Tuesday, February 19, 2013

"Breaking Life Down"

  I don't know if it bothers you but it bothers me. I have never been able to understand how people who claim their tie to Jesus break their world into two categories: the secular and the spiritual or holy living. That makes no sense. I've heard it from elders, from deacons, from bible class teachers and even preachers. The result of this is the body of Christ is left weak because people believe it. Our Sunday assemblies are spiritual while our daily living is our secular work. We do not see that every thing in our lives are tied to Jesus and Him crucified!
  What are we to call those who provide for their own families? A secular work? The Scriptures sure don't call it that: "But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." (I Tim. 5:8) What are we doing when we speak to those who hold down jobs? "He who steals must steal no  longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need." (Eph. 4:28) Does that sound like a secular job or something done in the name of the Lord? I recently heard a deacon speaking to a group of faithful brethren that in regard to what was being done, "we will put some spiritual things in the process of what we are doing!" It disturbed me how we throw such statements around without any thought of what we are saying. Maybe we have been led to believe what we do is broken into two separate categories.
  "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father." (Col. 3:17) Our lives should revolve that all we do is in the name of the Lord Jesus. Why? Because He is our life! (Col. 3:1-4) You can't break your life down into two separate categories. You do all you do for His name sake or you do little for His name sake. The parents who raise and supply their children do so for the name of the Lord. The job is done in honesty because of the name of the Lord. The things we enjoy while playing are done with the name of the Lord behind it. Our lives, our behavior is a reflection of the relationship to the salvation of the Lord. Before one comes into Christ, the things they do are for themselves and themselves alone. The taking advantage, the cheating or whatever we have done to get ahead was done without Christ. Jesus changed our center (at least He should have) and our lives belong to Him. That's why we hear from the Lord: "But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior." (I Pet. 1:15) Why do you practice and work at the things you do?

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