November 1, 2023

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING:

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1.27)

“It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” (Matthew 5.31,32)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

Eye pollution leads to heart pollution leads to life pollution leads to world pollution leads to hope pollution leads to death.

In my devotional reading this morning, I was presented with Ephesians 1.17-23: “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the Church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.“

Paul teaches the community of faith in Jesus Christ found in Corinth (1 Corinthians 6) that the practice of adultery and lust makes one a slave to their sin. They “pollute” the body by participating in the sin nature and its expression. This is important for Paul as he teaches the community of faith in Jesus Christ is made up of “a priesthood of all believers.” They are sanctified, made holy and called into leading the world in worship of the One True God revealed to us in perfection as Jesus Christ who is the head of the body of believers- those whose faith says “I and the Savior are one.” Who are we intended to “give ourselves to”? What are we intended to “give ourselves for”? Is it not to show and commit to loving one another as God has loved us? Is it not to act in thanksgiving and humility to manifest such love in building up and not tearing down, in planting and not pulling up, in holding dear and not polluting the truth which sets us truly free? The ramifications and implications of the teachings of Jesus thus far, and there is far more He said that day, should compel us to look into our hearts and ask “Is it our intention to be our own person or to be God’s person?” I thank God for His mercy and grace which provides correction and reconciliation when I forget to ask that question. It is by His grace that I am able to ask “Will You withhold the forgiveness You have promised us in Jesus Christ? Will you bring healing to the whole of who we are and those against whom we have sinned, trespassed and made ourselves indebted to?” We have to believe His answer is “yes.” But, He sees our heart and knows our spirit and acts according to the true intention we follow even if we think it is hidden from all eyes and ears.

Let us remember that on that day when Christ returns to set in motion the activity of the wedding of the ages, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess “Jesus is Lord.” It is then that the sheep will be separated from the goats and He will say to the sheep “come in, My good and faithful servants” and to the goats “Depart from Me for I have not be known in you.”

Do not let this lies of this world deceive you and pollute your hope which is made sure in the saving grace of God through Jesus Christ.

PRAYER IN LIGHT OF GOD’S WORD:

Father, You have revealed to us best in Jesus the Christ. By Him and Him alone shall we gain the eternal life and our place in eternal rest, living for You always. Show us more and by Your Holy Spirit instruct us in the way we should go, the truth we should reveal and the life we shall live with you forever. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN.