LIVING SACRIFICES Devotion 4 of 24 "Good doctrine" brings advantages to the child of God. The soul is thus "constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine" (1 Tim 4:6, NASB). Although this is not its greatest advantage, sound doctrine is also practical. It interfaces with every aspect of life. There is no facet of life that is not impacted by the salvation of God. It empowers and moves the saints to separate themselves from defilements. It also constrains them to appropriate all things pertaining to life and godliness, given to them by the Lord. This great salvation impacts upon private, domestic, and social life to say nothing of spiritual relationships. – Tomorrow:
The Devil's Strategy
One of the most effective strategies employed by the "old serpent" involves the undue exaltation of academics. In this approach philosophy, speculation, and formalism spring forth and demand dominance. All of them are offered as adequate guides for humanly defined "practical" matters, which appear to be the stress of the contemporary church. Faith is thus relegated to the background, and profession is equated with possession.
Under this arrangement, reconciliation to God is taken for granted, and the wisdom of men is employed for the correction or improvement of personal, domestic, and social aspects of life. The preacher or teacher who deals with the practical aspect of life in Christ is thus thought to be the most profitable. Conversely, the preacher or teacher who deals with justification, sanctification, reconciliation, etc., is considered to be impractical – a sort of theological oddity that is beyond the capacity of the masses. There is hardly a place in the Western world where this imagination is not prominent.
Dreadful Complacency
Few professed Christians challenge this approach to life because of its remarkable popularity. Problem solvers and counselors have been added to church staffs, and even exalted to places of prominence, often supplanting those who preach and teach the Word of God. Religious organizations are filled with frolicking youth and spiritually indifferent adults, nearly all of whom are abysmally ignorant of both the Person and ways of God. Such people have been brought into the "church" by entertainment programs, shallow teaching, athletics, and self-help programs.
The number of religious organizations that are contributing to this situation is staggering. They include music, publishing, career development, motivational direction, education, and a staggering array of entertainment specialists. The number of Christian businesses operating for profit boggles the mind.
All of this may appear quite innocent, and those who raise questions about it are often viewed as negative, and even cultist, in their objections. After all, it appears as though these thrusts have been highly successful. Who would dare to question them. However, hardly any of them could exist in a strong godly environment. They would soon die out were the people of God conversant with Divine manners, intent on laying hold of eternal life, and determined to abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul. A sterile spiritual environment has enabled such groups to surface and appear successful.
This series of devotions will deal with the Holy Spirit's practical application of the truth of justification by faith, or the obtaining of the righteousness of God through faith. He will give us a God-ordained way to apply the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. We will be told to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to God. This will directly relate to our ability to know the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. No application of the truth of God that avoids this requirement is valid.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, and through your good grace, help me to use the truth of the Gospel as You intend for it to be used.