Fear of God

Day 22- Fear of God

Ephesians 5:3-4 NIV

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

In this season of favour God has called us to, we have established that there are rules guiding operations and persons in that season. God has called us on his own terms and we cannot run our own agenda on his own watch. We must do what he has asked, because in his wisdom and power, he has called us into a new relationship with Him. The world has its standards, and it holds its own people accountable to its standards. Unfortunately, its standards are never firm or certain, and are subject to varying conditions and circumstances. God's standards, however, are stable, firm and consistent, and will not bend to accommodate any person, no matter how gifted or talented. It does not matter what age, grade or generation that you apply it to, God's Word remains true and right because they are older than time and man.

From the extract above, one thing must be established- identity. Until you know whose you are, or who you belong to, this passage will make no sense to you. For you to live according to the demands of this passage, you have to be God's own person. You cannot mix with the world and live for God at the same time. You were called out of one to live in the other, so you cannot be in both at the same time. Because I am a city set on a hill, whether I like it or not, everything I do or say or however I act will be interpreted in the light of what I have confessed to follow. If I claim I follow Christ, believe me, the people of the world know what a Christian looks like or must act. I will definitely be held accountable to that standard. If I am of the world, then the world knows and appreciates its own.

This decision will determine what you pursue and what your priorities are. God says there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, no impurity, no greed, no foolish talking, no coarse joking, among others. I see here a lot of things we explain away on the basis of our humanity. We claim that because we are social beings, we cannot but share in these things. This argument may be the reason why the world cannot see any difference. We don't stand out because we fear the world and its judgement, forgetting that it is the true and righteous judge that has called us and he will demand an accounting of our lives from us one day. The world will not be there that day to defend us, so why do we act as if we cannot live outside the world's standards?

God calls us to dance to a different tune, to speak a different language, to live by different standards. His prayer in John 17:15-16 NIV makes sense:  My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.  They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. We are on assignment, not for ourselves, but for the God who loves us and gave his life for us. He alone is the One whose word counts, because he alone has given all of Himself to save us. No other person, no other idea, no other god can boast of that. I have made a decision, how will you decide? His time of favour is here.

PRAYER- Lord, help me live for you on your own terms. The world is indeed distracting and alluring, but eternal life is my goal and my pursuit. Keep my eyes focused on you so I can reign with you at the end of my life. Amen.