Taking the Higher Ground

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘Never tolerate, because of sympathy for yourself or for others, any practice that is not in keeping with a holy God. Holiness means absolute purity of your walk before God, the words coming from your mouth, and every thought in your mind— placing every detail of your life under the scrutiny of God Himself. Holiness is not simply what God gives me, but what God has given me that is being exhibited in my life.’ CHAMBERS

 

Does that seem a little overboard to you?  Absolute purity?  Separation from the world.  What does that look like?  It looks like Matthew 22:37-38 … loving God will all your heart, soul and mind.   Loving God with your mind looks like Philippians 4:8-9 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

 

You may have heard someone say “we are in this world but not of this world” That is a summation not a Bible verse.  In John 15:19 Jesus says that we have been chosen out of this world.  In John 17:16 Jesus said “They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.”

 

What do you allow in your mind that does not honor God … that is unholy?  What do you watch and listen to on television? The movies? Who do you associate with and what or who do you talk about?  1 Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be misled:  ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’”

 

It is so easy to be lulled into accepting the things of this world …  Do you believe that the use of profanity is bad?  Do you watch on television or in the movies and call it entertainment .. or dismiss it saying it wasn’t so bad?  Do you watch television or movies that include sexual relationships outside of marriage, nudity, violence … and call that entertainment?  What does God call it?  What do your read? Do you think that those things do not affect you spiritually?

 

Isaiah 5:20 “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.”

 

God has called us to a holy life … to higher ground …

 

Higher Ground

“I’m pressing on the upward way, New heights I'm gaining every day , Still praying as I onward bound,  "Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.  Lord, lift me up and let me stand, By faith on heaven's table land, A higher plane than I have found,  Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)