Some Things Should Be Avoided
We are now moving toward two months of “shelter-in-place” social distancing standards in our community. Though the governor of Georgia has started to lift some of the lock-down, many people do not yet feel comfortable enough to venture far from what the last weeks have held. As we live through this experience together, what can we learn from all that we have been through?
One thing we can learn is that some things need to be avoided. Over the past two months, we have avoided crowds, avoided eating in restaurants, avoided movie theaters, and avoided many retail stores. We have missed school, held work meetings online, and worshiped through a virtual worship experience. These are just a few of the examples of things that we have avoided.
The Bible tells us that there are some things in life that should be avoided. James 1:27 says this: “Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world” (CSB). Did you notice what we should avoid? As those wanting to be pure before God, we must avoid the things in the world that would stain us.
Why is it important to avoid those things that dirty us up before God? First, God knows what is good for us and we will reap what we sow (see Galatians 6:7). Second, the things of the world will pull us away from a close walk with God (see 1 John 2:15-17). And, there are many other reasons why being stained by the world will wreck our lives.
But, let’s look at one other reason why it is important to “keep oneself unstained from the world.” We read in Romans 12:1 that we are “living sacrifices” unto the Lord. In other words, our lives are an act of worship before the Lord. The question we must ask is “what kind of sacrifice are you?” Are you a sacrifice that is pleasing to the Lord as you walk before Him in ways that show you love Him and desire to serve Him? Or, are you a sacrifice before the Lord that is less than your best and a half-hearted effort of worship to the Lord?
Malachi 1 speaks of the priests in Malachi’s day offering sacrifices of animals that were lame, sick, and useless to the one offering the sacrifice. God says that He will not accept this kind of half-hearted worship. God deserves our very best as an act of worship before Him.
Therefore, our “living sacrifice” should be a sacrifice that is “unstained from the world.” That is the kind of sacrifice that God deserves.
Is that the kind of sacrifice God is getting from you? Are you striving to remain unstained from the things of this world? That’s what God wants. And, that’s what God deserves.
(Questions/responses? jeff.perkins@mbclife.org)