I recently saw Facebook posts from a loved one that I was uncomfortable with. I wasn’t surprised because they have posted things like that before. I expressed my concerns to them, but it continues to happen. Their posts bother me for several reasons. Many of their family members are on Facebook and see everything they post. What kinds of influence are they having on their family and loved ones, many of whom are children? With failing health, troubled relationships, and many other problems in their own lives, maybe they should be more careful about what they share with their “loved” ones?
I have loved and respected our Pastor (now retired) and his wife for more than 25 years. They aren’t perfect, but I try to use them as the standard for what I say and do. I ask myself, “What would Pastor and Sister Moore think of that?” If I wouldn’t want them to see it, I shouldn’t be doing it. I don’t always live up to that lofty standard, but it gives me a goal to shoot for.
There is another standard we all should be using and that is JESUS. So, what is His standard? JESUS said “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Mat 5:48 KJV). Perfect! How can we possibly be perfect? We can’t, because “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23 KJV). I also tried (and failed) to meet that impossible standard, but GOD made a way. We deserve to die for our failure (sin), but “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 KJV). If we believe in JESUS and receive what He did on the cross, our failures (sins) are forgiven, and we are made perfect!
So where are all those perfect Christians? We are perfected by the blood of JESUS, in that we are forgiven and when GOD looks at us, He sees the perfection of JESUS. We still need to be transformed by the renewing of our minds through the WORD, a process that won’t end until we reach Heaven. While we are still here, the HOLY SPIRIT will help us turn away from sin, but we must listen and obey. His power is available to help us do right, but He won’t force us.
So, with all that forgiveness, why do I have to try to do right? Why do I have to live my life like GOD is CC’d (Courtesy Copied) on everything? Because GOD loves you and “whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth” (Heb 12:6 KJV) and He loves you too much to watch you fail on your own. In addition, JESUS said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15 KJV), so following His commands is an expression of our love for Him. JESUS said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb 13:5 KJV) so you should be living like JESUS is right there with you because He is!
Wayne Lance (2021)…