Saturday, March 26, 2016

Holding A Ticket For First Class, But Living In Coach

My Utmost For His Highest
 
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. —Matthew 5:8
 
“Purity is not innocence— it is much more than that. Purity is the result of continued spiritual harmony with God. We have to grow in purity. […]  God intentionally does not protect us from this possibility, because this is the way we recognize the necessity of maintaining our spiritual vision through personal purity. If the outer level of our spiritual life with God is impaired to the slightest degree, we must put everything else aside until we make it right. Remember that spiritual vision depends on our character— it is “the pure in heart” who “see God.” […] It is through our bodily life coming in contact with other people and other points of view that we tend to become tarnished. […] Our spiritual vision and understanding is immediately blurred when our “outer court” is stained. If we want to maintain personal intimacy with the Lord Jesus Christ, it will mean refusing to do or even think certain things. […] Say to yourself, “That man or that woman is perfect in Christ Jesus! That friend or that relative is perfect in Christ Jesus!”” CHAMBERS
 
There is a part of each Christian that cannot be affected by sin and the flesh … the Spirit of God. (Ephesians 1:13, 2 Corinthians 1:22) The Spirit sets us apart.  The Spirit is the catalytic element in us that makes conforming to the image of Christ possible.  When we sin .. when we chase after and embrace the desires of our flesh, we do not affect the holiness of the Holy Spirit … He cannot be touched by our sin … but we can quench His influence in our lives (1 Thessalonians 5:19).  Choosing our old life over our new life.  Disrupting the fulfillment of God’s purpose in our lives.  Sinning will not invalidate your “ticket” to heaven.  A song by the Beatles just came to my mind, “She’s Got A Ticket To Ride”.. she’s got a ticket to ride but she don’t care … that is the way that many Christians live their lives.  They embrace the culture, ignore the sin in their “outer courts”, and miss God’s best for their lives.  Still going to heaven … But your ticket is for first class and you are living in coach.  ELGIN
 
Charley Elgin

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