4.30.8 "What You Do or Who You Are"

"What You Do or Who You Are"

Judges 11:1-12:15
John 1:1-28
Psalm 101:1-8
Proverbs 14:13-14

There's one thing that really bugs unbelievers. They can't stand hypocrisy. That's a standard line: "I don't want to go to church. It's full of hypocrites." How accurate is their description? Sure, we could think about "others" who may be guilty of that, but what about me? Let's each of us to think about our self for a moment.

We gather together with hundreds of others on Sunday mornings. "I will sing about your lovingkindness and you justice, Lord. I will sing your praises!" (Ps. 101:1)

The next verse is a great challenge. "I will try to walk a blameless path, but how I need your help, especially in my own home, where I long to act as I should." (101:2)

What happens when the service is over? What happens at home? Do we live lives that glorify God for his lovingkindness and his justice? It's easy sometimes to "relax" spiritually when there aren't others around. Basically, we take off a religious mask and reveal who we really are. Because we live in a culture that is very concerned about the way we appear to others, there's a tendency to "work up" a spiritual image.

That only reveals one thing. Transformation is not happening. Scripture says that if we are in Christ, we are a new creature. It says that we are to be transformed with the renewing of the mind. Living for Christ is not something we "do", its all about who we become.

There are steps of discipline that must be taken to contribute to the transformation process. "Help me to refuse the low and vulgar things; help me to abhor all crooked deals of every kind, to have to part in them. I will reject all selfishness and stay away from every evil. I will not tolerate anyone who secretly slanders his neighbors; I will not permit conceit and pride. I will make the godly of the land my heroes, and invite them to my home. Only those who are truly good shall be my servants. But i will not allow those who deceive and lie to stand in my house. My daily task will be to ferret out criminals and free the city of God from their grip." (101:3-8)

These verses are not a license to go on a crusade of judgement of everyone around. They express the intensity there needs to be in protecting one's home from evil influence.

Too often we want to live for Christ, but we don't want to refuse the vulgar things. We don't want to get rid of selfishness. We take part in gossip. Pretty soon, the world is right. Christians are hypocrites.

The mission of our church states that we are: "Reaching our world for Christ as we lead individuals to discover and become who God has created them to be." Notice the last word "BE". We are not here to help people "look" like they serve Christ. We are here to help one another be transformed by the power of the Spirit into who God has created us to be.

We need to understand that our home is the preparation ground for what God wants to do in us and through us. When we BECOME who he has created us to be, our focus is not on the "doing". It becomes natural to walk in obedience. Life is exciting! Look at today's Proverb: "The backslider gets bored with himself; the godly man's life is exciting." (Prov. 14:14)



Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

P Greg


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