Thursday, July 29, 2010

Put On Christ


Romans 13:10-14 “Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law. This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desire and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts."

In Matthew 22:36-39, to the question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.” The Apostle Paul explains that love fulfills God’s Law when you love your neighbor as yourself, as you treat others as you treat yourself, which is well. The famous “Golden Rule of Luke 6:31 “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” is saying the same thing, because we all want others to treat us well. Think of the Ten Commandments that God gave Moses in from Exodus 20:13-17 – murder, hatred, adultery, stealing, lying, and coveting and envy would cease. Think of the seven things that God detests from King Solomon’s Proverbs 6:16-20 – pride, shed of innocent blood, wickedness, evil and dark deeds, lies, slander and seditious trouble-making would come to an end. The heart attitude of God’s love is to do no wrong to others because such actions and behavior would cause them harm and sadness. Our Spirit led heart, mind and soul would ask: “Why would I do that?” because love, joy and peace are the purposes and emotions of the child of God, who is love. The Laws, Commands, statues, desires and purposes of the Lord would be the natural wishes of our heart. They are loving guidelines to keep; not pervert or break. What kind of world would we have, if everyone loved their fellow man, woman and child like this? Godly and Good.

Wake up! Salvation is near. Eternity is just up ahead. Remove the dirty clothes of the godless flesh, the lawless world system and darkness of Satan’s schemes that lead to death and put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Want people to see Jesus and not us. Then the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control would over-flow out of our hearts towards others, that together we may bring glory, honor and praise to the Lord; the good Shepherd that gave His life for His people, that we may not just survive, but to live; to have life and have it to the full. Put on Christ.

For Jesus,
Brian

1 comment:

Gregg Metcalf said...

You are right, the night is coming when no man can work and when Christ will no longer call men to Himself. Today is the day of salvation!