originally posted June 18, 2012
We are called to be set apart from this world... that means that we should not long for things of the world, but desire to be more like Christ in every single aspect of our lives. The worst thing that could happen to a Christian who is longing for something that is outside of God's will would be for God to grant that desire! Do you not remember Israel? "But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices" (Psalm 81:11-2). How terrifying....to be left to MY OWN devices?! I do not want to be left to my own will, my own desires... Oh, our desires should not be for good reputations; far too often, Christians fail to truly repent of their sins (which involves also going to those whom you have sinned against, confessing your sin to them, and asking for their forgiveness) because they fear that they will lose face in the Christian community. The concern of most Christians continues to be that of self rather than Christ. Do the words "to live is Christ, to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21) ring a bell for ANYONE out there?! Oh, our lives are not meant for self-indulgence and fleeting happiness! Our lives are meant to be joyful ALWAYS in the Lord (Philippians 4:4) because we have the promise of eternal life with Him....all because the Father willed to crush His only Son on the cross! The innocent blood that was spilled for my sins is so precious to me... far too precious than for me to take my sins lightly and try to sweep them under the rug as if they never happened. 2 Peter 2:20-22 says, "For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. What the true proverb says has happened to them: 'The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.'" I do not want to return to my own vomit. I do not want to wallow in the mire. I do not want to live my life as if my precious Jesus' blood was spilled in VAIN! Oh, no....no no no, dear brothers and sisters, do not live in the bondage of depravity, but rejoice in the life that you have been given so freely! Rejoice in the grace that has been given to you in FULL! Rejoice in the contentment that we have in Christ, knowing that our God is still GOOD and He is still SOVEREIGN no matter what the situation may be....and remember that Jesus LIVES! That sweet promise is enough to cling to in every trial, every circumstance, every battle; death has been DEFEATED and the very same Spirit that breathed life into Adam and raised Jesus from the dead is actually living within YOU! YES! That same Spirit is transforming your will into the will of the Father; that same Spirit is granting you grace, abundantly, to make it through each hour; that same Spirit is whispering Truth from the Word of God into your heart throughout the day! Oh, but do not think that we must not do our part. Salvation is freely given, but faith yields works. We have responsibilities....the discipline for Godliness, the discipline of submission, the discipline of prayer, the discipline of worship, of mind, of contentment, of perseverance....we cannot for one second think that any of these disciplines are accomplished apart from the work of the Spirit inside of us, but we must still strive for godliness. Even if it means that we are embarrassed to admit our sin, or that we have to make some dramatic lifestyle changes, or that we have to make decisions that are of unpopular opinion....everything is to be done for the sake of the Gospel. If we do not live in such a way, then we are laughing in the face of our crucified Savior, scoffing at His shed blood.
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