None of us is perfect. We will all make mistakes. However, we are not called to concede to that truth. I have noticed, of late, a few people whom either have forgotten or stopped caring about the fact that our walk is supposed to exhibit our most sincere efforts to represent our talk.
Is that true of you? Do you profess Jesus yet live a life that does not appear to represent His message? Are you compromising or outright ignoring what scripture says about sin in your life. Let's look at what scripture has to say about why this is important.
In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus says this, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven".
We are not to be or appear as callous having given ourselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. We are to be renewed in the spirit of our minds, putting on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and to holiness. (Ephesians 4:19-24)
In Philippians 1:27, the Apostle Paul charges us "Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ"
In Colossians 1:9-14 the Apostle Paul writes out a prayer that he and Timothy are praying for their fellow brothers in Christ. It goes like this, "And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us form the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
You see, if in fact you are a child of God. If you have indeed been "called out of darkness into His marvelous light"(1 Peter 2:9) then not only are you expected to walk out the gospel of Jesus Christ but you must remember that you have been empowered to walk it out as well. Paul tells us to "work out our salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in us both to will and to work according to His good pleasure"(Philippians 2:12-13)
The Apostle Peter tells us that as Christians, "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire."(2 Peter 1:3-4)
Peter goes on in 2 Peter 5:11 to instruct us to take action, working with great effort in applying holy and virtuous character qualities to the way we do life so as to make our calling and election sure. That we may know we have entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.
As His children, God requires much of us. As His children, God has made available to us all that we need to accomplish His purposes. His grace is always working under the surface of our efforts.
So if you have made mistakes or experienced hurt that has drawn you away from your Savior and affected your submission to His Lordship.......COME BACK! God loves you and has provided everything you need through the study of His word, prayerful communion with His Spirit, and fellowship with other believers that can help you understand and apply His word and help hold you accountable.
Repentance from sin and pursuit of holiness is a lifelong effort and as long as you are still breathing it is never too late to come back to your first love. Look to the cross and trust your Savior. He will carry you though.
If this message rings true to you. If you feel convicted and desire to change, this is not of your own doing. It is because Jesus has revealed himself and the Father to you(Matthew 11:27) and is either calling you to his side for the first time or is drawing you back to an obedient life of submission to His lordship.
So lean on the one who's "yoke is easy and burden is light"(Matthew 11:28-30). You don't have to do it alone however, if you are a child of the Most High, then obedience is not an option. You will not do it because you have to, but because you are driven to it by the revelation of your Heavenly Father's love toward you and the sacrifice of His Son Jesus for you.
If your life does not represent what you say you believe, the world notices and they talk about it. I have heard it through the grapevine.
By God's grace I am what I am(1 Corinthians 15:10), there are many areas of my life that have improved
greatly in representing my faith and many have come to me and told me
that they can see it and respect it. I am so grateful. It is a
continual reminder to me to watch my life and doctrine closely.
(1 Timothy 4:16)
Read the word! Pray Hard! Live a life worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ! People are listening and watching!
Don't just talk it, WALK IT!
In Jesus name,
Amen
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