Oh, let this be my standard!

It's been a while since I wrote anything very thought provoking here, and tonight I feel the need to do that.

I found myself with some time this evening to watch a movie that I picked up from the library...a Broadway musical made into a movie to be more specific, and I am frustrated in my disappointment over it. Will I tell you what it was? No, because I really don't want to start a debate over the potential merits of this movie; that's not my point. Many people have watched this movie musical before, found the music catchy and the story "feel good", as the DVD case states...so what's my problem? I watched 40 minutes and although intrigued to watch it to the end just to know the story line, I saw it was time to turn it off. It was saddening to watch something so highly acclaimed and see the talent in dancing, vocal ability, and beautiful setting in this form. Purity? Sadly, no. True happiness? No again. Admirable? Definitely not.  

I am so disappointed that the standard of what we allow into our consciousness is sinking...that what we find entertaining stains our memories and discolors our thinking. I already deal with sunken standards in my thinking; why, why would I choose to add more weight, to sink lower?    

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

Not because we are told to do it, but because our overflowing love of Christ and his perfect love for us should drive us to it. I can't purposefully watch something that snuffs my burning desire to be as close to him as I possibly can. It discolors me yet again, in ways I do not want to be colored. Yet I am so thankful for Christ that washes it out again, and again, and again.

Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the Lord,
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool.   

Oh Lord, that I would soak in your grace and be driven to your standard, not because it's a burden that I must fulfill, but because I desire you to mold me to yourself.