The Soil of Ancient Civilizations
2 Corin 6:17 Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
18 And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
2 Corinthians 7
New International Version (NIV)
7 Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
In the ancient world, the Israelites had many laws regarding cleanliness. Among these laws were washing their hands before eating (not a bad practice) and they were to touch no unclean thing, including the dead. These physical laws were presumed to bring them closer to a holy God, yet many times they kept their bodies clean to the detriment of their spirits.
You remember Pig-pen, the Charlie Brown character who can come out of a tub of water dirty. He sometimes excused his perpetually dirty state by saying “the soil of ancient civilizations had settled on him.”
What excuses do we make for failing to allow holiness to reign in our hearts? What justifications seem palatable to us even though they separate us from God and from our fellow man?
May we recognize once and for all that God loves us so much, but He cannot tolerate sin. May we seek His face early while He may be found, and may we focus like a laser beam on what is good and pure and acceptable in His sight.
PRAYER: Our Father, we praise you today for who you are. We give you thanks for all you have done and all you are doing in our lives. May we allow you to cleanse us of all that would separate us from you and your great love. Amen
The Tortoise and the Hare
1 Cor 26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not —to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
Do you remember the story of the tortoise and the hare? They embarked on a race, one that seemed unevenly matched and highly weighted in favor of the rabbit. As the race began, the rabbit sped off, but soon lost interest. After all, he had plenty of time to reach the finish line. So he began to frolic and play, and even took a nap along the way. The turtle, however, plodded along, slow but steady, his eyes on the prize and ultimately won the race.
Paul is writing to the Christian church at Corinth around 55 AD. In reading this letter, one might surmise Paul was writing to a pagan church because of the behavior. They were suing each other, engaging in immoral behavior—hardly a beacon of light by which others could follow. Sadly the church had fallen into moral decay. Once again we see the lessons God has taught us throughout history. God chose those who seemed unworthy or unable to complete His calling because of their status in life, not despite it. Why? One reason is very clearly stated here—if there is any boasting it will be in the Lord, not lifting ourselves up for the world to see but lifting Him up.
No one would have expected a turtle to win a race with a rabbit. Likewise, no one expected the Church to survive through the ages. Perhaps you have looked in the mirror and thought, “How can God use me? Why would God choose me?” That’s a good thing! When we recognize that we are unlikely candidates to carry forth God’s message and share His love, then we are being made ready to do just that. We are being transformed into the people who will purpose to finish the race, no matter what obstacles come our way.
PRAYER: Father, we see repeatedly in your Word that it is those who seem the least prepared to be used of you that are the most effective. Through your grace we pray that all semblance of the self-assured and even cocky rabbit would be banished, and in his place would be the temperament and determination of a turtle who, against all odds, not only makes it to the finish line but wins, taking the glory not for ourselves, but always for you. Amen
He lives, He lives
Bible Gateway, New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 46
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth. A song.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come and see what the Lord has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
This scripture is one of the Songs of Zion. According to The Asbury Bible Commentary “these Songs of Zion celebrate Yahweh’s unique presence in Jerusalem, and rightly so, for much depended on that presence. Zion’s stability and security are connected directly in these songs to Yahweh’s presence in spite of international turmoil (46:6; 48:4). The congregation’s safety was at stake (46:7). God himself was the citadel’s defense (48:3; 76:3).”
How wonderful when God’s people understand fully the importance of God’s presence in their lives. These scriptures highlight that God is the creative force not just behind our lives, but He is behind our ability to live our lives with joy even in the midst of trouble. Where Israel saw God’s presence and His security as being intertwined with Jerusalem, we can know that God’s presence and security is not found in any given place, but He is alive and working within our hearts today.
“He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today,
He walks with me and talks with me
along the narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart,
you ask me how I know He lives,
He lives within my heart.” Alfred Henry Ackley
PRAYER: Our Father, how do we stray from you when your presence is so vital to our existence? May we finally come to know that without you we can do nothing, but with you truly all things are possible. Amen.
God is so awesome!
This morning, I wrote about our worth to God. I had read the Luke scripture about the sparrows and how much God loves each one, had a wonderful prayer time, and then wrote down my thoughts.
I volunteer at our church on Thursdays, and when I noticed “His Eye is on the Sparrow” will be one of our songs this Sunday, I was amused. Then, a young woman came in and with tears in her eyes said she did not know where to turn. Her story of abuse was almost more than I could bear, and I saw her as a wounded sparrow that needed a special touch from God.
Because I spent time with God this morning, He had filled me to overflowing with His love and His joy, and praise God I was able to share that love and joy with this young woman. I told her how much God loves her. She said she felt worthless. I assured her that God placed such a high worth upon her that He sent His only son to die in her place. She said she felt her sins were too great. I told her I had never seen anything in the Bible that said Jesus died for all of our sins except the ones we thought were too great.
We cried together and prayed together. I hope she accepts my invitation to come to church on Sunday. I hope she seeks help to escape her situation. I hope she reads the Bible we gave her. I hope she can hang on in spite of her circumstances and give God a chance to work a miracle in her life. I hope, I pray, and I believe that God is wrapping His arms around this young woman, and that He will place people in her path who will love her and encourage her.
How much are we worth to God?
Luke 12:6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Bible Gateway, NIV)
Years ago when t-shirts with Christian messages first appeared, I wanted to buy one for my oldest stepson. He balked, saying he would wear one when he could live up to the message. I said how about wearing the message and then asking God to give you the grace to live it, at least for the day.
Today’s verse may seem an odd selection for a blog about holiness, but it occurred to me as I read it that sometimes people are hindered from seeking holiness because they don’t understand their worth to God. Not only are Christians sometimes deterred from seeking holiness, but the un-churched will sometimes say, “God could never forgive what I have done,” to explain their unwillingness to turn to God.
When God gave His only son to die for our sins, there was no caveat that precluded certain sins from redemption. When God said, “I am holy, be thou holy likewise,” it was not a suggestion, it was an imperative. And when God says if He does not forget the sparrow He will not forget us, He means it!
God loves us so much, how can we choose the “happiness” the world offers over the joy, the deep down joy that comes from loving and serving God?
PRAYER: Father God, you are a wonderful and awesome God. I scarce can take in the depth of your love for me, and I am overwhelmed by your mercy and your grace. May today we know, really know, how much we are worth to you, and may we completely dedicate ourselves to you and your service. Amen.
Seeking Holiness 