The Source and Center
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2 Corinthians 6:1-2, 14-17; 7:1
1. Working together with him, then, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain. 2. For he says, "At the acceptable time I have listened to you, and helped you on the day of salvation." Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 14. Do not be mismated with unbelievers. For what partnership have righteousness and iniquity? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15. What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 16. What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will live in them and move among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17. Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, 18. and I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." 7:1. Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God.
Paul warns the Corinthians not to affiliate with those who don’t live as we know we should live. Don’t do business with cheaters. Don’t make friends with those who stab others in the back. Don’t work for unethical bosses. Don’t expose yourself to messages that are counter to what Christ preached-and Paul continued to preach after Christ’s death and resurrection. And we may think it was a lot easier for the Corinthians to be “separate” than it is for us!
Today almost every news story is about an unethical company CEO or someone who “bends the rules” to achieve their goals. We hear so many stories about trusting people being taken advantage of by those who know their vulnerabilities. And its bigger than that! Neighborhoods where low-income families could afford rent are being torn down to make way for more “upscale” housing. The world is not a nice place most of the time! So how do we find our way? Well . . . God gave us the answer: "I will live in them and move among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17. Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, 18. and I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."
Oh . . . Jesus! We may think we can’t just quit our job because our boss is unscrupulous. But what would Jesus tell you about that? We may think we can’t end a friendship because our friend is a bigot, or that we absolutely need to live in one of those homes that was built at the expense of shelter for the working poor, but when we weigh those statements against how Jesus lived his life--the people he ministered to . . . It’s not easy to be a Christian. It never has been! And I suspect it will be harder and harder as the end of all things approaches!
Jesus is the first, last, and only word. My Jesus. My Savior. My God. I think that may be my mantra today! And I have found that when I remove myself from the picture, and attempt to be Christ to my world--I have a much better day!
I hope today you’ll remember the source and center of all things good and right in the world. And that you’ll call upon Him before you speak every word, think every thought, and pray every prayer.
Mary
