Are you a noble, worthy person? Let me clarify. Are you noted to be a person of truth, integrity, diligence, beauty of spirit, love, and grace? Or, are you a person of shaded meanings, filthy speech, laziness, and hostility? That is what I mean by 'noble.' One can be poor and be noble. A person need not have a certain bloodline to be of noble character. The transforming truth of the Gospel of Christ, coupled with the inner transformation of the Spirit, will produce a person who is truly a nobleman! Yet, often in our time, those who claim to be Christian are base, ignoble individuals. This should not be. There are few things that stir up my emotions like a pseudo-Christian! I hate the disgrace to the cause of Christ that comes when a person uses his religion as a 'cover up for evil.' (1 Peter 2:16)
Conversion is supposed to be exactly that - a profound change. All too often, Christianity is made into an ideal held up for admiration but considered impractical for daily living. This has been the curse of the faith since the beginning of the faith. Time and again the Word challenges a claim to belief without a corresponding change of practice. This is the sin of hypocrisy. Paul wrote to us saying "I beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God." (Ephesians 4:1, NLT)
Look at how the Word contrasts the nature, base life with the noble, spiritual one:
"People’s desires make them give in to immoral ways, filthy thoughts, and shameful deeds. They worship idols, practice witchcraft, hate others, and are hard to get along with. People become jealous, angry, and selfish. They not only argue and cause trouble, but they are envious. They get drunk, carry on at wild parties, and do other evil things as well. I told you before, and I am telling you again: No one who does these things will share in the blessings of God’s kingdom.
God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways. And because we belong to Christ Jesus, we have killed our selfish feelings and desires." (Galatians 5:19-24, CEV)
We must not make the mistake of attempting to live the 'life of the Spirit,' by our own will! To do so, will lead to great hypocrisy like that of the Pharisees, described by Jesus as "whitewashed tombs, full of dead men's bones." No amount of punishment, ethical challenge, or good intention can produce a Spirit-filled noble man of God. "So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, ... For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial ... You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, "Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!"? Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires." (Colossians 2:16-23, NLT)
Augustine is quoted as saying, "Love God, and do as you please." He's right! Yes, he is much misunderstood, as some who claim to be disciples emphasize only the second half of his aphorism and descend into licentious behaviors which only further debase them. A noble life emerges when we love Him - with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. Disciple, do you love Him? Does it show in a life that is worthy of your high calling? Here's my prayer for you and for me today. Pray it with me, won't you?
"We have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light." (Colossians 1:9-12, NIV)
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Truehearted, wholehearted, faithful and loyal,
King of our lives, by Thy grace we will be;
Under the standard exalted and royal,
Strong in Thy strength we will battle for Thee.
Peal out the watchword! Silence it never!
Song of our spirits, rejoicing and free;
Peal out the watchword! Loyal forever!
King of our lives, by Thy grace we will be.
Wholehearted! Savior beloved and glorious,
Take Thy great power and reign Thou alone,
Over our wills and affections victorious—
Freely surrendered and wholly Thine own.
Frances Havergal - public domain
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