9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
***Vs. 9 - “Learned... received... heard... seen...” - Study the behavior of someone who is living a godly, exemplary life. What are they doing that consistently brings them success? Use them as a model. Copy what they do. If we fill our mind and hearts with the good and proper, we will have good and proper material with which to think and make decisions. Paul urged believers to follow him as an example. (2 Thess. 3:7, 9; Phil 3:17) How you live your Christian life will be an example to others. (1 Tim. 4:12; Tit. 2:7)
Dr. Howard Hendrix said in one of his lectures, “A concept hasn’t really been taught, until it has been caught.” When someone has heard what you have said, and then adopted it into their lifestyle, as it is in yours, then you know your teaching has impact. This is opposite to the aphorism, “Do as I say, not as I do.”
“Practice these things” - Apply what you have learned to your own life. Let these principles guide you. As is said of wisdom in Proverbs: “Don't turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you. Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment. If you prize wisdom, she will make you great. Embrace her, and she will honor you.” (Pro. 4:6-8)
Also, in Proverbs: “My son, obey your father's commands, and don't neglect your mother's instruction. Keep their words always in your heart. Tie them around your neck. When you walk, their counsel will lead you. When you sleep, they will protect you. When you wake up, they will advise you. For their command is a lamp and their instruction a light; their corrective discipline is the way to life.” (Pro. 6:20-23)
Get the knowledge. Learn how to apply it - wisdom. Knowledge without application is like playing the game “Trivial Pursuit” - it is useless information rattling around inside your head. Don’t let information that can guide your life be ‘nickel knowledge’ (that’s all it’s worth). Instead, put it to good use: “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.” (James 1:22)
- “God of peace will be with you” - and from verse 7 (above) - “peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension” - Center your mind and your life on Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. You will have peace with God - no longer His enemy, but His child. Christ came to earth to give us peace with God. (John 14:27) Our sin separates from Him. Jesus brings us to God, blameless and innocent in Christ our Savior, so that you may have peace. (John 16:33).
The many cults and pagan religions understand clearly that the gods must be appeased. Rites and rituals are performed in order to turn back the anger of the gods they worship. They know the transcendent beings are not happy with them. Sacrifices are made in order to turn away that anger.
- Praise God, we Christians do not have to do that. It has been done for us - it is forever fully accomplished. Jesus said, “It is finished.” His resurrection proved it. God’s wrath - the actions of judgement against sinners - has been fully sated on Jesus Christ. His death on the cross satisfied God’s justice. Anyone who is in the umbra, or even penumbra, of Jesus Christ will feel no effect of God’s wrath being poured out. Jesus Christ is our shield, our defender. Not only is peace declared between us and God, but we are protected because we are in Him, He is in us. We cannot fully understand the horror, the terror that will be ours if we are not in Christ. Praise Him that we are safe in Christ. We may not fully understand it, but we can rejoice in it - forever and forever. “Things that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined, are the things God has prepared for those who love him." (1 Cor. 2:9) See also: Eph 3:20; Jude 1:24.
***
No comments:
Post a Comment