I Peter 2:9 "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light."
Separation is a theme that starts way back in the very first chapter of Genesis:
Separation is a theme that starts way back in the very first chapter of Genesis:
Genesis 1:3-4 "And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness."
He separated light from darkness, because he saw that the light was good.
Light is a theme that is found in the book of I John. John uses the contrast of light and darkness to talk about how we should be different from the world. (See I John 1:5-7 and 2:7-11) If you read the entire book of I John, you will discover that one of the themes in it is that we are to be different from the world.
Just as the priests of the Old Testament were held to a high standard, we are now the priests of the New Testament era. We have that high standard. It is true that our sins are paid for by Christ's death on the cross, but that doesn't change who God is or what He expects. His standard of holiness has not changed.
God takes disobedience very seriously, and as members of the "fraternity" of all believers, as New Testament era priests, we need to remember what God's standard is. We need to be diligent in our desire and effort to obey God.
Light is a theme that is found in the book of I John. John uses the contrast of light and darkness to talk about how we should be different from the world. (See I John 1:5-7 and 2:7-11) If you read the entire book of I John, you will discover that one of the themes in it is that we are to be different from the world.
- We are to walk in light and not darkness.
- We are to love and not hate our brothers/sisters.
- We are to cling to the truth and not be led astray by lies.
- We are not to sin, but instead we are to obey God.
Just as the priests of the Old Testament were held to a high standard, we are now the priests of the New Testament era. We have that high standard. It is true that our sins are paid for by Christ's death on the cross, but that doesn't change who God is or what He expects. His standard of holiness has not changed.
God takes disobedience very seriously, and as members of the "fraternity" of all believers, as New Testament era priests, we need to remember what God's standard is. We need to be diligent in our desire and effort to obey God.
Romans 12:1-2 "Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--His good, pleasing and perfect will."
What does that passage tell us to do?
- Offer your body as a living sacrifice.
- Do not conform to the pattern of this world.
- Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
So what I am encouraging you to do this week is examine this passage. Is your body a living sacrifice? To me that means your body, but also everything that is "packaged" in your body--your mind, will, emotions, choices, etc. Do you lay it all on the altar?
How does your life conform to the pattern of the world? Are there ways in which you conform that aren't sinful in terms of breaking the ten commandments, but they aren't God's best for you? I probably see this mostly in the area of priorities. Soccer game is a higher priority than church. Baseball practice is more important than spending time in God's word. Hobbies are more important than regular participation in a small group. You get the idea.
Are you being transformed? Is your mind being renewed? Transformation is often slow, but when you (or others) compare yourself to how you were a year ago or five years ago, is there obvious change? There should be! You should think different, look different (and I'm not talking about taking off a few pounds or having more gray hair!), act different, and have different priorities in your life.
Talk to me. What are your thoughts about this idea of being different and "Living Like You Belong to God?" Post a comment!
How does your life conform to the pattern of the world? Are there ways in which you conform that aren't sinful in terms of breaking the ten commandments, but they aren't God's best for you? I probably see this mostly in the area of priorities. Soccer game is a higher priority than church. Baseball practice is more important than spending time in God's word. Hobbies are more important than regular participation in a small group. You get the idea.
Are you being transformed? Is your mind being renewed? Transformation is often slow, but when you (or others) compare yourself to how you were a year ago or five years ago, is there obvious change? There should be! You should think different, look different (and I'm not talking about taking off a few pounds or having more gray hair!), act different, and have different priorities in your life.
Talk to me. What are your thoughts about this idea of being different and "Living Like You Belong to God?" Post a comment!
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