Holiness, Godliness, Usefulness
09/27/2014, by John Kincaid
Lesson 372: Ripple Effects
If we wander off God’s safe path, He still loves us, but we risk danger and losing His blessings.
The law of gravity: if we jump off a building, we will get hurt. The law of love: if we jump off the safe path God has paved for us, we risk not only our well-being, but those who follow us.
There are earthly consequences when we stray from God’s will. If we stray from telling the truth we destroy the unity and security of those affected by lies.
If we stray from faithfulness, we wreck our relationships with those closest to us. God’s path is designed to bless followers.
We are free in Christ, but we are responsible to consider the needs and weaknesses others. We are free to bless others.
Rom.15:1-2 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
At first this may seem like a boat anchor, but it actually frees us from unrewarding selfishness.
It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35 The goal of holiness is glory to God.
Our earthly obedience today is a foretaste of glory divine, for the giver and the receiver.
In the end, it is our love for Christ which compels us to care for those He loves.
About This Series
The goal of this series is to become more useful in serving the Lord Jesus Christ, as an instrument in the Redeemer's hand. The theme verses for the series are Ephesians 4:22-24, Philemon 11, 2 Timothy 2:21
- to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
- and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
- Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.
- Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.