Godly pursuit

READ: Ezekiel 31,32; Psalms 138; Hebrews 12

SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 12: 14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

OBSERVATION: Some Christians think that Jesus Christ has already done everything for us, so we need nothing to do. It is true that we don’t need to do. In other words, we cannot do anything for our salvation. However, once we are saved by God’s grace and through faith, we need to live in the grace continually. When we come to Christ and believe him, our spiritual quest comes to an end. But it becomes the starting point for our godly living. We are to follow Christ and live like him (1 Jn.2:6). We need to make every effort to achieve it. Our faith pleases God (Heb.11:6). However, it is our holy living that equips us to see the Lord. Our Lord Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Mt.5:8). We Christians readily agree with the importance of holy living. We know that our God is holy, so we also must be holy (1 Pet.1.16). While we make every effort to be holy, we should remember that it is our Lord who makes us holy (Lev.20:8; 22:9,16,22).

Here, verse 14 not only urges us to live holy, but it says about living in peace with all people as well. “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom.5:1). But we need to “make every effort to live in peace with everyone.” It is sad that many Christians who speak, focus on, and try to live holy do not make efforts to live in peace with others. We do not need to compromise our Christian values. In the next verse, the author writes about the bitterness that can “cause trouble and defile many.” “Bitter root” referred here indicates the warning against people who wilfully disobey God and do idolatry (Deut.29:18, 19). Sometimes, when others hurt us, it may be hard for us to forgive them. At such times, our personal ego could become an idol to prevent us from forgiving them. We need to remember the example of Christ (1 Pet.2:19-24) and forgive others, “just as in Christ God forgave” us (Eph.4:32; Col.3:13).

We should not allow any bitterness to have root in our hearts. In most cases, having bitterness about others is a self-inflicted punishment and a silent killer. Warren Wiersbe warns, “An unforgiving spirit is the devil’s playground.”  If we have any bitter root in our hearts, it does not bring any better things. Instead, it causes trouble and could affect others as well. The author gives a stern warning against it: “See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God.” The grace of God enables us to reconcile with others and move on from our past hurt.

APPLICATION: God chose me to be holy (Eph.1:4).  My love for God motivates me to live holy. My love for people encourages me to pursue peace with others. I should allow the peace of Christ to rule my heart, not my resentment and bitter feelings about others. I will live a life worthy of the Lord and the grace of God.

PRAYER: Father God, thank you for your call to live a holy life. Jesus, help me to practice love and holiness. Holy Spirit, give me your strength to remain intense and persistent in my godly pursuit. Amen.

- Arputharaj Samuel
+91 9538328573

Day – 321