HOLINESS, NOT HAPPINESS

Contrary to popular opinion, God's greatest wish is NOT our happiness, it's our HOLINESS.  Jesus didn't die to make us happy, He died to make us holy.  He didn't forgive us so we could be free of guilty feelings, He forgave us so we would be free of the penalty for our sin - eternal separation from our righteous Creator. 

A change in our lifestyle, interests, and pursuits is in order.  Before salvation, we lived for ourselves, we did ungodly things, and we were unholy in our thoughts and our deeds.  We had no hope of being able to do or think rightly, godly, and purely.  But God, in His mercy, sent Jesus to pay our penalty on the Cross of Calvary.  God in His grace, offers this truth to all men, that those who receive salvation through Jesus Christ will learn to deny the ungodliness and worldly lusts and live for the godly, rightous, and pure ways of God.  There really IS a way out of much of the pain of living in this world - and it is by living for Jesus rather than self!

Titus 2:11-14 (KJV) ¹¹  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, ¹²  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; ¹³  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; ¹⁴  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

This means that the drug addicted, sex addicted, homosexual, rapist, murdering, abortionist, lying, stealing, bitter, lonely, drunken, judgmental, angry, hopeless, fearful, gluttonous, deviant persons in this world have hopes of being made pure and right with God forever.  The salvation that Jesus brings is a salvation from all these things, not a means of gaining happiness through them, or an excuse to continue. 

But before you try to reform yourself to obtain that salvation, you'd better think again.  It is not in the deed that the sin resides.  It is in the desire!  That means that you'll need to be made into someone you aren't!  And that is exactly what the grace of God is when applied to your life.  God makes you a new creature in Christ Jesus - complete with new desires, abilities, and purpose in life. 

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Suddenly, happiness is intertwined with holiness.  What will now make you happy is that God has made you holy!  And you will work alongside the Lord to grow in holiness.

Are you saved?  Is living for Jesus an act of gratitude for His grace to you by making you perfectly holy in God's sight (Your position in Christ)?  Are you living a more holy life today than you were yesterday (Your practice in Christ)? 

If not, will you take a moment and repent of your sins, and seek the Lord's grace of forgiveness and ask Him to make you new today?  Give yourself to Him, let Him teach you what is sin, and purify you from it - for the rest of your life.  You will not be disappointed when holiness is your aim.

That is Just A Thought for today.  May the Lord bless you and keep you as you practice these things.

Morning Devotions - The Mercies of God

Bible Reading: Psa 51:1 - To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

Our God is a merciful God. We should learn to rely upon that - and when His mercy is shown to us, we should be overflowing with gratitude, not take it for granted. How our hearts need and yearn for mercy when sin has overcome us. And then we continue in our sin because we have a merciful God - as though He were merely overlooking it.

David found mercy in the Lord. But David also had consequences on earth to pay. That, I believe, is the evidence of the Lord's mercies. I mean, the mercy of God is such that His eternal penalty is blotted out. Our account with others must still be paid. The alcoholic has an account with his liver. The meth user has an account with his brain. The gambler has an account with everyone. The murderer as much as the liar has hurt others and owes a debt to them. God's forgiveness does not mean the forgiveness of others. David's household was troubled from then on. So it is for the blended families because people would not marry and stay married. All excuses aside, most divorces are for convenience and selfishness - a lack of conviction and commitment. Many children are the product of illicit sex, and the parents having these kids out of wedlock have a debt for their sin as well - to their kids.

One of the greatest things about David is that he admitted his sin, and called it his - not blaming others. He confessed it to God, and was willing to take his licks. Do you want the grace of God in your life? Then cast yourself at His feet, and allow Him to determine what licks you receive. You will be surprised at His Holy mercy and grace that He gives you - and the strength you'll have when the licks come. Like Paul, you'll be able to hear "My grace is sufficient." What a tender, merciful, gracious Savior we have!

Bro. Greg