Topic: Discipline
For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy… (Leviticus 11:44a KJV)
In this day of the age, we have easily found our identities with the world. Everything we see in the world, our eyes begin to attach to things of the world. Every commercial we see on the TV or hear on the radio, we would become addiction to what we see. Even though there is nothing wrong of buying new things for ourselves, we need to set some boundaries between the physical and spiritual things, time with the world and time with God.
Unfortunately, there has a major shift changes within the churches over the years. As we see what is happening in churches, many people may lose their identities with God. The Bible says that we need not to fall in love the world (I John 2:15-17). “If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him (I John 2:15b).” We need to sanctify ourselves with God and not with the world. It is ashamed that we don’t hear the message on the sanctification in the church today. It’s all about our Christian living than giving blessing and honoring God. The sanctification is based on the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. He is the reason that we are saved by His grace and He doesn’t remember our sins. But this doesn’t guarantee that we are totally free from sins. As long as we alive in this world, we need to crucify our flesh and carry the cross daily to follow God. I know this is not easy for us to do, but with God, it’s possible thing for us to do.
Second Peter 2:9 says, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light…” We are called to be royal priests. This doesn’t mean that we need to be some bible experts. God knows that we are not perfect as He is, but He calls us to be holy people. Hebrews 10:14 says, “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” It is not enough how much work we need to put in order for us to get to God. It’s about our relationship with Jesus Christ. Even though we born in sin nature, we have the purpose to born in this world. Jeremiah 1:5 (God) says, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”
I don’t know what circumstance you are going through in this very moment. I do not need to know. Because God already have the answer you are searching for. You only need to accept it. Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” When the world tells us to be rich materially and fame, we don’t need to follow the worldly ways to receive God’s blessing. Instead, we need to listen Paul’s advice in Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” We need to make some boundaries between the two worlds. We have the power to sort it out.
Do you have your relationship with the Heavenly Father? If not, I like to encourage you to develop your personal relationship with Jesus Christ today. First, confess your sins and invite Jesus Christ to your life. Paul said in Romans 10:9-11, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” There is no sinner prayer formula. Instead, you just talk to God at where you are now. Secondly, I’d like to encourage you to find a good solid biblical teaching church and Christian friends. They can help you to build strong relationship with God. If you’d need further assistance, you can email me at mgjcwebminstries@mgjcweb.org or visit my ministries website at www.mgjcweb.org for further resources.
