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When I pulled away from worldly living and pulled myself out of clubbing and fornication and what I proudly considered “light cussing,” I could not compare or measure how righteous I could or should live by how other “church people” were doing it. Some of them (us) were still indulging in that “one thing” they believed grace would cover and the Lord would overlook (Acts 17:30-31; Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 6:1-3).
My reason to keep living in and promoting a lifestyle of sin could not be reasoned away with, “You have preachers and deacons doing worse than this.” There is no conviction in that type of thinking, because the state of this world is far from Biblical thinking and practices (2Corinthians 4:4; 2Corinthians 10:5).
I finally got to the point in which I was straight up looking at what Jesus did – how He walked, how He talked, how He lived. I was reading the B-I-B-L-E for myself, and something began to happen, something spiritual was showing up in my natural walk. I was being changed (2Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 2:5-11).
As a babe in Christ, I was back and forth, in and out …in the church, choir, and clubhouse, until I began feeding on that “sincere milk of the Word (1Peter 2:2).” And the Word worked on me.
I grew by grace (Matthew 22:29). And I outgrew those actions! The Word was (and still is) the standard whether I should or should not do a thing or continue in it (Hebrews 4:12; Ephesians 5:25-26).
When striving to please God, I do not “compare” my deeds to the writings of God’s word. I consult the Word about how to handle myself. My prayer is ‘Lord, let me please YOU.’ Jesus’ struggle in Gethsemane yielded to His father’s will (Luke 22:42; Romans 12:1-2).
The ‘most wrong’ person and the most righteous person in the world or church are never my standard when deciding if I can justify my actions. God’s Holy Spirit teaches us and, if we do not quench His presence, He will also lead us in our daily activities (John 14:26; 1Thessolonians 5:19-25).
Down through these years, I have encountered some mountain-high temptations and valley-low crises. In all discouragements, anger, questions, doubts, and battles, one thing remained true, that His Word was the light that lit my path back to the Son (Psalm 119:105).
We have a “manual” on how to live as Christ-like believers AND followers. Learning AND doing make us disciples (John 8:30-32). My faith in Jesus makes my heart lean toward and learn how to walk out my faith, faithfully (Romans 10:9-13). I certainly cannot let ‘how I feel’ determine if I am living righteous or will strive to live holy. Let the Bible lead you. Read the Bible, and it cleans you.
2024 marks 30 years in ministry and 20 years pastoring. ONLY God can do a thing like this.
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