March 14, 2014 (Deuteronomy 25-27; Galatians 5)
From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:
Scripture: “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21 NLT
Observation: False teachers had crept in and were leading the Galatians astray. Paul had to courageously stand up against these false teachers because he loved the Galatians far too much to see them be so easily deceived. Yet he didn’t change his message to them, or soften his approach. He plainly instructed the Galatians in the ways of the Lord. Paul drew an obvious and distinct line in the sand clearly showing the difference between how folks that are saved conduct themselves, versus those that clearly had not been transformed. Any person could easily recognize a child of God by the fruit they were producing. Paul was obviously not trying to win the people’s approval when he said, “that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” He did not excuse, or justify, their sins. In fact he told them that those that belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to the cross of Christ and crucified them there. He fully expected a “Christian” to be different than the world.
Application: Where are the men of God like Paul in our day? Why have we allowed false doctrine to creep into the church and distort the views of so many? How can we claim to love our brothers and sisters and then stand by and watch them travel a path that leads to hell and never say a word to them? Could it be because the one we care most about is us? The word of God clearly teaches us that all who live lives of sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Yet the church is full of lives being lived in this sinful manner with not so much as even a verbal warning being given! Because Pastoring has become a labor of income, rather than a labor of love, we cowardly say nothing and allow the sin to rein openly! This should not be! Surely God is not well pleased with this! It’s time we begin to preach repentance and the crucifying of the sinful nature once again because of our great love for the souls of men!
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for the opportunity to serve in Your Kingdom. Let the ministry You’ve given me always be a labor of love and never become centered on my wants, needs, or desires. Empower me to preach Your word with boldness from a heart filled with love for others. Teach me to courageously stand up for what Your word proclaims regardless of the consequences I may face. In Jesus name, Amen!