Set Apart Your Worship

“…let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”_ — 2 Cor7:1
Understanding that we have been made holy will help us live a holy life and offer to God holy worship. Our worship should be set apart, for we are no longer our old self with the acceptance of Christ into our lives. Our worship then should not be conformed to the patterns of this world but should be done in Spirit and in Truth.
The offering of worship, which we give, should not be a copy of what the world does. So, be careful not to get caught in the old way of life, once you have been made new. For these offerings ought to be set apart and not a “leftover” of which it doesn’t have much value.
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The Yolk of Christ

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”Matthew 11:29.

The  more we seek Christ the more we are transformed to His image. As Christians we must come to Jesus Christ as our Ruler, and submit ourselves to him ( v.29). Christ is exalted to be a Prince, a Saviour and a Priest upon his throne. The rest he promises is a release from the drudgery of sin, not from the service of God. We were previously under a yoke which made us weary but Christ is saying shake that off and take mine, which will make it easy for you. To take Christ’s yoke upon us, is to put ourselves into the relation to servants (1 Tim. 6:1) and subjects (1 Kings 12:10) to him, and then to conduct ourselves accordingly, in a conscientious obedience to all his commands, and a cheerful submission to all his disposals: it is to obey the gospel of Christ, to yield ourselves to the Lord: it is Christ’s yoke; the yoke he has appointed; a yoke he has himself drawn in before us, for he learned obedience, and which he does by his Spirit draw in with us, for he helpeth our infirmities, (Rom. 8:26). A yoke speaks some hardship, but if the beast must draw, the yoke helps him. Christ’s commands are all in our favour: we must take this yoke upon us to draw in it. We are yoked to work, and therefore must be diligent; we are yoked to submit, and therefore must be humble and patient: we are yoked together with our fellow-servants, and therefore must keep up the communion of saints: and the words of the wise are as goads (to motivate) to those who are thus yoked.

Have a blessed day!

Becoming What You Are

Becoming What You Are

“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called” (Ephesians 4:1).

One of my seminary professors once told me that the whole Christian life is simply becoming what you are. Because you are a child of God, you need to act like a child of God. In fact, the root of the Greek word translated “worthy” in Ephesians 4:1 speaks of equalization and balance. There ought to be perfect harmony between who you are and how you live. We lapse in our commitment to Christ when we fail to live that way.

Remember, though, that our obedience to God must not be a conformity to rules and regulations out of fear or legalistic pride. It is instead a conformity to righteousness out of gratitude and a deep love for Christ. Our desire to be worthy children is a result of understanding and appreciating all He has done for us. 

Philippians 1:27 says, “Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” In other words, match your conduct to the gospel. The exalted reality of the gospel demands an exalted lifestyle.

Persecutors of the Prophets

Good Morning!
(Persecutors of the Prophets)
Matthew 23:29–36
Matthew Henry says it is easy for us to assume that we would be unlike the scribes and Pharisees and follow Jesus willingly. Yet even centuries later, he writes, “Christ in his Spirit, in his word, in his ministers, is still no better treated.” Are we quick to follow the Lord as He presents Himself today through the preaching of the Word? We have no right to think ourselves better than Pharisees if we are not quick to obey His Word this day.
Have a blessed day!