Tuesday... This really matters and here's why.
Paul in his letter to the Philippian church in 1:10 (NLT) says, "For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until Christ's return."
Now that may seem like an impossible situation in the day in which we live. I mean, all of the temptations that are around us are constantly before us striking right at our purity and blameless way of living. But it really matters to God so it must mean that we can and must do it.
He goes on, (vs. 11), "May you always" not just every once in a while, but "May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation - the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ - for this will bring much glory and praise to God."
Listen, living a pure and blameless life in the world that we live in must mean that God is great and He will get the glory for us living that way because living without Him makes it impossible. No self will can do it. No great determination can do it. Only living a life filled with the fruit of your salvation which comes from a relationship with God through His Son can do it.
The Amplified Bible says (vs. 9-11), "And this I pray, that your love may abound more and more [displaying itself in greater depth] in real knowledge and in practical insight, so you may learn to recognize and treasure what is excellent [identifying the best, and distinguishing moral differences], and that you may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ [actually living lives that lead others away from sin]; filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God [so that His glory may be both revealed and recognized].
That's why Jesus came to this earth to die for our sins. It is to show the world that He can and will and has made a total difference in our lives. There is no way with all of the temptations around us that we can live a pure and blameless life without Him. And if we do then His glory will be both revealed and recognized. The MESSAGE Paraphrase says, "making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God."
And that is why this really matters. Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning
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