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Refining

Proverbs 17.3

Dear God, a man may refine metal to remove its impurities and get the best use from it, but only you can prove the heart and purify a man for your divine purpose.

I want to be that man. Into your hands I deliver my soul. Purify me that I might be useful to the Kingdom. The pain is not pleasant, O Father; I shrink from suffering, but like my Lord Jesus, I desire your will to be done in my life.

Thank you for your benevolent purpose to produce good in me and through me. May many praise you. I glorify your name. I pray as a follower of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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If the World Hates You

Why do many Christians choose to live their lives in Christ different than the world only in degree but not by nature?  A stranger meeting them for the first time would see them as another predator, not the man escaping uphill on the bike.  Cutting through all the excuses and justifications, the real reason is that the one who died with his Savior in baptism to live for his Savior in new life doesn’t want to be hated like Jesus was (John 15:18-21).

I.  Philippians 2:5-8.  Just before the cross, Jesus tells His followers that because He was hated they will be too.  Why?  Because their very nature will no longer be like the world’s but be like His.  Because we obeyed the gospel, we died with Christ to live our new lives for Christ (Romans 6:4, 2 Corinthians 5:17).  Set apart from the world, we will face persecution (Matthew 5:11-12) for living sanctified, just like the prophets (Hebrews 11:37-38).  The world is not worthy of us, yet we often live like we’re not worthy of it.

II.  John 13:12-15.  But, can we blend in with the world and still be Christians?  Jesus told the servants to serve as we saw the Master do.  When persecuted, early Christians rejoiced because they were considered worthy to suffer for Jesus’ name (Acts 5:40-42).  Yet, often we strive to avoid persecution at all costs that we might somehow be spared the world’s rejection and scorn.  We change the church to become more like the world rather than shining the light of the gospel to change the world (John 3:19-21).

III.  Matthew 5:43-48.  The apostle speaks of an upward spiral in John 14:15 and 1 John 2:3-5.  If we love, we’ll obey; if we obey, we’ll know God; if we know God, our love will be perfected.  But, while seeking to live the minimum to still be considered Christians (although God has spoken about those who are lukewarm in Revelation 3:16), these chameleons are really in a downward spiral: they don’t obey His words, so don’t love; they don’t love, so they don’t know God; they don’t know God, so they don’t obey Him.

One popular slogan today says, “Stop trying to fit in when you were born to stand out.”  From a spiritual perspective, we should stop trying to blend in with the world to avoid being hated when we were born again at a terrible cost to our Savior to live sanctified.

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O Lord, the Desert!

O Lord, the desert — lonely place
where man comes face to face with Satan,
where solitude hears selfish thoughts,
where suffering purges the soul of dross —

The desert was not my choice, O God!
Here was I driven — hunger to feel,
my need in spirit to know and conquer,
ambition for power and fame to surrender.

What dangers lurk in dark and light,
the desert where fate and harm befalls!
Amongst the beasts and stones and heights,
O Sovereign, teach me unfailing trust!

In this wild, untamed, unruly land,
where the strong survive, and perish the weak,
to you, O Master, I give control
and offer my heart to bend and mold.

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God’s to-do list

O Lord, what must your to-do list look like?
What perfect alignment between task and purpose?
Let my every thought today be given to your glory.
May every task of mine reflect my life and purpose in Christ.
Put my sanctification on your to-do list.

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Lord, I Would Be a Simple Soul

Lord, I would be a simple soul,
Make me see with a single eye.

I’d always speak an honest word,
Come fill me with the gospel truth.

I ask to be a saint of zeal,
Show me the living passion of Christ.

I seek to sanctify my heart,
Let me know your holiness.

I’d wield the Spirit’s powerful sword,
Give me wisdom in the Scriptures.

I want to please you in the Way,
Strengthen my feet to walk your path.

Lord, I would be a fisher of souls,
For I was taught and led to Christ.

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Outside of Self

Outside of self, O God, please throw me —
Let Christ be all! — You fully know me —
Come with the Spirit to purify
And burn away both me and mine.

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Outline: A sanctified heart

By Ron Thomas, Highway congregation, Sullivan IL

1 Pet 3.8-22

  1. A Tender Response to Brethren (3.8-9)
  2. A Determined Response to Life (3.10-12)
  3. A Committed Response to Suffering  (3.13-14)
  4. A Prepared Response to Inquiry  (3.15-17)
  5. The Purposeful Response of Christ to Sin (3.18-22)
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Make me into the image of Christ

Heavenly Father, work in me to create a clean heart, pure thoughts, a sanctified life devoted to you.

Strengthen my will to make it conform to you, to help me choose always what is right and good, to be determined in the face of opposition.

Give me compassion toward my brothers and sisters in Christ. Broaden my love so that it includes all people. Let our doors be as wide as your arms to welcome others into the your house.

Make me into the image of Christ, with his truth at hand, his love always reaching out, his mission ever within the heart.

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The essence of the gospel

  1. Salvation, 1 Tim 4.16. Jesus saved man by his death; man saves himself and others by teaching about Jesus.
  2. Suffering, Col 1.24. Jesus suffered for man, and man suffers for his gospel.
  3. Sanctification, Jn 17.19. Jesus sanctified himself that he might sanctify his followers.
  4. Service, Mt 20.25-28. Jesus served man by giving his life as a ransom, and his people serve God and others by giving their lives for the gospel.
  5. Simplicity, Jn 14.28-31. Jesus gives us his peace, his promise, his power, his proof of love in obedience—this is all we need in order to rise and go.