He is the same

• Ezekiel 18:1-19:14, Hebrews 9:11-28, Proverbs 18:8-17

Good morning ladies! Here are a few thoughts from my reading. May God bless you as you serve him in both the small and the big things!

Don’t we love the promise that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever? (Psalm 102:27, Hebrews 13:8) I love to see God’s character and who he is in both the old and new testament. Since I know he is always the same, I can know he holds the same characteristics today.

When reading Ezekiel 18 one characteristic is clearly seen. God loves when we pursue righteousness.

Read Ezekiel 18:26-28

God wants us to live holy lives! That is not to say that our good deeds determine the value of our salvation or even if we are saved at all. As Christian women, we know that today only the blood of Christ determines our salvation. (Hebrews 9:13-14) Yes! We are children of the most high God but unfortunately we are still living with a sinful flesh in a fallen world. We must be aware of the snares around us and choose righteous living. To be a follower of Jesus but hold no resemblance to Jesus Christ himself is a worrisome thing. Bearing fruit (John 15)(Galatians 5:22) is an intricate part of who we are as Christians.

Here are some of the first things God has brought to my mind when thinking about holy living.

• Run from pride, reject it, cast it off, hate it as much as God hates it. (Proverbs 18:12)
• “Think on these things…” (Philippians 4:8)
• Guard my mouth. (Proverbs 18:7)
• Care for the poor, fatherless, broken. (everywhere, all of over the place, there are hundreds of verses!)

Hold on a sec. Aren’t we talking about holy living? Where is the Do: A,B,C and Don’t Do: X,Y,Z list? Our outward works are important but we must realize the Bible’s first emphasis for change is the heart. What is in our heart? What do we think about? what is pouring out of our mouth? I could build 100 homes for a poor African village but what if pride and self motive were rotting in my heart making God resist me? (James 4:6)

This topic is pointed straight at me which is one reason I wanted to write these thoughts out. I pray that God will continue to bring these verses to my mind. We have to be intentional and allow God to shepherd our heart. Intentionally stay in God’s Word and in daily prayer. Determine to live as Jesus lived. I have noticed that when I am walking with the Lord in close fellowship I am better prepared to combat temptation and live like Christ. Sadly when I leave my Bible and fail to keep a close walk with God, I fall easily into silly sins that would be avoidable if I were only paying attention

– or rather –

if I were only dwelling with my God who helps me pay attention. His still small voice is only heard when we are taking the time to listen.

Hebrews 10:23-24 does not leave me with the impression that the Christian life is naturally lived without sin. We are told to “hold fast” to our faith. Holding fast takes effort and is not something done passively. Next we are advised to push each other to love and good works. If life after Salvation meant sinless living then why are there so many reminders for us to push forward and work at staying the course.

We must not be fooled. We will not wake up one day and magically do all the things we know we should do. Ladies, lets work. We need to work at our walk with Christ, work at respecting our husbands, work at being patient with our children. Proverbs tells us that we can either tear down or build up our homes. Does building a home sound like something that will come along eventually? Never. We need to work at it every day!

The God of the Old Testament that so highly praised righteous living is still the God of today. The new testament is filled with a call to a higher living and to be set apart from the world. Not to judge, hate, and cast sinners off; but to have clear evidence that we truly are different than them in the best way possible

– we know Jesus Christ.