Change for Good Reasons Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: Change for Good Reasons-------------------------- Date: 8/9/2001 Keyword: "change" "purity" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. Passage: 1 Timothy 4:12* Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. Questions 1. Do you understand what this verse means about "those who believe"? If not, click here.   2. List the different areas of life in which we are called to be examples to the world. How are you doing in each of these areas?   Practical help You can’t use age as an excuse for giving in to pornography. Besides, the longer you give in, the harder it will be to break the habit. The problem with most attempts at breaking habits is the fact that we try to do it only for personal reasons — to improve the quality of our own lives. Is the biggest reason you want to stop using porn the fear of being caught? On the other hand, you reason that if you are careful, you can get away with it for just one more day. After all, you’re still young, right? Back and forth you go, wrestling with whether you would be better off stopping now and saving the time and money you are dumping down the drain or having one more peek. This passage says the world needs courageous examples, even young ones. Instead of turning from porn for yourself, do it for others you love, especially children who have yet to fall into the trap. How would you feel if your child, your little brother or sister, or a little neighbor friend was harmed as a result of pornography? It happens every day, you know. Rape, incest, and even murder begin with someone developing an unhealthy thought life. Can you morally condone something that destroys so many innocent lives? When you change yourself as an act of love for others, you find the strength you need to resist. Read Matthew 25:31-40 where Jesus talks about those he invites to enter heaven upon his return. He says, "Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was [among other things]…naked, and you clothed Me (verse 36)." The righteous ones do not understand Him and say, "Lord, when did we see You ...naked and clothe You" (verse 38)? Jesus replies in verse 40, "Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me." The weak find themselves naked and exploited. Take a stand and change for them. eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 2001 by eXXit *"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."