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radio1 Timothy 1, Galatians 6:14-16
Continued from page 2
Before you speak ask yourself, what I'm about to say:
1. Is it completely true? Am I exaggerating?
2. If I'm mentioning
someone, would I feel just as comfortable if that person was
present?
3. Do I really need to say this? Does it promote others,
build people up, inspire, strengthen or affirm?
Neglecting to maintain a pure heart
This is probably the most important warning that Paul gives.
Proverbs 4:23 says "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."
The King James version puts it like this "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."
'Keep' means to watch, guard, keep, to preserve, guard from dangers or guard with fidelity.
'diligence' means to guard, office, prison, ward, watch.
This proverb has a double emphasis on guarding. Equivalent would be "make sure you do absolutely everything in your power to guard"
Another version says "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life."
It's not the class you were born into, not the education you received, not the job you are in now, the friends you have, time you give to the church, or how much of the Bible you know, but the condition of your heart that determines the course of your life.
How much effort are you putting into protecting your heart from disappointment or offence from getting in?
Bitter or better
My friend Andy Hawthorne always said to me when tough stuff or unfair things happened "Well Carl, you can either let this make you Bitter or Better. Which one are you going to choose?"
The choice to react to disappointment, offence, rejection or pain positively or negatively rests with me and me only. Only I can make the decision to let it fester or let go of it and refuse to allow it to direct my future.
So make the choice today to do all that you can to prevent
your faith from being shipwrecked. Focus on loving Jesus above all,
watch what comes out of your mouth and do all you can to guard your
heart. 
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part 1
take your focus off of yourselves. christ died for you 2000 years ago. he knew you, and your sins before you were even born. and he still paid for them. they're paid for in full. the more you focus on your sins and continual failings, the more you'll continue to sin and fail. the focus is on you, not on what was accomplished on the cross. EVERYTHING was paid for already. your sins have been forgiven, just accept the free gift. take it, God is offering it to you. IT IS FINISHED. the only way someone will ever be set free from the "law of sin and death" is to focus on Christ more and less upon himself. "rightly divide" the word of truth (kjv). read romans through philemon for the grace doctrines that were meant for us today, in this age of grace. if you live under the law, you will be judged by the law. Christ walked the walk according to the law, perfectly, in our place, because he knew we couldn't do it. ever. the law was given as a schoolmaster, to point out our sins, and to point us to the Savior, who did it all for us. that's why when we accept his forgiveness, he takes our sins upon himself, and gives us HIS righteousness in their place.