07/04/2019
Have we confessed our sins, asked forgiveness, and pronounced ourselves believers in Jesus Christ, and yet are not transformed? Do we claim God’s grace, but do nothing more? Well, empty words are like faith without works, hollow and without substance. They are like love without the holding, kisses, and sacrificing of ourselves. We should do more than profess, but live what we have claimed.
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”
James 1:22, 25 ESV
Today we celebrate Independence Day in the United States; on this day in 1776 we professed our intent to be independent from England, and to follow a new form of government based on liberty. However, it wasn’t enough to merely say it in writing, it had to be lived out, and that started by the sacrifice of blood during the revolutionary war that followed the pronouncement. Our faith is more than mere words as well. Paul says this in his letter to the Philippians...
“What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
Philippians 4:9 ESV
When we choose to love God, and to claim our freedom from Sin and death through Jesus, we do more than just say these things. It isn’t in a moment of pronouncement that we are saved, but in a moment of commitment. When we decide to do what we have said we believe, and begin to live the life that Jesus has laid out before us... then we are truly Christians.
“And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”
1 John 2:3-6 ESV
In the days following the declaration of their independence from England the colonists committed themselves by action to their new form of government. They wrote a constitution which would govern them, and then they suffered by death, and hardship at the hand of the King of England to win and live out what had begun with a simple proclamation of their freedom. Jesus suffered and sacrificed Himself that we might live, and since that day we as Christians have suffered and sacrificed as well. Just because we claim our freedom from sin doesn’t mean the King of that realm will let us go easily... we must follow in the footsteps of Christ’s suffering, and be willing to transform ourselves by the laying off of the old person we once were, and enduring the pain of a new birth.
“For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”
1 Peter 2:20-21 ESV
So today is Independence Day in the United States, and it was sealed with the blood and suffering of patriots to that cause. I ask you now... when was the day you declared your intent to live by God’s Word, and follow in the suffering of Jesus by picking up your cross? Is it today? When was your declaration made, not in words, but by your commitment to God, and the Gospel of Christ. When did you resolve to suffer as Jesus did that you might sit free, saved from sin, at the table of our Father?
“And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.”
Mark 8:34-35 ESV
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for your Son Jesus Christ who lived, suffered, died, and was resurrected so that your mercy and grace could be extended to us. His life, and the living out of your will became in flesh your extended hand of forgiveness, and reconciliation. Help us Holy Father to accept your outstretched hand by placing ours within it, for merely recognizing it is not enough... it requires us to grasp hold and allow you to enter into us in a new birth. Help us Lord to walk in the footsteps of your Son Jesus; to suffer when needed, and to bear the hardships of your upbringing. Bless us Father as you did Him, and sustain us though every lesson and trial. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who is a God of action, and not words alone. Great are you who defends us, heals us, and provides for us in more than written Word, but in deed. Praised be your name for your outstretched hand of mercy, and by your grace in which all glory is yours. Forgive us our sins this day Father, and guide us through this sinful world as we suffer it’s hardships to obtain transformation, righteousness, holiness, and life everlasting with you.
“Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."”
John 3:3 ESV
Rich Forbes