All tied up

One of the best football players in the UK was GEORGE BEST.

He was the best European footballer of the year in 1968, and sports critics said he had it all: class, intelligence, control of the ball, physical condition, finish.

It was said he might become the best player of all time. Unfortunately, his lack of discipline and love of the "high life" (sex and alcohol) prevented him from achieving all he could. He never fulfilled his potential.

Many things can get us all tied up and make our lives like a bitter, meaningless well. Some of these things are well known, and we've spoken about them this year: alcohol, promiscuous sex, the occult, materialism, drugs, and ambition.

Others are deep inside us and are just as hard to conquer: laziness, weariness, lack of interest, love of the easy life. God tells us we shouldn't get wrapped up in these things.

Our lives are different. We are children of the King. We don't get stuck on destructive things. Our conduct is different. God is our Father, so we can't allow ourselves to be struck down by meaningless things.

That's why God has left us, in His word, a good outline of proper conduct. Here comes another challenge: let's read three books of the Bible, underlining everything God says about our behaviour. OK?

Read First and Second Timothy and First Peter. Here are a few examples:

1. Fight according to the rules (2 Timothy 2:5)

2. Don't be ashamed to witness for the gospel (2 Timothy 1:8)

3. Avoid useless chatter (2 Timothy 2:16)

4. Live a holy life (1 Peter 1:15)

5. Give up all types of evil (1 Peter 2:1)

If you underline all the imperative verbs, you'll find almost 100 rules of conduct like these. It's worth practising them.