Good morning girls! :)
Our verses for today came out clear and strong to me as detailing 2 distinct lifestyles. Both claim to love and know God, yet one lifestyle is very devoid of the presence of God's blessing and peace. As I read our verses, went through my worksheet, and studied the section on these verses in my commentary, I thought really hard about the plain and simple message God is sending us today. It is a heavy realization for me to think how serious our lifestyle choices - our consistent behavior - depicts what we truly believe. This subject matter has always stayed sort of grey for me.
We don't want to judge others, but what you see is what you get.
We're all imperfect, and you can't tell the motives of the heart.
He or she - or I - am just in a rut in my faith, but I still believe Jesus died for me!
And the scenarios could go on. There are so many excuses we give our selves, others give themselves, as to why we can "truly" believe in and love God but live in whatever way we're excusing.
Today, I felt my eyes were opened to the black and white of it all. It's not material given us through John to help us be better judges of others. Instead, to me, it makes it clear to me who I really am when I consistently do what I do.
I believe the important word is consistent, or persistent.
We have all sinned and fallen short of God's glory and standards, but I think we can all agree that it sends a different message to be stubborn in sin, to not show a concerned effort to change.
This is where my commentary comes in so very nicely where my words leave gaps :)
But if we now, who profess to be Christians and thus to be united with God in the most intimate union, live and behave ourselves as though we were still in darkness, if we are addicted to sin, if we in any way serve sin and corruption, then our entire life is a lie. We may be self-deceived, under circumstances, but the lie is there nevertheless. To walk and live in sins while professing to be children of God is to brand ourselves as liars and hypocrites. - Ouch.
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light...we partake of His nature by faith, and our conduct should give evidence of the faith that has made us children of the light and enables us to walk as the children of the light...If we thus live a holy and righteous life, deriving continual light, power, and life from Him - (because we cannot do it alone!), then there will be 2 happy consequences of such behavior!
#1 - Fellowship! We are closely connected with our Lord, united with the apostles and all Christians (how great a thought is that!?)
#2 - Purity! In spite of the weaknesses and imperfections of this earthly life, in spite of the many temptations and accusations of the devil and those in the world, we have forgiveness. We get to stand in the light, imperfect faith exposed, yes, but FORGIVEN all the more, always, every day, in the case of every. single. sin.
How amazing is that?!! My heart just filled with thankfulness to God this morning, even as I write this. I see the 2 choices: be a hypocrite (which is WAY easier in our world and culture) or walk the harder road and experience such blessing and joy. I have sadness for those struggling with their choice, I pray to God for those debating which is the better lifestyle for them. It's our job to stand up as loving witnesses to what God says on this matter of claiming to be in Him but living oh-so-differently. That's no easy task either!
But our God is enough for us in all of it. In the living out our day-to-day challenge of putting off the world and our Old Man; in standing up for the truth and witnessing with sometimes some tough love to those who "know God" but don't act it.
It's all so worth it, though. Thank you, girls, for BEING one of those happy consequences for me of striving to stay and live in the Light! You are proof of God's promises coming true for me, and again THANK YOU for that! You are blessings to me, and I pray that today you will in turn be blessed for following God and staying on the narrow, Brighter way. He is always with you, forgiveness ready!
Love in Him,
Cait
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Thanks for highlighting those blessings of walking in the light. It is good to remember the reasons that he gives his law and sends trials--for our own good and for the good of others. Though it is hard to have self crushed or sin exposed, it is for our own good to draw us near his face of light and to let that light spill into others' lives. God knows best.
ReplyDeleteAnd God's Light and good news of how he loves us and saved us is so much sweeter when we remember where we came from!! :)
ReplyDeleteLove your posts and comments, always gives me another perspective to look at
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