I pray that all of you are having a blessed day today. I know it’s cold outside, but praise the Lord for His warmth in our hearts through Christ. I would like for us to continue our discussion on Genesis 19:15 and the story of Lot. This week we’ll look at several things that we (the righteous) should be doing.
The Righteous need to hasten…
In What? In obedience to Christ. He says in His Word, John 15:10 “If you obey my commandments, you will live in my love. I have obeyed my Father’s commandments, and in that way I live in his love.” There are very few of us who can say, “I’m coming out of the world, renouncing all the things of the world and living the righteous life. I want to stay in His love so I’m going to obey.” Actually many of us, at least I know myself, did as Lot did. When Lot was told to leave he lingered. He didn’t want to let go of that life. It was hard to leave what was familiar, what was comfortable, what was common, what was habit, behind. Not only did he have trouble leaving it behind, but if you read the story, his wife looked back. Of course when she did she paid the price. Paul instructs us in 2 Corinthians 6:17 “The Lord says, “Get away from unbelievers. Separate yourselves from them. Have nothing to do with anything unclean. Then I will welcome you.”
I want to take this verse as a jumping point and talk a little about coming out. What does it actually mean to come out? This says to get away from unbelievers, separate ourselves from them and actually have nothing to do with them. What is Paul trying to tell us here.
A lot of the time when the subject of separation is talked about, it is often a dreaded subject. I believe that we have a misunderstanding of separation really means. To most of us, spiritual separation means that we have to give up this, quit going there, and stop doing that. We feel it means never again having fun and enjoying the pleasures of this world. However, the greatest call in all the world is the call to separation and consecration. We can be saved from this world and given absolute assurance of living forever as a child of God. Just imagine the glory of being truly adopted as a child of God!!!
The first call for all of us is an Open Heart! An open heart is an absolute essential for separation and consecration. No one is going to separate themselves from the world and be consecrated to God unless they have an open heart and an open mind.
Paul relates this in, 2 Corinthians 6:11-12 “We have been very open in speaking to you Corinthians. We have a place for you in our hearts. We haven’t cut you off. Your own emotions have cut you off {from us}.” Break this verse down and you will begin to see how he has an open heart and open mind. “We have been very open…” Here he is speaking directly to the church as if he were face to face, which always shows strong feelings. In the King James it say, “O ye Corinthians.” He is naming them specifically. “Speaking to you…” He has spoken openly and honestly, without hesitation or equivocation. He hasn’t held anything back. He put all the cards out on the table. “We have a place for you in our hearts…” His heart is open to them, and his affection has grown as he has been sharing the truth with them. Isn’t that what happens when we start developing relationships with others. There develops an open heart for them as we share the love of Christ. “We haven’t cut you off…” The Greek word here is stenochoreisthe which means to be restricted, to lack room, to be pressed or distress, to be in anguish or straits. Paul says there was no lack of room in his heart for the church; no restriction against them. He held nothing against them. His heart was wide open to receive them.
As you finish out v. 12 you see that the Corinthian hearts were stenochoreisthe, restricted, closed, and had little room for Paul. Paul appeals to them to return the same enlarged and open heart that he has shown them. Paul calls them his children; therefore, just as children open their hearts and receive their parents with affection, he begs them to receive him and his instructions with affection.
In closing let me share two things that are absolutely essential of the church is going to ever hear the call of God and His ministry.
- A minister with an open, honest, and loving heart toward God and His people
- The Church must have an open, honest, and loving heart toward God and His chosen minister.
Take some time to look at these verses that help show these points. Until next time, I love all of you and am so excited to be able to share through this medium.
John 13:35; John 15:12; Romans 12:9; 2 Corinthians 9:10; Ephesians 4:14-15; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 1 Peter 1:22
Pastor Rob
