Epithumia – What does the Bible say?
Attraction love (Epithumia) - (Receives) "puppy love" an infatuation for people and things
W. E. Vine summarizes epithumia as follows:
epithumia denotes "strong desire" of any kind, the various kinds being frequently specified by some adjective .
In the NT epithumia is occasionally used in a good sense. For example Jesus uses the verb form epithumeo, speaking to His disciples that
I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. (Lk 22:15)
Paul writes:
I am hard-pressed from both directions (to live or die), having the desire (epithumia) to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better. (see Philippians 1:23)
Paul writes to the Thessalonians that
"we (Paul, Silas, Timothy), brethren, having been bereft of you for a short while-- in person, not in spirit-- were all the more eager with great desire (epithumia) to see your face." (see 1Thessalonians 2:17)
Epithumia is used in a good sense referring to the natural, legitimate and necessary God given desires (eg, hunger, thirst, sex, etc) which are fulfilled in a God honouring way.
Most often epithumia in the NT describes strong desires which are perverted and unrestrained and which originate from our SIN (flesh) nature, which is corrupt and fallen.
In Rom 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
the injunction against letting sin reign in our mortal body to obey the "lust" thereof, refers to those evil desires which are ready to express themselves in bodily activity. They are equally the "lusts" of the flesh,
Rom 13:14; But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof
Gal 5:16,24; 16.This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
24. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Eph 2:3; Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
2 Pet 2:18; For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
1 John 2:16, For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
a phrase which describes the emotions of the soul, the natural tendency towards things evil. Such "lusts" are not necessarily base and immoral, they may be refined in character, but are evil if inconsistent with the will of God.
Other descriptions besides those already mentioned are:
"of the mind,"
Eph 2:3; Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
"evil (desire),"
Col 3:5; Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
"the passion of,"
1 Thess 4:5, Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
"foolish and hurtful,"
1 Tim 6:9; But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. "youthful,"
2 Tim 2:22; Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
"divers,"
2 Tim 3:6; For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
Titus 3:3; For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
"their own,"
2 Tim 4:3; For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2 Pet 3:3; Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
Jude 1:16; These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.
"worldly,"
Titus 2:12; Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
"his own,"
James 1:14; But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
"your former," 1 Pet 1:14, As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
"fleshly,"
1 Pet 2:11; Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
"of men," 1 Pet 4:2; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
"of defilement"
2 Pet 2:10; But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
"of the eyes,"
1 John 2:16; For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world
"of the world" ("thereof"),
1 John 2:17; And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
"their own ungodly,"
Jude 1:18. How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
In Rev 18:14 "(the fruits) which thy soul lusted after"
And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.
1 Thess 4:5, Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
"foolish and hurtful,"
1 Tim 6:9; But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. "youthful,"
2 Tim 2:22; Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
"divers,"
2 Tim 3:6; For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
Titus 3:3; For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
"their own,"
2 Tim 4:3; For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2 Pet 3:3; Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
Jude 1:16; These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.
"worldly,"
Titus 2:12; Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
"his own,"
James 1:14; But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
"your former," 1 Pet 1:14, As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
"fleshly,"
1 Pet 2:11; Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
"of men," 1 Pet 4:2; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
"of defilement"
2 Pet 2:10; But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
"of the eyes,"
1 John 2:16; For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world
"of the world" ("thereof"),
1 John 2:17; And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
"their own ungodly,"
Jude 1:18. How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
In Rev 18:14 "(the fruits) which thy soul lusted after"
And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.
(Vine, W E: Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. 1996. Nelson)
Epithumia is used 38 times in the NAS (Mk. 4:19; Lk. 22:15; Jn. 8:44; Rom. 1:24; 6:12; 7:7, 8; 13:14; Gal. 5:16, 24; Eph. 2:3; 4:22; Phil. 1:23; Col. 3:5; 1 Thess. 2:17; 4:5; 1 Tim. 6:9; 2 Tim. 2:22; 3:6; 4:3; Titus 2:12; 3:3; James. 1:14, 15; 1 Pet. 1:14; 2:11; 4:2, 3; 2 Pet. 1:4; 2:10, 18; 3:3; 1 Jn. 2:16, 17; Jude 1:16, 18; Rev. 18:14) and is translated as: coveting, 2; desire, 4; desires, 8; earnestly, 1; impulses, 1; long, 1; lust, 5; lustful, 1; lusts, 15 (NASB). Other versions translate epithumia as strong impulses or desires, yearnings, longings after.
Hiebert has an interesting note that the
"degeneration in the meaning of the term (epithumia from God given desires to perverted desires) is a revealing commentary on human nature. Left to himself, instead of gaining mastery over his base desires and steadfastly adhering to the good, the individual is characteristically overcome by his evil cravings, so that they become the dominating force of his life." (Hiebert, D. Edmond: 1 Peter. Page 94. Moody)
Sin within fallen man is often personified in Paul's writings and is portrayed as an organized power [think of SIN as an evil "king" for example] which ever seeks to rule our will and act out through the members of the body. Thus we see Paul explain that:
SIN (the source of the desires)...produced in (him) coveting (epithumia) of every kind. (see Rom 7:8)
Lusts occur in our mind and are not physical actions per se although they may (and frequently do) lead to physical actions. Thus James warns us of the evil character of "lusts" writing that each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. (Js 1:14-15)
Lusts denote the varied cravings of fallen human nature pursued in the interest of self in self-sufficient independence of God.
Oswald Chambers wrote that "Love can wait and worship endlessly; lust says, "I must have it at once.""
In his sermon entitled Battling the Unbelief of Lust John Piper defines lust as:
a sexual desire that dishonours its object and disregards God. It's the corruption of a good thing by the absence of honourable commitment and by the absence of a supreme regard for God. If your sexual desire is not guided by respect for the honour of others and regard for the holiness of God, it is lust."
Warren Wiersbe writes that:
these fundamental desires of life are the steam in the boiler that makes the machinery go. Turn off the steam and you have no power. Let the steam go its own way and you have destruction. The secret is in constant control. These desires must be our servants and not our masters; and this we can do through Jesus Christ. (Wiersbe, W: Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989. Victor)
Paul instructs the Ephesians that:
in reference to (their) former manner of life (as unbelievers), (they were to) lay aside the old self, which (was) being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit. (see Ephesians 4:22)
Epithumia is used 38 times in the NAS (Mk. 4:19; Lk. 22:15; Jn. 8:44; Rom. 1:24; 6:12; 7:7, 8; 13:14; Gal. 5:16, 24; Eph. 2:3; 4:22; Phil. 1:23; Col. 3:5; 1 Thess. 2:17; 4:5; 1 Tim. 6:9; 2 Tim. 2:22; 3:6; 4:3; Titus 2:12; 3:3; James. 1:14, 15; 1 Pet. 1:14; 2:11; 4:2, 3; 2 Pet. 1:4; 2:10, 18; 3:3; 1 Jn. 2:16, 17; Jude 1:16, 18; Rev. 18:14) and is translated as: coveting, 2; desire, 4; desires, 8; earnestly, 1; impulses, 1; long, 1; lust, 5; lustful, 1; lusts, 15 (NASB). Other versions translate epithumia as strong impulses or desires, yearnings, longings after.
Hiebert has an interesting note that the
"degeneration in the meaning of the term (epithumia from God given desires to perverted desires) is a revealing commentary on human nature. Left to himself, instead of gaining mastery over his base desires and steadfastly adhering to the good, the individual is characteristically overcome by his evil cravings, so that they become the dominating force of his life." (Hiebert, D. Edmond: 1 Peter. Page 94. Moody)
Sin within fallen man is often personified in Paul's writings and is portrayed as an organized power [think of SIN as an evil "king" for example] which ever seeks to rule our will and act out through the members of the body. Thus we see Paul explain that:
SIN (the source of the desires)...produced in (him) coveting (epithumia) of every kind. (see Rom 7:8)
Lusts occur in our mind and are not physical actions per se although they may (and frequently do) lead to physical actions. Thus James warns us of the evil character of "lusts" writing that each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. (Js 1:14-15)
Lusts denote the varied cravings of fallen human nature pursued in the interest of self in self-sufficient independence of God.
Oswald Chambers wrote that "Love can wait and worship endlessly; lust says, "I must have it at once.""
In his sermon entitled Battling the Unbelief of Lust John Piper defines lust as:
a sexual desire that dishonours its object and disregards God. It's the corruption of a good thing by the absence of honourable commitment and by the absence of a supreme regard for God. If your sexual desire is not guided by respect for the honour of others and regard for the holiness of God, it is lust."
Warren Wiersbe writes that:
these fundamental desires of life are the steam in the boiler that makes the machinery go. Turn off the steam and you have no power. Let the steam go its own way and you have destruction. The secret is in constant control. These desires must be our servants and not our masters; and this we can do through Jesus Christ. (Wiersbe, W: Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989. Victor)
Paul instructs the Ephesians that:
in reference to (their) former manner of life (as unbelievers), (they were to) lay aside the old self, which (was) being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit. (see Ephesians 4:22)
In other words, lusts deceive us and lead us astray, promising more than they deliver and producing (spiritual, soul) rottenness when "conceived".
Peter reiterates the detrimental effect of lust, writing about-
"the corruption (moral decay - corruption is much deeper than defilement on the outside - it is decay on the inside) that is in the world by lust." (see 2 Peter 1:4)
John adds that-
"all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh (temptations originating from our corrupt SIN nature which is opposed to the Will and Word of God) and the lust of the eyes (lusts that arise from what we see in the world system ruled by Satan) and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world (defined as society apart from God!). And the world is passing away, and also its lusts..." (1Jn 2:16-17)
John says lusts are temporary, in a continual process of disintegration and ultimately headed for destruction.
Matthew Henry remarks that:
Carnal people think they enjoy their pleasures; the Word (of God) calls it servitude and vassalage: they are very drudges (those who labour hard in servile employment) and bond slaves under them; so far are they from freedom and felicity (happiness, blissfulness, blessedness) in them that they are captivated by them, and serve them as taskmasters and tyrants. Observe further, It is the misery of the servants of sin that they have many masters, one lust hurrying them one way, and another; pride commands one thing, covetousness another, and often a contrary. What vile slaves are sinners, while they conceit themselves the lusts that tempt them promise them liberty, but in yielding they become the servants of corruption; for of whom a man is overcome of the same is he brought into bondage.
Believers unfortunately are still continually assailed by lusts.
Paul exhorts believers not to:
let Sin (continually) reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts (see Romans 6:12)
He is implying that SIN will try to take over the "throne" of our body by lobbing fiery missiles of lustful thoughts (which are not restricted to sexual lusts -- they are variegated or multi-coloured!)
In a similar warning, Peter urges us:
as aliens and strangers to abstain from (continually hold yourself away from) fleshly lusts, which (continually) wage war (describing not just a battle but a veritable military campaign) against the soul. (see 1 Peter 2:11)
Believers are called to:
flee from youthful lusts (a warning against contamination from one’s own evil propensities -- It is not sufficient to guard against evil in others, we must be watchful against evil within) and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. (see 2 Tim 2:22)
In this letter Paul writes the wonderful truth that the grace of God has appeared (one important effect of this grace is that believers need not try to "fight" lusts in their own strength but in dependence of God's grace or enabling power)" and is continually "instructing us to deny (once and for all refuse to follow or agree with evil strong desires coming from the evil world system ruled by Satan and opposed to God) ungodliness and worldly desires (lusts) and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age. (see Titus 2:12)
In Romans Paul commands believers to:
Put on (urgent command to do this now and first) the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision (act of making prior preparation) for the flesh (here it means the seat of SIN in man) in regard to its lusts. (see Romans 13:14)
Peter reiterates the detrimental effect of lust, writing about-
"the corruption (moral decay - corruption is much deeper than defilement on the outside - it is decay on the inside) that is in the world by lust." (see 2 Peter 1:4)
John adds that-
"all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh (temptations originating from our corrupt SIN nature which is opposed to the Will and Word of God) and the lust of the eyes (lusts that arise from what we see in the world system ruled by Satan) and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world (defined as society apart from God!). And the world is passing away, and also its lusts..." (1Jn 2:16-17)
John says lusts are temporary, in a continual process of disintegration and ultimately headed for destruction.
Matthew Henry remarks that:
Carnal people think they enjoy their pleasures; the Word (of God) calls it servitude and vassalage: they are very drudges (those who labour hard in servile employment) and bond slaves under them; so far are they from freedom and felicity (happiness, blissfulness, blessedness) in them that they are captivated by them, and serve them as taskmasters and tyrants. Observe further, It is the misery of the servants of sin that they have many masters, one lust hurrying them one way, and another; pride commands one thing, covetousness another, and often a contrary. What vile slaves are sinners, while they conceit themselves the lusts that tempt them promise them liberty, but in yielding they become the servants of corruption; for of whom a man is overcome of the same is he brought into bondage.
Believers unfortunately are still continually assailed by lusts.
Paul exhorts believers not to:
let Sin (continually) reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts (see Romans 6:12)
He is implying that SIN will try to take over the "throne" of our body by lobbing fiery missiles of lustful thoughts (which are not restricted to sexual lusts -- they are variegated or multi-coloured!)
In a similar warning, Peter urges us:
as aliens and strangers to abstain from (continually hold yourself away from) fleshly lusts, which (continually) wage war (describing not just a battle but a veritable military campaign) against the soul. (see 1 Peter 2:11)
Believers are called to:
flee from youthful lusts (a warning against contamination from one’s own evil propensities -- It is not sufficient to guard against evil in others, we must be watchful against evil within) and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. (see 2 Tim 2:22)
In this letter Paul writes the wonderful truth that the grace of God has appeared (one important effect of this grace is that believers need not try to "fight" lusts in their own strength but in dependence of God's grace or enabling power)" and is continually "instructing us to deny (once and for all refuse to follow or agree with evil strong desires coming from the evil world system ruled by Satan and opposed to God) ungodliness and worldly desires (lusts) and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age. (see Titus 2:12)
In Romans Paul commands believers to:
Put on (urgent command to do this now and first) the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision (act of making prior preparation) for the flesh (here it means the seat of SIN in man) in regard to its lusts. (see Romans 13:14)
The Jewish historian Josephus, speaking of Cleopatra, says:
She was an expensive woman, enslaved to lusts.
Lusts acted upon are indeed costly!
Barclay has an illustrative note on epithumia as it related to the downfall of one of the great minds of the nineteenth century writing that:
The word for desire is epithumia which characteristically means desire for the wrong and the forbidden thing. To succumb to that is inevitably to come to disaster. One of the tragedies of the nineteenth century was the career of Oscar Wilde. He had a brilliant mind, and won the highest academic honours; he was a scintillating writer, and won the highest rewards in literature; he had all the charm in the world and was a man whose instinct it was to be kind; yet he fell to temptation and came to prison and disgrace. When he was suffering for his fall, he wrote his book De Profundis and in it he said: “The gods had given me almost everything. But I let myself be lured into long spells of senseless and sensual ease. … Tired of being on the heights I deliberately went to the depths in search for new sensation. What the paradox was to me in the sphere of thought, perversity became to me in the sphere of passion. I grew careless of the lives of others. I took pleasure where it pleased me, and passed on. I forgot that every little action of the common day makes or unmakes character, and that therefore what one has done in the secret chamber, one has some day to cry aloud from the house-top. I ceased to be lord over myself. I was no longer the captain of my soul, and did not know it (Ed note: he was deceived for the only man who is truly captain of his soul is the man who has surrendered his will to Christ). I allowed pleasure to dominate me. I ended in horrible disgrace.” (Barclay concludes that) Desire is a bad master, and to be at the mercy of desire is to be a slave. And desire is not simply a fleshly thing; it is the craving for any forbidden thing. Barclay, W: The Daily Study Bible Series.)
She was an expensive woman, enslaved to lusts.
Lusts acted upon are indeed costly!
Barclay has an illustrative note on epithumia as it related to the downfall of one of the great minds of the nineteenth century writing that:
The word for desire is epithumia which characteristically means desire for the wrong and the forbidden thing. To succumb to that is inevitably to come to disaster. One of the tragedies of the nineteenth century was the career of Oscar Wilde. He had a brilliant mind, and won the highest academic honours; he was a scintillating writer, and won the highest rewards in literature; he had all the charm in the world and was a man whose instinct it was to be kind; yet he fell to temptation and came to prison and disgrace. When he was suffering for his fall, he wrote his book De Profundis and in it he said: “The gods had given me almost everything. But I let myself be lured into long spells of senseless and sensual ease. … Tired of being on the heights I deliberately went to the depths in search for new sensation. What the paradox was to me in the sphere of thought, perversity became to me in the sphere of passion. I grew careless of the lives of others. I took pleasure where it pleased me, and passed on. I forgot that every little action of the common day makes or unmakes character, and that therefore what one has done in the secret chamber, one has some day to cry aloud from the house-top. I ceased to be lord over myself. I was no longer the captain of my soul, and did not know it (Ed note: he was deceived for the only man who is truly captain of his soul is the man who has surrendered his will to Christ). I allowed pleasure to dominate me. I ended in horrible disgrace.” (Barclay concludes that) Desire is a bad master, and to be at the mercy of desire is to be a slave. And desire is not simply a fleshly thing; it is the craving for any forbidden thing. Barclay, W: The Daily Study Bible Series.)
Christians need to let the light of Christ shine in their lives.
The Apostle John said:
This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. (1John 1:5-7)
If we “put on” Christ, then we are to walk in His light. A genuine Christian will want to walk in this light. Unsaved people, however, want to stay out of God’s light. They prefer to stay in their own world of darkness.
In Romans 13:14 Paul finishes this verse with a very practical key to walking in the light. He says, “and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil its lusts.” We all have those sins of the flesh that tend to cause us to stumble time after time whether they be anger, jealousy, impure thoughts, or others. They all come from the lusts of our flesh. Paul tells us that we are to emulate Christ in both attitude and action and that we are not to expend any energy thinking about those things that excite and enflame our sinful lusts. If we want to avoid committing sins of lust, we need to stop thinking of such things. In other words, “If you’re not going to buy anything, don’t go into the store.” In fact, Paul would say, “Don’t even think about going into the store!”
Dawn is coming and we need to be living as if the Light of the world has already come. We need to be a light to the dark world around us. We need to act Christ-like so the world can see Him in us. Let’s put on Christ and let His light shine!
The Apostle John said:
This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. (1John 1:5-7)
If we “put on” Christ, then we are to walk in His light. A genuine Christian will want to walk in this light. Unsaved people, however, want to stay out of God’s light. They prefer to stay in their own world of darkness.
In Romans 13:14 Paul finishes this verse with a very practical key to walking in the light. He says, “and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil its lusts.” We all have those sins of the flesh that tend to cause us to stumble time after time whether they be anger, jealousy, impure thoughts, or others. They all come from the lusts of our flesh. Paul tells us that we are to emulate Christ in both attitude and action and that we are not to expend any energy thinking about those things that excite and enflame our sinful lusts. If we want to avoid committing sins of lust, we need to stop thinking of such things. In other words, “If you’re not going to buy anything, don’t go into the store.” In fact, Paul would say, “Don’t even think about going into the store!”
Dawn is coming and we need to be living as if the Light of the world has already come. We need to be a light to the dark world around us. We need to act Christ-like so the world can see Him in us. Let’s put on Christ and let His light shine!
