3. Without intemperate passion; coolly; calmly; moderately.
4. Gravely; seriously.VIG'ILANT, a. [L. vigilans.] Watchful; circumspect; attentive to discover and avoid danger, or to provide for safety.
WATCH, n. [It is from the same root as wake, which see.]
1. Forbearance of sleep.
2. Attendance without sleep...
3. Attention; close observation. Keep watch of the suspicious man.
4. Guard; vigilance for keeping or protecting against danger. He kept both watch and ward.
5. A watchman, or watchmen; men set for a guard, either one person or more, set to espy the approach of an enemy or other danger, and to give an alarm or notice of such danger; a sentinel; a guard...WATCHFUL, a. Vigilant; attentive; careful to observe; observant; cautious. It has of before the thing to be regulated, as to be watchful of ones behavior; and against, before the thing to be avoided, as to be watchful against the growth of vicious habits.
GRAVE, [pressing, heavy.] Solemn; sober; serious...a man of grave deportment; plain, not showy; being of weight; of a serious character.
GRAV'ITY, n. [L. gravitas, from gravis, heavy. See Grave.]
4. Seriousness; sobriety of manners; solemnity of deportment or character.
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