On the ring finger of my left hand is a gold band, set with small diamonds, that is well-worn after 32 years! It makes me a marked man. That little symbol declares that Jerry is married, that his affections belong exclusively to Bev. The ring never comes off for it is a constant reminder of the vows we exchanged - to blend our lives in an interdependent relationship. The integrity of our relationship is one of the aspects that makes our marriage fulfilling and joyful. I am owned by Bev, she is owned by me - but neither of us feels enslaved. Our mutual commitment provides security. Our lives are connected in such a way that "me" is replaced by "we;" every decision made to benefit the "Jerry-Bev" unity that was created when we pledged ourselves in holy matrimony on the evening of January 10, 1975. Our marriage is not a legal contract. It is a sacred covenant. We "submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." (Ephesians 5:21, NLT)
I have to confess that there is another that owns me, too. My life is devoted to that One, the highest priority given to the will of the One to whom I belong. Yes, I am owned by God, a man with an obligation to seek, to know, and to do the will of God for I am called to be holy! I once thought that being holy was the observance of a lot of prohibitions. To be holy, so I believed, was to observe a strict moral code: No "R" rated movies, no alcohol, no "questionable entertainment," no use of tobacco, etc. Most of those rules were not necessarily all that bad as they provided me with good guidance for my behavior, but they were not what made me holy for they only defined the way I acted, not the way I thought! I came to understand, as I grew spiritually, that I am holy, not because of what I do not do, but because I belong to God - heart, soul, mind, and body! That is the essence of holiness.
My wedding band makes the statement that I am a married man, but fidelity to my wife comes from thinking of myself as a married man, keeping my eyes and my thoughts, as well as my body faithful to Bev. True holiness is not just an external conformity to a code of conduct, it is a way of life that grows out of the knowledge that I am not my own person any longer, that I was 'bought at a price,' by Christ Jesus who gave His life to own mine. Here's how the Word expresses it: ". . . we are the temple of the living God. As God said: "I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." (2 Corinthians 6:16-18, NLT)
While some think of holiness as constricting and limiting their self-expression, the Word says that holiness allows us to enjoy God's provisions. As we give ourselves to Him wholly, He accepts as 'sons and daughters.' How amazing is that? When we live in holiness we reap the benefit of "life and peace," and we gain the privilege of addressing God as "Abba," - yes, familiarly as "Dad." More than that, we are included God's covenant, becoming heirs, with full rights and privileges to the wealth of Heaven! (See Romans 8)
The Evil One attempts to convince us that fidelity to God, giving ourselves to a single-minded pursuit of His will, is a sure way to misery. So many Believers buy into the lie that true happiness is found in self-expression. They want Jesus to be their Savior, but not their Husband! But when they try to serve two loves, they are not able to know peace for they are torn and divided. "Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do." (James 1:8, NLT) Is that where you're living today? Are you trying to blend the love of this present world with a love for God? Believe me when I say, you're robbing yourself!
Give yourself - without clause, without reservation - to God! Surrender to Him. You will discover a life you did not know was possible.
"So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." (Romans 12:1-2, The Message)
Amen!
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I'm calling out to You
There must something more
Some deeper place to find
Some secret place to hide
Where I've not gone before
Where my soul is satisfied
and my sin is put to death
and I can hear Your voice
and Your purpose is my choice
as natural as a breath
The Love I knew before
When You first touched my life
I need You to restore,
I want You to revive
Could You place in my heart,
A passion for Jesus
A hunger that seizes
my passion for You
My one desire,
my greatest possession
My only confession,
my passion for You
Passion for Jesus --Brian Houston
CCLI License No. 810055
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