There were no other options. When my family would shop for certain things, even if there were stores that were closer or even advertised a cheaper price, my folks would more than likely still patronize the place that they had for years. My grandfather kept the same mechanic for thirty plus years. My grandmother shopped at the same grocery stores, only bought fruit from the same fruit distributor, and had the same butcher for countless years. For most years, they only shopped at the same department stores. My mother would never think of using another hairstylist and my father would wait for hours for his barber to become available. With this loyalty, they never questioned the advice or wisdom of these professionals nor even second guessed their prices or service.
Businesses long for employee loyalty as it used to be. With such a competitive market, employees will ‘milk’ the company for all that it can get until it is time to move on. The idea of working at a place for more than twenty years seems foreign to our most recent college graduates. Loyalty has changed. It is pretty safe to assume that the idea of loyalty has been redefined over the years.
When loyalty to something, somewhere, or someone changes, the standard of excellence shifts, mutual trust is evasive, and shared satisfaction deteriorates. And similarly, the same way that loyalty has shifted and become less long-term in business dealings, patronization, and exchanging of goods and services, our loyalty to God’s standard of holiness has shifted.
A few months ago, as I was a participant in a round-table discussion about culture and faith, I was asked to share my opinion of what God really means when he discusses holiness in scripture. The common thought among the group was that “holiness in the Bible isn’t practical in today’s society.” It is probably true that in some cases today as denominations arise, wayward teachings and expositions abound, that we are all cautioned not to believe every standard of holiness shared by others. Yet, as I left the group that night, I couldn’t help but be firmly convinced that God still desires us to pursue holiness, which is a righteous distinction from that which is normal or common among those uncommitted to Christ. Another way to say this is that our essence reflects Jesus Christ’s essence – cleansed from sin and maintaining God-like thinking. At the same time, I wrestled with gaining a clear understanding of how to pursue this biblical holiness. God’s Word clearly teaches us to:
1. Start with God. (1 Peter 2: 9) God’s holiness cannot be possible without a growing relationship with God. We must be called out of the darkness and into the light.
2. Meditate on God’s Mind (Philippians 4: 7; 2 Corinthians 10: 5), this is God’s Word. The more that we can filter every thought through God’s Word, the better able we are to direct our behaviors in the right way. Right behavior only comes from right thoughts.
3. Pursue humility. (James 4:6; 1 Corinthians 10: 12) Pride convinces us that there is nothing wrong with us and that there is no need to surrender to God’s plan. Humility acknowledges our helplessness without God and leans on him for sufficiency.
4. Stay with it! (2 Timothy 4: 1-22) God understands the reality of life and simply invites us to face each day with the mindset to stay loyal to His direction. When we stay loyal, the results of our loyalty are increased trust, clear expectations, and mutual satisfaction for us and for God.
For some, holiness isn’t practical. For God, holiness is not only practical, it should be pursued as the norm for those who desire to live life to the fullest. As you work today, engage in conversations, participate in social media, travel, write, read, or simply listen, invite God to show you how to pursue His holiness for your life. Holiness is old, but its standard is always fresh, exciting, and new. It’ll never go out of style and demands the highest form of loyalty. Similar to my family, there are seemingly more convenient options and sometimes the deals seem tempting, but refuse to switch your loyalty to another choice, pursue holiness and you’ll be sure to have guaranteed satisfaction.
Scripture of the Day: "Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” - 1 Peter 1:13-16
Showing posts with label holiness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holiness. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Monday, September 17, 2012
Holiness; It's a Lifestyle!!!
by Jeremiah Lawrence Anderson
What does the word holiness mean to you? Often times as Christians when we hear the word holiness, we paint a picture of a certain group of people belonging to a certain type of church, wearing certain types of clothes and talking a certain way. When I was growing up and heard the word holiness, a picture was painted in my mind. A picture of older women who wore white dresses and cotton stockings. I am not saying that these people were not holy, but as I matured in Christ, I came to learn that holiness has nothing to do with wardrobe or appearance, but it does have everything to do with lifestyle.
Christ reminds us to be holy for He is holy. What does this mean? Clearly, this is a direct command for us to model our lives after the example that has been set before us since the foundation of the world. Holiness is simply separation. Not separation from the world, but separation from the way the world acts. In an effort to live a holy live, it means that we should be deliberate in being distinct from those who do not know Christ. Our God is different from all so-called other Gods, therefore we must live according to His will and give Him glory.
It was God's original plan for his creation to be like Him. Because our father Adam fell, we must now strive to live a life that God intended for us to live from the beginning of time. We are living in a world that has been infiltrated and influenced by the rulers of darkness. It even seems that some of the rituals of the world has even crept into the church. As Christians we must wave the banner high which reads, "Holiness Is Still Right."
Some would argue that the church has lost itself and that people have lost respect for the church because there seems to be no power. What we fail to realize is that we are the church and that we are not our own, but bought with a high price. We are like pilgrims traveling from a far land and we are to represent out homeland from whence we have come. It is not necessary for us to carry a big Bible so others can know who we represent, but people should be able to look at our lives and notice a distinct difference in who we are. Living a life of holiness will help us walk away from strongholds and will give us the power not having to look back.
Don't get me wrong. I am not saying that strongholds will not be present. Yes, we wrestle against the constant desires and lust of the old nature, but this is an internal struggle. I am reminded of the US Marine who once wrote, "Two natures beat within my breast, the one is cursed, the other is blessed. The one I love, the other I hate, the one I feed will dominate." We must learn to hate the desires of the world and of our flesh and continue to feed and nourish our spirit man who will lead us down the path of righteousness and holiness.
Yes, the saints of old may have worn white dresses and cotton stockings, but they also knew what it meant to abstain from sin and live a life now of their own, but purchased by their redeemer. So, while holiness is not about outer appearance, it is about inner appearance. Ask yourself the question, what do people see when they look at what I am wearing (on the tables of my heart).
What does the word holiness mean to you? Often times as Christians when we hear the word holiness, we paint a picture of a certain group of people belonging to a certain type of church, wearing certain types of clothes and talking a certain way. When I was growing up and heard the word holiness, a picture was painted in my mind. A picture of older women who wore white dresses and cotton stockings. I am not saying that these people were not holy, but as I matured in Christ, I came to learn that holiness has nothing to do with wardrobe or appearance, but it does have everything to do with lifestyle.
Christ reminds us to be holy for He is holy. What does this mean? Clearly, this is a direct command for us to model our lives after the example that has been set before us since the foundation of the world. Holiness is simply separation. Not separation from the world, but separation from the way the world acts. In an effort to live a holy live, it means that we should be deliberate in being distinct from those who do not know Christ. Our God is different from all so-called other Gods, therefore we must live according to His will and give Him glory.
It was God's original plan for his creation to be like Him. Because our father Adam fell, we must now strive to live a life that God intended for us to live from the beginning of time. We are living in a world that has been infiltrated and influenced by the rulers of darkness. It even seems that some of the rituals of the world has even crept into the church. As Christians we must wave the banner high which reads, "Holiness Is Still Right."
Some would argue that the church has lost itself and that people have lost respect for the church because there seems to be no power. What we fail to realize is that we are the church and that we are not our own, but bought with a high price. We are like pilgrims traveling from a far land and we are to represent out homeland from whence we have come. It is not necessary for us to carry a big Bible so others can know who we represent, but people should be able to look at our lives and notice a distinct difference in who we are. Living a life of holiness will help us walk away from strongholds and will give us the power not having to look back.
Don't get me wrong. I am not saying that strongholds will not be present. Yes, we wrestle against the constant desires and lust of the old nature, but this is an internal struggle. I am reminded of the US Marine who once wrote, "Two natures beat within my breast, the one is cursed, the other is blessed. The one I love, the other I hate, the one I feed will dominate." We must learn to hate the desires of the world and of our flesh and continue to feed and nourish our spirit man who will lead us down the path of righteousness and holiness.
Yes, the saints of old may have worn white dresses and cotton stockings, but they also knew what it meant to abstain from sin and live a life now of their own, but purchased by their redeemer. So, while holiness is not about outer appearance, it is about inner appearance. Ask yourself the question, what do people see when they look at what I am wearing (on the tables of my heart).
Scripture of the Day: "You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own." - Leviticus 20:26
The Holy Imprint
Just recently – deeply engaged in a time of worship, eyes closed, hands raised, self-awareness completely torched by the grandeur of God’s glory – an image of God impressing Himself on the human canvas suddenly burst onto my mind’s consciousness. I saw what seemed like a large, spongy block, very similar to a memory foam mattress, and then the shape of a person slowly imprinting the sponge until the sponge completely lost its original shape and became entirely defined by this prominent impression.
As I watched the image in my mind, I meditated on God’s ultimate desire. Undeniably, His will is to influence and impress Himself upon us until we mirror and reflect Him completely. Of course, this indentation of God upon our lives requires that we first present ourselves as sponges or permanent ‘memory foams’ that will easily contour to His touch.
Holiness does not require of us monk-like lifestyles or overly-ascetic tendencies. It isn’t about proving yourself, punishing yourself, or earning your way; instead it is very much about allowing God to mold your will until Christ is fully formed in you. Holiness is meant to be reflective. Repeatedly, God’s heart towards His people is echoed through His word, as He declares, “Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). Holiness is a ‘be-as-I-am’, ‘do-as-I-do’ principle, and is therefore unattainable without relationship with God and the abiding presence of His Spirit.
When we come to terms with the fact that it is God who saves us, God who cleans us, God who perfects us, and God who keeps us from falling, we will stop trying to enforce our own form of righteousness. We will realize that it is as impossible for us to make our own selves holy as it is for a lump of clay to mold itself. It is God who sanctifies us. It is He who works with our surrendered wills and makes of us holy vessels.
Today, as you go about your day, intentionally allow yourself to be shaped by God. Holiness means that your life should be reflective of the God who has imprinted Himself – His mind, His Spirit, His will – on you. He is pressing into the spongy fabric of your life at this very moment.
Reference Scripture: “As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.” - Jeremiah 18:6
As I watched the image in my mind, I meditated on God’s ultimate desire. Undeniably, His will is to influence and impress Himself upon us until we mirror and reflect Him completely. Of course, this indentation of God upon our lives requires that we first present ourselves as sponges or permanent ‘memory foams’ that will easily contour to His touch.
Holiness does not require of us monk-like lifestyles or overly-ascetic tendencies. It isn’t about proving yourself, punishing yourself, or earning your way; instead it is very much about allowing God to mold your will until Christ is fully formed in you. Holiness is meant to be reflective. Repeatedly, God’s heart towards His people is echoed through His word, as He declares, “Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). Holiness is a ‘be-as-I-am’, ‘do-as-I-do’ principle, and is therefore unattainable without relationship with God and the abiding presence of His Spirit.
When we come to terms with the fact that it is God who saves us, God who cleans us, God who perfects us, and God who keeps us from falling, we will stop trying to enforce our own form of righteousness. We will realize that it is as impossible for us to make our own selves holy as it is for a lump of clay to mold itself. It is God who sanctifies us. It is He who works with our surrendered wills and makes of us holy vessels.
Today, as you go about your day, intentionally allow yourself to be shaped by God. Holiness means that your life should be reflective of the God who has imprinted Himself – His mind, His Spirit, His will – on you. He is pressing into the spongy fabric of your life at this very moment.
Reference Scripture: “As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.” - Jeremiah 18:6
Living Holy is the Only Way
There are different explanations and experiences of Worship. It could be because of one’s denominational, cultural, or musical background, but there’s nothing like going to the word seeing and reading the many oracles on this subject. Worship is obedience and sacrifice to God, but sometimes we can allow a half-heartedness and carelessness to creep into our worship like the people of God did in the book of Malachi.
Offering God any kind of worship and not caring one bit, knowing what kind He desired. The Law of Moses required they bring animals without blemish, the finest from their flock. But they kept the finest for themselves and brought to the altar that which showed disrespect for God, who they claimed to honor and worship. They were offering animals with blemishes for sacrifice. “Cursed is the cheat who promises to give a fine ram from his flock but then sacrifices a defective one to the Lord. For I am a great King,” says the LORD Almighty, “and my name is feared among the nations!” (Malachi 1:14, NLT).
Because God gave His son Jesus as a sacrifice, to die on the cross on a hill called Calvary, shedding His blood for you and me covering our sins, rising from the grave on the third day, today we don’t have to bring animals for our worship. We can offer a life of holiness, acceptable and pleasing unto Him. And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? (Romans 12:1, NLT). We are now the offering; it’s our bodies that He wants placed on the altar.
Just like He didn’t want them (Old Covenant) bringing animals with blemishes, He tells us (New Covenant) through the Apostle Peter to be blemish free, holy. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God—who chose you to be his children—is holy. For he himself has said, “You must be holy because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16, NLT). Holiness is what He wants for us.
Scripture of the Day: "God has called us to be holy, not to live impure lives." - 1 Thessalonians 4:7
Offering God any kind of worship and not caring one bit, knowing what kind He desired. The Law of Moses required they bring animals without blemish, the finest from their flock. But they kept the finest for themselves and brought to the altar that which showed disrespect for God, who they claimed to honor and worship. They were offering animals with blemishes for sacrifice. “Cursed is the cheat who promises to give a fine ram from his flock but then sacrifices a defective one to the Lord. For I am a great King,” says the LORD Almighty, “and my name is feared among the nations!” (Malachi 1:14, NLT).
Because God gave His son Jesus as a sacrifice, to die on the cross on a hill called Calvary, shedding His blood for you and me covering our sins, rising from the grave on the third day, today we don’t have to bring animals for our worship. We can offer a life of holiness, acceptable and pleasing unto Him. And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? (Romans 12:1, NLT). We are now the offering; it’s our bodies that He wants placed on the altar.
Just like He didn’t want them (Old Covenant) bringing animals with blemishes, He tells us (New Covenant) through the Apostle Peter to be blemish free, holy. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God—who chose you to be his children—is holy. For he himself has said, “You must be holy because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16, NLT). Holiness is what He wants for us.
Scripture of the Day: "God has called us to be holy, not to live impure lives." - 1 Thessalonians 4:7
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Clean As A Whistle
God is Holy and created us in His image to be Holy (Genesis 1:27). The Blood of Jesus has been released so we can be Holy. Wash us Lord and make us clean as a whistle I cry out. Even though this is a phrase that is said maybe in washing cars or clothes, we can still ask God to cleanse us and make us whole. We are to understand that maybe by allowing us to see Holiness as being reachable we can obtain it just as easily. Jesus says whatever we have need for or we desire ask the Father and He will give it to us (John 14:13).
Don’t hesitate, ask The Father for what you need. Some are afraid of holiness, because holiness requires change. Yes, changes will be required, but “BETTER” is right behind it. Better way of thinking, living, and being. God wants you to walk in His image. Cleansing vision is a way of Holiness as well. Some of our vision is blurry. We walk with clouded vision. We must ask God to remove the scales from our eyes as He did with Paul (Acts 9:18). We need to see Holy.
God has made a way for you to walk and His way is Holy. Don’t fear the change. Don’t worry about if your friends, family, or co-workers will like your Holiness. You will wear it well and it shall bring much of God’s light and change the atmosphere. Be used to bring others to The Kingdom. Allow God to transform you. Your steps are ordered by The Lord.
Scripture of the Day: “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” - Psalm 51:7
Don’t hesitate, ask The Father for what you need. Some are afraid of holiness, because holiness requires change. Yes, changes will be required, but “BETTER” is right behind it. Better way of thinking, living, and being. God wants you to walk in His image. Cleansing vision is a way of Holiness as well. Some of our vision is blurry. We walk with clouded vision. We must ask God to remove the scales from our eyes as He did with Paul (Acts 9:18). We need to see Holy.
God has made a way for you to walk and His way is Holy. Don’t fear the change. Don’t worry about if your friends, family, or co-workers will like your Holiness. You will wear it well and it shall bring much of God’s light and change the atmosphere. Be used to bring others to The Kingdom. Allow God to transform you. Your steps are ordered by The Lord.
Scripture of the Day: “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” - Psalm 51:7
Blessed Are The
Dewayne and I were so blessed to stand and look over the hillside near Capernaum in Israel where Jesus was ministering the words to the people in Matthew Chapter 5. What a sight to see! Jesus was telling the people that there was a reward for them, and us today, for the ones who would live their lives a certain way. The Amplified translation of The Bible tells us in Matthew 5:6 that righteousness is, “those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied!”
And in Matthew 5:8 (NLT) it tells us, “God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.” PURE is defined as, free from anything of a different, or contaminating kind; free from foreign or inappropriate elements, being that and nothing else; clean, spotless, or unsullied: untainted with evil; innocent:
I am asking myself these questions and I ask you the same, “Are we living in a way that we are RIGHT and RIGHT STANDING with God? Am I hungry and thirsty to be RIGHT with God? Is my heart PURE? Am I allowing things . . . what I watch, what I hear, what I read and people I listen to . . . to keep me from being PURE in my heart?
” Are these questions hard? Yes! Are they necessary? Yes!
Ask God to reveal to you if there is anything in your life that is contaminating your heart and mind. Is there things coming through your eye and ear gates that are inappropriate and are stealing away your innocence and right standing with God? Could it be that WE are standing in the way of the Blessings that God promises us? Jesus told us the condition of the ones who would dare to live in a right state with God and with a pure heart.
He said BLESSED are these ones! Daily begin to ask God if there is anything tarnishing your heart. Then ask Him to forgive you, clean you and free you. There is nothing better than the feeling of being clean before God! And the benefits do not stop there! Not only will you be living your life in righteousness, purity and holiness in your heart, you will be in the category of what God calls BLESSED! BLESSED is when you SEE GOD move in your life and situations! BLESSED is when you see The Word of God manifesting before your eyes! BLESSED is the recompense for those who will hunger and thirst after God and His Ways and live holy for Him! For, when God calls you BLESSED, YOU ABSOLUTELY ARE!
Scripture of the Day: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. . . Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” - Matthew 5:6, 8 (NIV)
And in Matthew 5:8 (NLT) it tells us, “God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.” PURE is defined as, free from anything of a different, or contaminating kind; free from foreign or inappropriate elements, being that and nothing else; clean, spotless, or unsullied: untainted with evil; innocent:
I am asking myself these questions and I ask you the same, “Are we living in a way that we are RIGHT and RIGHT STANDING with God? Am I hungry and thirsty to be RIGHT with God? Is my heart PURE? Am I allowing things . . . what I watch, what I hear, what I read and people I listen to . . . to keep me from being PURE in my heart?
” Are these questions hard? Yes! Are they necessary? Yes!
Ask God to reveal to you if there is anything in your life that is contaminating your heart and mind. Is there things coming through your eye and ear gates that are inappropriate and are stealing away your innocence and right standing with God? Could it be that WE are standing in the way of the Blessings that God promises us? Jesus told us the condition of the ones who would dare to live in a right state with God and with a pure heart.
He said BLESSED are these ones! Daily begin to ask God if there is anything tarnishing your heart. Then ask Him to forgive you, clean you and free you. There is nothing better than the feeling of being clean before God! And the benefits do not stop there! Not only will you be living your life in righteousness, purity and holiness in your heart, you will be in the category of what God calls BLESSED! BLESSED is when you SEE GOD move in your life and situations! BLESSED is when you see The Word of God manifesting before your eyes! BLESSED is the recompense for those who will hunger and thirst after God and His Ways and live holy for Him! For, when God calls you BLESSED, YOU ABSOLUTELY ARE!
Scripture of the Day: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. . . Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” - Matthew 5:6, 8 (NIV)
Friday, August 17, 2012
Living In Your Season
“Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.” – Psalm 1
Many of us have not met here since I shared with you the word that the Lord had given me, “TRUST.” Well, here we are again, and I trust that this new word that has been placed in my spirit will help you live the life that you are destined to live.
As one year drew to a close and the year began to dawn upon us, the Lord placed a word in my spirit. The word was “LIVE IN YOUR SEASON”. This word became so powerful that I began to share it everywhere that I went. At first I thought I knew what the word meant, but as I began to study more, the word became clearer than ever.
It is important that each one of us lives in the season that God has designed for our lives. The word season has many denotations, but the one that I like best defines season as “in the time or state for use.” You or I can be the best at our craft, but if we are living out of season, we are a hindrance to the whole body.
During a particular moment in my life, I was employed by one of the finest institutions in America. I held a high position, developed the favor of the people and most of all had the favor of God resting on my life. During my tenure I was able to implement many new ideas and help take this organization to a new level.
I can remember it as if it was yesterday; I walked into my office and there was a change in season. The strange part was that I was the only one noticing what was taking place. All of my colleagues were continuing work as usual, but for me, I no longer fit. Often times we are living among those who are living outside of their season.
One explanation of the word season says “for a short time.” When you realize that life is to be lived in seasons you will come to understand that we are where we are, but only for a short time. We should never get comfortable at a certain place in our lives. Comfortability breeds complacency and complacency breeds stagnation.
Yes, my colleagues did not notice what was taking place, because it was my season that was changing, not their season. We each have our own season. My season will not end the same day your season begins, nor will your season begin when my season ends. Seasons are lived independently.
Scripture of the Day: “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.” – Psalm 1
Many of us have not met here since I shared with you the word that the Lord had given me, “TRUST.” Well, here we are again, and I trust that this new word that has been placed in my spirit will help you live the life that you are destined to live.
As one year drew to a close and the year began to dawn upon us, the Lord placed a word in my spirit. The word was “LIVE IN YOUR SEASON”. This word became so powerful that I began to share it everywhere that I went. At first I thought I knew what the word meant, but as I began to study more, the word became clearer than ever.
It is important that each one of us lives in the season that God has designed for our lives. The word season has many denotations, but the one that I like best defines season as “in the time or state for use.” You or I can be the best at our craft, but if we are living out of season, we are a hindrance to the whole body.
During a particular moment in my life, I was employed by one of the finest institutions in America. I held a high position, developed the favor of the people and most of all had the favor of God resting on my life. During my tenure I was able to implement many new ideas and help take this organization to a new level.
I can remember it as if it was yesterday; I walked into my office and there was a change in season. The strange part was that I was the only one noticing what was taking place. All of my colleagues were continuing work as usual, but for me, I no longer fit. Often times we are living among those who are living outside of their season.
One explanation of the word season says “for a short time.” When you realize that life is to be lived in seasons you will come to understand that we are where we are, but only for a short time. We should never get comfortable at a certain place in our lives. Comfortability breeds complacency and complacency breeds stagnation.
Yes, my colleagues did not notice what was taking place, because it was my season that was changing, not their season. We each have our own season. My season will not end the same day your season begins, nor will your season begin when my season ends. Seasons are lived independently.
Scripture of the Day: “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.” – Psalm 1
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Conformity
Once, some scientists did an experiment where they placed caterpillars head to tail, all around the rim of a clay pot. They watched as the caterpillars marched for days around the rim, each following the other--until they died. And this, despite the fact there was a plant in the pot that they could have consumed for nourishment!
That "follow the leader" conformity was deadly. But conforming to this world is deadly to our spiritual lives. The Bible tells us what God wants instead. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:1-2).
God is calling us to make a practical presentation of ourselves to Him: "Here I am, God! I'm yours, totally and completely." This must be our lifestyle. Being a "living sacrifice" is tough, because we tend to want to squirm off the altar. But when your body is yielded to God, it is a base of operations for the Holy Spirit to work. That's why the Bible calls our bodies the temple of the Holy Spirit.
The Bible is full of wonderful examples of bodies yielded over to God. Sarah's barren womb was yielded to God, and she gave birth to the son of promise, Isaac. Moses told the Lord he was "slow of speech," but he yielded his voice to God and it became a powerful instrument, to utter the law to the nation. The shepherd hands of David vanquished the giant. Paul's feet carried him to the uttermost parts of the world to spread the Gospel.
"Reasonable service" means it must be a rational choice. That makes sense if you think of all God has given to you--His salvation, His peace, His mercy. You should want to commit your life to God because God has committed to you all the resources for life and godliness.
Verse 2 talks about transformation, changing the way we think about the values around us. It says, "Don't be conformed to this world." God is calling you to non-conformity. I love the way the Phillips translation puts it: "Don't let the world squeeze you into its own mold." One of the greatest fears people have is to be rejected by "the group," their peers…to be somehow different. That's why even some Christians conform to what the world thinks and how it behaves.
We will conform to one of two value systems--to that of God and His Word, or to that of this world. One of those two molds will shape us. But our thinking is to be renewed. We are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength.
The point is, God wants to touch the world through you. So you should break away from the crowd. Think His thoughts. Dare to be different. Dare to think, act, and live according to His truth!
Scripture Of The Day: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." - Romans 12:1 (NKJV)
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Don’t Forget To Look Out
The mere mention of the word holiness invokes images of the heaven rending. Most people envision a picturesque scene depicting God high and lifted on a throne. Angels surround Him crying, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty.” If we ever get to a point where we wrap our minds around the holiness of God, then like Isaiah, we’ll realize just how unworthy we are to be in His presence.
There’s also a flip side to this coin. Similar to the disciples in the first chapter of Acts (See Acts 1:10), we gaze upward toward heaven and see an ascending Christ. And in the same way, we are gently reminded: “Why do you stand gazing up into heaven?” (Acts 1:11)
Sometimes we get so wrapped up in God’s holiness that we forget God’s requirement for our own.
This is precisely what the disciples experienced on that day. They were so wrapped up in Jesus’ ascension and holiness they nearly forgot there was a Great Commission to carry out. They almost forgot the commission to live a holy lifestyle in an unholy culture. They nearly missed their destiny. The Gospel may have never reached the ends of the earth had the disciples failed to realize this:
While it’s important to look up, it’s just as important to look out.
Since the One who called us is holy, we are called to be holy in our conduct as well. Holiness is about being set apart, but not living apart from our society and culture. As Christians, we love the fact that we are set apart. Sometimes we love it a little too much. We separate ourselves from those whose beliefs and values don’t line up with our own. We find ourselves in little conclaves of safety, surrounded by others who believe the same things we believe. A little leaven leavens the whole lump, right? Why is it that we think about the negative impact others may have on us rather than the positive impact we may have on them?
The First Epistle of Peter puts it well: “Live an exemplary life [a life of holiness] among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they'll be won over to God's side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.” (1 Peter 2:11 The Message). Did you see that? Our holy and exemplary lifestyle is to be lived among the natives. Your holiness isn’t just for you. Your holiness isn’t just for Sunday mornings. Your holiness isn’t just for Church conferences or retreats. Your holiness is for others outside of the faith to see, ultimately winning them over to God’s side. When was the last time your conduct won someone else over to God’s side?
As Christians, we should allow our lifestyles to become examples to those who have not embraced our values and faith. Maybe then we'll begin to impact a culture that is becoming increasingly hostile toward people of faith. Outsiders observing holiness in God’s people outside of the proverbial “four walls of the church” just might increase their trust in the Gospel and those who proclaim it. Holiness is, at its core, the demonstration of the Kingdom of God on Earth...among the natives.
God is holy. You are also called to be holy. But your holiness isn’t to be bottled up and served up like a rare vintage wine; it shouldn’t be reserved for the presence of God and God’s people. Look up, but don’t forget to look out. Like the disciples, have you spent your days looking up rather than looking out? Have you unjustifiably removed yourself from culture because of its potential impact on your holiness?
Look out! This means looking out to a hurting, dying world. This means looking out and demonstrating a godly lifestyle to a society void of a godly conscience. Only then will we be able to fully comprehend God’s command repeated in Peter’s First Epistle: “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16).
Scripture of the Day: “But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’” - 1 Peter 1:15-16 (NKJV)
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Blessed Are Those
My husband and I were so blessed to stand and look over the hillside near Capernaum in Israel where Jesus was ministering these words to the people: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. . . . Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Matthew 5:6, 8 (NIV)
What a sight to see! Jesus was telling the people that there was a reward for those who would live their lives a certain way. The same applies to us today. The Amplified translation of The Bible tells us that righteousness is, “those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied!” The word “pure” is defined as, free from anything of a different or contaminating kind; free from foreign or inappropriate elements, being that and nothing else; clean, spotless or unsullied: untainted with evil; innocent.
I’m asking myself these questions, and I ask you the same:
Are we living in a way that we are right and right standing with God?
Am I hungry and thirsty to be right with God?
Is my heart pure?
Am I allowing things – what I watch, what I hear, what I read, and people I listen to – to keep me from being pure in my heart?
Are these questions hard? Yes! Are they necessary? Yes!
Ask God to reveal to you if there is anything in your life that is contaminating your heart and mind. Are there things coming through your eye and ear gates that are inappropriate and are stealing away your innocence and right standing with God? Could it be that WE are standing in the way of the blessings that God promises us?
Jesus told us the condition of the ones who would dare to live in a right state with God and with a pure heart. He said blessed are these ones! Daily begin to ask God if there is anything tarnishing your heart. Then ask Him to forgive you, clean you and free you. There is nothing better than the feeling of being clean before God! And the benefits do not stop there! Not only will you be living your life in righteousness, holiness and purity, but you will also be in the category of what God calls blessed. Blessed is the recompense for those who will hunger and thirst after God and His ways and His holiness!
Scripture Of The Day: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." - Matthew 5:6 (NIV)
Friday, August 12, 2011
The Holy Spirit: Our Teacher
If you are going to take instruction from someone, you want to be certain that person is well qualified, right? It's interesting, then, that so many believers neglect the greatest Bible teacher available. We read religious books, consult friends, and tune into a favored preacher before we will get on our knees. While those sources can point us in the right direction, only the Holy Spirit illuminates God's Word to our hearts and minds.
Asking someone to explain God's Word seems easier than seeking to understand it through the Holy Spirit's power. But consider what a person misses by forsaking Him. Who better to instruct believers about the scripture's depth and breadth than the One who wrote it (2 Peter 1:20-21)? The Spirit laid His message on the authors' hearts, and they dutifully recorded it, each in his own unique voice.
Furthermore, as a member of the holy Trinity, the Spirit knows the mind of God (1 Cor. 2:10). He is often called the Spirit of truth, because He understands everything. The Spirit recognizes our emotional and mental state and can identify exactly where we are in our Christian growth. Therefore, He can reveal to our minds passages that will encourage, challenge, or convict us as needed.
We have a teacher of divine quality. He will help us to learn and grow, guide us through difficult passages, and shed light on why the Lord allows certain challenges our life. When it comes to aiding God's people to know His Word, no one is more qualified than His Spirit.
Scripture Of The Day: “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." - John 14:25-26 (NKJV)
Asking someone to explain God's Word seems easier than seeking to understand it through the Holy Spirit's power. But consider what a person misses by forsaking Him. Who better to instruct believers about the scripture's depth and breadth than the One who wrote it (2 Peter 1:20-21)? The Spirit laid His message on the authors' hearts, and they dutifully recorded it, each in his own unique voice.
Furthermore, as a member of the holy Trinity, the Spirit knows the mind of God (1 Cor. 2:10). He is often called the Spirit of truth, because He understands everything. The Spirit recognizes our emotional and mental state and can identify exactly where we are in our Christian growth. Therefore, He can reveal to our minds passages that will encourage, challenge, or convict us as needed.
We have a teacher of divine quality. He will help us to learn and grow, guide us through difficult passages, and shed light on why the Lord allows certain challenges our life. When it comes to aiding God's people to know His Word, no one is more qualified than His Spirit.
Scripture Of The Day: “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." - John 14:25-26 (NKJV)
Monday, October 11, 2010
Holiness—Getting Your Priorities In Order
By Dr. Zachery Tims, Jr.
Do you have daily “intimate” fellowship with God? A life of holiness in the believer demands a life of priority, precedence, and first preference for God, such as with David, “a man after God’s own heart.”
David was consumed with a love and deep passion for God, “Oh God, thou art my God: Early will I seek You, My soul thirsts for You, My flesh longs for You, in a dry and thirsty land, Where there is no water.” Psalm 63:1-2
Developing Christian character is a work of establishing set order in our lives. The worship of God is a spiritual discipline that exhibits the values of living holy. Spending quality time in the presence of God is how David expressed his passion.
It was the “one thing” in his day that took precedence in his life, “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His tabernacle.” Psalm 27:4.
The Disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray and He gave them the whole spiritual dynamic written in Matthew 6, “Give us this day, our daily bread….” The focal point is that EACH DAY, God wants to have daily fellowship with us; not a casual, materialistic, lop-sided, one-dimensional relationship, but an intimate DAILY fellowship of spending time together in His presence.
He has so much that he wants to give to us, yet He does not bestow all of it upon us up front, else we would not come back. What we need will fall into place when we get our priorities in order.
How else will God know our passion if we do not spend time with Him? Like David, our example, God desires intimacy and a purposeful relationship with His children. How would you feel if a stranger asked to borrow your car? A red flag would check you immediately and you probably would respond, “Hey, I don’t know you like that!”
That is the way some people treat God -- too casual, too complacent, and not making a reasonable investment in building a relationship with Him. God comes where He is celebrated. When we pursue His presence, it shows God how much we value a relationship with Him.
Getting closer to God is tantamount to holiness in our Christian walk. We are too needy a people who require God’s provisions for our daily survival. This fact was demonstrated in the lives of the children of Israel who wandered in the wilderness for 40 years when God’s supply never ran out.
Each day was a total dependence on the Lord to send them fresh manna from heaven for their daily nourishment. No one suffered lack and no one needed to be greedy. God made enough manna every day for everyone. Yet, if anyone hoarded the manna overnight, it provoked God to send worms to eat it up so the people would learn the basic principle of dependence on Him and His grace for their daily survival.
God’s sustaining provisions daily load us with benefits.
Living holy is a conscious act of discipline and a priority to make Him first in our lives.
Scripture Of The Day: "For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness." - 1 Thessalonians 4:7 (ESV)
Dr. Zachery Tims, Jr. is the Senior Pastor, CEO and founder of New Destiny Christian Center (NDCC). The focus of the ministry is to exemplify the love of Jesus Christ with a passion for helping people. For more information, visit http://www.ndcc.tv/.
Do you have daily “intimate” fellowship with God? A life of holiness in the believer demands a life of priority, precedence, and first preference for God, such as with David, “a man after God’s own heart.”
David was consumed with a love and deep passion for God, “Oh God, thou art my God: Early will I seek You, My soul thirsts for You, My flesh longs for You, in a dry and thirsty land, Where there is no water.” Psalm 63:1-2
Developing Christian character is a work of establishing set order in our lives. The worship of God is a spiritual discipline that exhibits the values of living holy. Spending quality time in the presence of God is how David expressed his passion.
It was the “one thing” in his day that took precedence in his life, “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His tabernacle.” Psalm 27:4.
The Disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray and He gave them the whole spiritual dynamic written in Matthew 6, “Give us this day, our daily bread….” The focal point is that EACH DAY, God wants to have daily fellowship with us; not a casual, materialistic, lop-sided, one-dimensional relationship, but an intimate DAILY fellowship of spending time together in His presence.
He has so much that he wants to give to us, yet He does not bestow all of it upon us up front, else we would not come back. What we need will fall into place when we get our priorities in order.
How else will God know our passion if we do not spend time with Him? Like David, our example, God desires intimacy and a purposeful relationship with His children. How would you feel if a stranger asked to borrow your car? A red flag would check you immediately and you probably would respond, “Hey, I don’t know you like that!”
That is the way some people treat God -- too casual, too complacent, and not making a reasonable investment in building a relationship with Him. God comes where He is celebrated. When we pursue His presence, it shows God how much we value a relationship with Him.
Getting closer to God is tantamount to holiness in our Christian walk. We are too needy a people who require God’s provisions for our daily survival. This fact was demonstrated in the lives of the children of Israel who wandered in the wilderness for 40 years when God’s supply never ran out.
Each day was a total dependence on the Lord to send them fresh manna from heaven for their daily nourishment. No one suffered lack and no one needed to be greedy. God made enough manna every day for everyone. Yet, if anyone hoarded the manna overnight, it provoked God to send worms to eat it up so the people would learn the basic principle of dependence on Him and His grace for their daily survival.
God’s sustaining provisions daily load us with benefits.
Living holy is a conscious act of discipline and a priority to make Him first in our lives.
Scripture Of The Day: "For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness." - 1 Thessalonians 4:7 (ESV)
Dr. Zachery Tims, Jr. is the Senior Pastor, CEO and founder of New Destiny Christian Center (NDCC). The focus of the ministry is to exemplify the love of Jesus Christ with a passion for helping people. For more information, visit http://www.ndcc.tv/.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Living As a New Creation
By Pastor Andre Butler
The Bible says that when you accepted Jesus as the Lord of your life, your spirit was recreated. You went from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. The spirit that is living inside your body looks just like God’s, and wants you to act just like God. Have you noticed that there is a part of you that always wants to do the right thing? Why is that? Because, your spirit is holy and always wants you to do things God’s way. Your flesh, however, may still want to drink, smoke, sleep around, tell people off, party, or curse from time to time. Your flesh is working to bring you into the captivity of sin again.
There is a war going on inside of you right now. Your spirit and your flesh are in a boxing ring every day. Have you ever said, “I’ll never tell off someone like that again,” only to find yourself saying the same things one week later? Have you ever said, “I’ll never go to that porn website again,” only to find yourself at the same website a month later? For some reason, you just keep doing the same things. You are fighting a war, and your flesh is winning. This describes the plight of many Christians, particularly those who are still carnal. The word carnal means “flesh ruled.” Carnal Christians plan to do the right thing and try to grow spiritually, yet keep making the same mistakes.
God did not put you in a place where you’re winning in one moment and losing in the next. He wants you to live in constant spiritual victory. Where you are today is not where you are supposed to end up. But you cannot get to where God wants you to be until you deal with the issues of your flesh.
God asks you to be holy, and live for Him. Christian believers should not be like non-believers. We should not talk like they talk or react like they react. Our lifestyle should be separate and different from that of the world. This is more easily said than done. You are surrounded by the world. You live in the world. What is a Christian to do? How do you get to a place where you are holy, obedient, and blessed? By renewing your mind using the Word of God.
What you have is a battle between your spirit and your flesh to gain control of your mind. If your flesh can get you to start thinking in line with your fleshly desires, then your flesh wins. But if you renew your mind and start thinking in line with God’s Word, your spirit wins. You need to decide to daily renew your mind with the Word of God, because it is only when you do that you will change, and your spirit will have ultimate victory.
Scripture Of The Day: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:” - 2 Corinthians 5:17a
Pastor Andre Butler is a young man anointed and commissioned by God to spread the Good News of Christ. A 1996 graduate of Rhema Bible Training Center, Pastor Butler serves as Co-Pastor of Word of Faith International Christian Center in Southfield, MI.s. For more information about Pastor Andre Butler, log onto http://www.andrebutler.tv.…
The Bible says that when you accepted Jesus as the Lord of your life, your spirit was recreated. You went from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. The spirit that is living inside your body looks just like God’s, and wants you to act just like God. Have you noticed that there is a part of you that always wants to do the right thing? Why is that? Because, your spirit is holy and always wants you to do things God’s way. Your flesh, however, may still want to drink, smoke, sleep around, tell people off, party, or curse from time to time. Your flesh is working to bring you into the captivity of sin again.
There is a war going on inside of you right now. Your spirit and your flesh are in a boxing ring every day. Have you ever said, “I’ll never tell off someone like that again,” only to find yourself saying the same things one week later? Have you ever said, “I’ll never go to that porn website again,” only to find yourself at the same website a month later? For some reason, you just keep doing the same things. You are fighting a war, and your flesh is winning. This describes the plight of many Christians, particularly those who are still carnal. The word carnal means “flesh ruled.” Carnal Christians plan to do the right thing and try to grow spiritually, yet keep making the same mistakes.
God did not put you in a place where you’re winning in one moment and losing in the next. He wants you to live in constant spiritual victory. Where you are today is not where you are supposed to end up. But you cannot get to where God wants you to be until you deal with the issues of your flesh.
God asks you to be holy, and live for Him. Christian believers should not be like non-believers. We should not talk like they talk or react like they react. Our lifestyle should be separate and different from that of the world. This is more easily said than done. You are surrounded by the world. You live in the world. What is a Christian to do? How do you get to a place where you are holy, obedient, and blessed? By renewing your mind using the Word of God.
What you have is a battle between your spirit and your flesh to gain control of your mind. If your flesh can get you to start thinking in line with your fleshly desires, then your flesh wins. But if you renew your mind and start thinking in line with God’s Word, your spirit wins. You need to decide to daily renew your mind with the Word of God, because it is only when you do that you will change, and your spirit will have ultimate victory.
Scripture Of The Day: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:” - 2 Corinthians 5:17a
Pastor Andre Butler is a young man anointed and commissioned by God to spread the Good News of Christ. A 1996 graduate of Rhema Bible Training Center, Pastor Butler serves as Co-Pastor of Word of Faith International Christian Center in Southfield, MI.s. For more information about Pastor Andre Butler, log onto http://www.andrebutler.tv.…
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Holy, Living Sacrifices
By Brent Barnett
In Exodus 12:5, God commanded each household in Israel to take an unblemished lamb and slaughter it on the Passover. The blood of the Lamb was to be put on the doorposts of their homes so that God would pass over them and not strike down their firstborn as He did to the Egyptians. This was a clear foreshadowing of Christ who would shed His innocent blood for us as the perfect Lamb of God.
Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 1:19 that we have not been bought with perishable things such as silver and gold “but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.” Our holy standing before God come judgment day is going to be because we have received Christ as the One Who alone could forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). It is His blood which can set us free, and nothing else, because only He was the unblemished and spotless Lamb of God.
But the imagery of unblemished sacrifices doesn’t end here. Jesus refers to those who believe in Him as His sheep (John 10:27), and Paul says in Romans 12:1-2, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” There is a sense in which our lives are to resemble the unblemished lamb of the Passover and the holy, unblemished Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. Just as Christ was holy and laid down His life, so, too, are we to grow in holiness and lay down our lives for others. We, the sheep of God, are to be holy sacrifices while we are yet living. This we can do each day as we present our bodies, hearts, and minds as clean and holy to God.
Paul speaks of dying daily (1 Corinthians 15:31, Galatians 2:20) and Jesus says that we must take up our cross daily (Luke 9:23). Each day, we must offer ourselves to God spiritually, reckoning ourselves dead to sin and alive to God (Romans 6:11). We are alive because Christ has given us new life. We are holy because Christ has made us righteous in His perfect blood. Yet we are also to be sacrifices, living daily in practical holiness as we let God accomplish His good and perfect will in and through us. Paul summarized this mindset in Galatians 2:20 when he said, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” Galatians 5:24 echoes this theme saying, “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” A holy, living sacrifice lets Christ have His way and daily reckons himself dead to sin and free to let Christ live out His will in and through him. Being a sacrifice implies a willingness to die. We may never have to physically die for being a Christian, but daily we do need to die to the flesh as we remember by faith that we have been bought with the blood of the perfect Lamb Who is working to perfect us also. When we yield to God, we can see just how alive we really are.
May God in His mercy fashion us into those whose lives are pleasing to Him, and may we by faith let Him transform us from the ways of the world to the unblemished state of our Lord, the Lamb of God.
Scripture Of The Day: “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship." - Romans 12:1 (NASB)
Brenton M. Barnett is the founder of the free Bible teaching ministry, Relevant Bible Teaching, found on the web at http://www.relevantbibleteaching.com. He is also the author of Catch Fire: A Call to Spiritual Awakening. Brent’s greatest joys in life are his wife, Sarah, and daughter, Anneke.…
In Exodus 12:5, God commanded each household in Israel to take an unblemished lamb and slaughter it on the Passover. The blood of the Lamb was to be put on the doorposts of their homes so that God would pass over them and not strike down their firstborn as He did to the Egyptians. This was a clear foreshadowing of Christ who would shed His innocent blood for us as the perfect Lamb of God.
Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 1:19 that we have not been bought with perishable things such as silver and gold “but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.” Our holy standing before God come judgment day is going to be because we have received Christ as the One Who alone could forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). It is His blood which can set us free, and nothing else, because only He was the unblemished and spotless Lamb of God.
But the imagery of unblemished sacrifices doesn’t end here. Jesus refers to those who believe in Him as His sheep (John 10:27), and Paul says in Romans 12:1-2, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” There is a sense in which our lives are to resemble the unblemished lamb of the Passover and the holy, unblemished Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. Just as Christ was holy and laid down His life, so, too, are we to grow in holiness and lay down our lives for others. We, the sheep of God, are to be holy sacrifices while we are yet living. This we can do each day as we present our bodies, hearts, and minds as clean and holy to God.
Paul speaks of dying daily (1 Corinthians 15:31, Galatians 2:20) and Jesus says that we must take up our cross daily (Luke 9:23). Each day, we must offer ourselves to God spiritually, reckoning ourselves dead to sin and alive to God (Romans 6:11). We are alive because Christ has given us new life. We are holy because Christ has made us righteous in His perfect blood. Yet we are also to be sacrifices, living daily in practical holiness as we let God accomplish His good and perfect will in and through us. Paul summarized this mindset in Galatians 2:20 when he said, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” Galatians 5:24 echoes this theme saying, “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” A holy, living sacrifice lets Christ have His way and daily reckons himself dead to sin and free to let Christ live out His will in and through him. Being a sacrifice implies a willingness to die. We may never have to physically die for being a Christian, but daily we do need to die to the flesh as we remember by faith that we have been bought with the blood of the perfect Lamb Who is working to perfect us also. When we yield to God, we can see just how alive we really are.
May God in His mercy fashion us into those whose lives are pleasing to Him, and may we by faith let Him transform us from the ways of the world to the unblemished state of our Lord, the Lamb of God.
Scripture Of The Day: “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship." - Romans 12:1 (NASB)
Brenton M. Barnett is the founder of the free Bible teaching ministry, Relevant Bible Teaching, found on the web at http://www.relevantbibleteaching.com. He is also the author of Catch Fire: A Call to Spiritual Awakening. Brent’s greatest joys in life are his wife, Sarah, and daughter, Anneke.…
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