Pursue Life, Step forward in God’s Grace
“Do not be bound together with unbelievers;
(The Second Letter of Paul to the Corinthians 6: 14-16a NASB)
for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness,
or what fellowship has light with darkness?
Or what harmony has Christ with Belial,
or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?
Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols?
For we are the temple of the living God; . . .”
This letter of the apostle Paul is separate from the first in the canon of the Holy Scriptures; yet we know the entirety of the apostle’s letter (1st & 2nd) were written as one lengthy letter to the early believers living in Corinth. The weight of carrying the scroll could have caused the letter to be divided for easy transport. Nonetheless, whether we consider it one letter or two, the instruction provides necessary teaching for the Christian.
Today, may we ask ourselves the question—
What would God say about the way we pursue life?
Do we hang only with unbelievers, forsaking the assembling with like-minded believers?
Do we fellowship only with those who do not believe like us, choosing to not partake in intimate Bible study (alone or with other believers)?
Do we harmonize better with those who do not follow God?
Do we tarnish the temple of God by doing the things which we know we should not do?
“For we are the temple of the living God;
(The Second Letter of Paul to the Corinthians 6: 16-18 NASB)
just as God said,
“I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM;
AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,”
says the Lord.
“AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN;
And I will welcome you.
And I will be a father to you,
And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,”
Says the Lord Almighty.”
The Bible is clear. We are the city on the hill. We are to stand separate from the world. We are to shine to the light of Jesus Christ for all to see. We (through our life-actions & words) are the only Bible some will read; therefore, until they meet Jesus face-to-face and receive Him as Lord, they need to see Jesus in us.
- We need to speak Jesus.
- We need to seek the Lord with our entire being.
- We need to love others. &
- We need to be the hands & feet of Jesus to those in need.
- We must speak the Gospel to those we encounter.
If we allow ourselves to look like the unbelievers: to speak like them, react like them, walk like them, and blend into the world, not standing separate, then how will those same unbelievers EVER SEE JESUS IN US? !!!
They will not, or at least, they will have a more difficult time seeing Jesus in us when we act, speak, and live just as they do.
We would NEVER give back God’s Amazing Grace, so why do we allow our lives, our beings—the temple of God—to become tarnished?
We (maybe me most of all) need to be reminded today how it is vitally important to—
Pursue Life.
& to
Step forward in God’s Grace.
What would God say about the way we pursue life?
- About our ambitions?
- About our desires?
- About our hopes & dreams ?
- About our relationships?
- About our prayer life?
- About our busyness?
- About our Bible study time?
- About our listening to God in the stillness each day?
How are we doing in walking in faithfulness to Him?
How am I?
How are you?
All of us need the Lord’s leading, for He knows the way He wants us to go.
There is a melody performed by Tenth Avenue North titled—
“By Your Side.”
Listen today and be reminded how the Savior remembers we are human, that we need forgiveness for our sins over & over again until the day He brings us home. As you listen, pay close attention to these words—
“And I’ll be by your side wherever you fall
—“By Your Side”
In the dead of the night whenever you call
And please don’t fight these hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you.
My hands are holding you.”
“For the grace of God has appeared,
(The Letter of Paul to Titus 2: 11-14 NASB)
bringing salvation to all men,
instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires
and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,
looking for the blessed hope
and the appearing of the glory
of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,
who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed,
and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession,
zealous for good deeds.”