Being Distinguished from Other People"For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?"" (Ex 33:16 NAS95)There is only one thing that separates the believer from the non-believer - the presence of God. In order for His presence to be with and in us, however, we must live a separated life."As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."" (1Pe 1:14-16 NAS95) (Holy means to be separated)"Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. "Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. "And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty." (2Co 6:15-18 NAS95)While God's love is unconditional, His being a father to us is conditional to our separation. Yet, the Christian life isn't a matter of do's and don'ts. So many of us get caught up in trying to figure out how far we can go before it's sin. All this kind of attitude does is create spiritual pride."If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!" (which all refer to things destined to perish with use) —in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence." (Col 2:20-23 NAS95)The proper attitude is, "Does this behaviour (or action) make me just like everyone else?" We may ask, "If I watch this movie or TV show, will it be a sin?" Maybe. Maybe not. But that isn't the question. Does it affect my separation unto God?I had a colleague drop off a DVD movie for me to watch the other day. She knows how I feel about television and movies, but she did it anyway. I didn't watch it, not because it was a bad movie, but because it would have made have me just like everyone else in her eyes.We need to judge ourselves to see if what we are doing gives someone an excuse to indulge?"So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense. It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles. The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin." (Ro 14:19-23 NAS95)These verses address more than eating and drinking. God holds us accountable for how we live before the world."But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols? For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble." (1Co 8:9-13 NAS95)The world is looking for something real. Our speech and Bible knowledge will only take us only so far. If our lives, both in public and private, are not separated unto God, His presence isn't there to distinguish us.""These things you have done and I kept silence; You thought that I was just like you; I will reprove you and state the case in order before your eyes. "Now consider this, you who forget God, Or I will tear you in pieces, and there will be none to deliver. "He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God."" (Ps 50:21-23 NAS95)Don't be fooled, God sees and requires separation. At the very least, we will find that feeding our flesh will destroy the life of the Spirit in us."Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary." (Ga 6:7-9 NAS95)"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1Th 5:23 NAS95)"Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!" (2Th 3:16 NAS95)-Mark Staples more info: to join this email list email: mark@heartsoffireproductions.com with the request.
