Who Are You Living For?
“Get Back Up” by Toby Mac
John 15:4-5 (KJV)
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
“…without me ye can do nothing.” This is a hard saying. We listen to these words of Jesus, and within minutes, hours or days we proceed to continue to do things our way. Too often our ways are the ways of the world. If we abide in Christ, we should be content to live and grow in Christ, doing things that are in accordance with His character. That means telling the truth at all times: even when it is inconvenient. That means always being willing to do the right thing: Even when it hurts. We cringe from the exactness of righteousness, and when we fall on our faces, many have the nerve to look God in the eye and ask “Why did You let this happen to me.” It is true that we can do whatever we want, but everything we do outside of Christ in this reality will eventually crumble and burn.
What are some of the things those who claim the name of Jesus are often content to do without Him and imagine they will succeed.
1. Engaging in sex outside of marriage
2. Telling lies to avoid punishment
3. Cheating in business
4. Engaging in extramarital affairs
5. Reading pornography and allowing sinful behaviors to entertain us in movies, television, the Internet
6. Willingness to break our word and to not be loyal
7. Over-eating
8. Addiction to substances, people, situations and things
9. Refusing to be accountable for our actions
10. Engaging in gossip and slander
I could go on. The Bible warns us plainly that living our lives outside of the Christ is to court disaster. It is written:
- Proverbs 6:27
Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?
Proverbs 6:26-28 (in Context) Proverbs 6 (Whole Chapter) - Galatians 6:7
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Galatians 6:6-8 (in Context) Galatians 6 (Whole Chapter) - Galatians 6:8
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Galatians 6:7-9 (in Context) Galatians 6 (Whole Chapter)
To consistently act outside of Christ has profound dangers in this world and in the world to come. Some believers continue in bad behaviors and attend church as if nothing was wrong in their lives. They sit on church committees, know the latest gospel songs and may even quote scriptures. They take communion. But wait. They take communion? Yes, many do, not knowing that the repercussions of duplicity at the communion table can mean sickness and even death. The Bible says:
1 Corinthians 11: 26-32
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
Verse 30 clearly states that some of the people and become weak and sickly as a consequence of participating in communion unworthily-without self examination. The last phrase “and many sleep” which means many die. According to Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary the Greek word that was translated as sleep actually means: Asleep, Sleep, Die, Dead (to be; become), Dying. This indeed is a serious consequence of ungodly behavior.
We are told, and we are warned that we must abide in Christ in order to live the life He has planned for us. We such trust the Lord, and live by His words. Obedience to the will of God demonstrates that we love Him, and makes way for us to continue to grow in Him. So let us as men and women of God, make a habit of self examination. Study God’s word so that you can know beyond the shadow of a doubt what it says. Stand fast on the word of God and do not allow yourselves to be moved or convinced to do otherwise. Let us judge ourselves and pray to the Lord to help us to stay on the right path.
Reflection: Knowing that I am accountable to the Lord for my actions, and that I am unable to do anything that pleases Him that is outside of Him and not of Him, what then is my prayer? My prayer is this: Heavenly Father, forgive me for turning a blind eye to your will. Forgive me for the many times I have not studied your word. Forgive me for all actions that I have taken that are not in Christ. Help me to know that without Christ I can do nothing. Help me to understand that Your precepts are not given to destroy me, but are given to destroy the patterns of sin that are in my life, so that I may fully live my life in Christ. Help me to judge myself according to your will, O Lord. Help me to accept your chastening, that I may walk in the light, even as He is the light. In Jesus’ mighty and precious name I pray and say, Amen.
© 2011 Verneda Lights. All Rights Reserved.
__________________________
Video titled “Get Back Up” by Toby Mac, from the album “Tonight.” Video was posted in Youtube.com by willm166 on Feb 17, 2010. Verneda Lights and E-graphx Omnimedia have no ownership of this video. It is used for instructional purposes only.
6 comments for “Who Are You Living For?”