What to do with the new and improved 3D Playboy Magazine???

I used to think I only had two options, two choices. I have learned that we actually have three options, three choices.

I was watching the news last evening minding my own business in the privacy of my home and there on the screen was a very interesting proposition for every virile young man in America.... a must see proposition, new, attractive and unusual and within every one of our reach. Playboy's new and improved 3D version complete with glasses. Fresh and bold! Now these propositions are readily available any and every where we look...right in the center of our gardens.

My religious side (the elder brother) thought hmm, I must pretend like I didn't see it and look away fast especially if some one else is in the room. I must tell myself that this is very disgusting and harmful. I must suppress any more thoughts along this line and abruptly and verbally condemn the idea, as attractive as it seems. Resist! Run! Hide!

My self indulgent side (the younger brother) thought hmm, this could be interesting, I wonder what I may be missing, I should really be up on these new and improved ideas so I will know how, what, why, where and who. (of coarse to instruct any weaker brethren.) What could it hurt and who will need to know?

Now I know these first two choices very well. How am I doing so far?

The third choice (as the beloved child of our Abba father) is becoming more and more clear to me. My father loves me more than any one ever has or ever will. (He proved it by taking my sin into his own body and destroying it's power on the cross in order to fix what for so long has been broken in my relationship with my Father.) Because I am so loved by Him I can trust Him in this decision and just say no. I actually have that power to choose for His and my best interest. He knows me, He loves me, and He has empowered me to chose correctly. Every thing He desires of me is for my best. I can absolutely trust Him in this. No good thing will He withhold from me.

It is interesting that the tree had center stage in the sanctuary of the garden as it still does even in the privacy of our homes and lives. Free choice is an amazing thing. It is free and mine to make and to think that God loves me regardless of the choices I will make...Wow! I have discovered that every one of the choices above will eventually bring me closer to Him. The first two will take a little longer and have a high degree of pain or consequence. They both will effect my relationship with my loving Father whether I choose religiously or just indulge but as in the garden even wrong choices eventually bring us to the right choice, born from the revelation that God is amazingly good, He loves us and is always out for our best and completely trust worthy. It is often the self indulgent that discover that first. Suppression will definitely have some benefits but not where they count in relationship with Father. He's not impressed. He desires more than that. A relationship that flows from love is the end goal. And once I know He loves me, my obedience becomes a non issue because my trust in Him prevents me from choosing poorly.

He loves me is all I need to know to trust His will...whatever proposition the enemy of that relationship conjures up.

Should we sin that grace may abound? Sometimes that is truly what it ends up looking like as ridiculous as that idea is. (Paul said!)