"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Well do you? Do you understand that at the point that you surrendered your life by faith in Jesus that it was more that getting your one-way ticket on the "train" to heaven? That God had "sealed the deal" with His Spirit?
"In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory." - Ephesians 1:11-14
We are saved but we are also God's own possession. So what does that mean? I just met with some Army Aviator friends that I had served with in the '80's. I have pretty much suppressed thoughts about military life in favor of the new course the Lord has set for me, but memories and my affection for military life were rekindled with that meeting. One thought was that being "regular" or "career" Army when I felt the call of God to leave the military I had to submit a formal resignation and it had to be approved by my immediate commander and his immediate commander. You can't just say "I am giving you my two weeks notice" or just not go to work on Monday. In the Army there are legal consequences for that. You are essentially a bond servant. Similar to the Apostle Paul in a way .....
"Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior" - Titus 1:1-3
So to my point. As a Christian, like a soldier and like Paul, we are bond servants. We are to follow the commands of the one who rules our lives. We should not go off on our own as if we were the captain of our own destiny, although we often do. If you do that in the military, it is not long before you get a "course correction." It is called failure to obey orders or failure to repair (show up for duty) punishable under military law. From the Christian perspective it is called "sin". The things that God tells us to do in the Bible are not suggestions - they are directives.
Don't just focus on the BIG sins and think because you have not committed any of them, you are good to go. We are responsible to live in a way that honors God and gives testimony to the world in ALL things.
"For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it" - James 2:10
I found a quote from General George S Patton, actually several that I thought fit my point. (Upon reflection, the first date I took Martie on was to watch the movie - Patton. I suppose she should have become suspicious about what was to come!")
"You cannot be disciplined in great things and indiscipline [be undisciplined]in small things." General George S. Patton.
We may convince ourselves that the small things don't matter, but they do! The problem is that spiritually speaking we, by ourselves, are incapable of obedience. We need help - a lot of help!
"Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts." - Zechariah 4:6
Remember who you are in Christ. Remember what Christ did on the cross. Do not trivialize what you consider to be small sins as tolerable to God. Don't forget that your life is not your own to do with as your please. You have been sealed by the Spirit - bought with a price. You are a soldier of the Cross.
"Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him." - 2 Timothy 2:3-4
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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