Last week, I began challenging us with some goals for the new year - goals for Christian living. It is true that God saves us according to his mercy, by his grace, through faith in Jesus Christ. It is also true that all of our salvation continues, is maintained, and will be eternally achieved through nothing other than faith alone in Jesus Christ.
However, within his saving work, God calls us to obedience and to good works. Last week we looked at 2 Timothy 2:22, and it says:
“So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”
Our first goal was to flee sinful passions and desires that are contrary to God, that keep us from obeying and glorifying God in this life. How did you do at this last week? Perhaps the Holy Spirit convinced you of more that needs to be fled as he sanctifies you to the image of Christ. What a good thing to have the impurity of the world pointed out by the purity of the Spirit that we may be more like Christ!
Goal #2: Pursue Righteousness, Faith, Love, and Peace
I won’t tackle each of these individually—but I would encourage you to do that in prayer and in the Word! For the purpose of this brief study, we will consider the word “pursue” and we will define the four things we are to pursue as godliness or holiness. Indeed righteousness, faith, love, and peace—and others!—is godliness.
The word pursue is where we find our responsibility within God’s saving work. It’s an action word meaning run to, go for, seek out, strive after. In the original language, what Paul writes to Timothy equated very nearly to “flee sinful desires; and flee to godliness.” The idea is that you have been set free from one in order to do the other. But we have to do it; we have to pursue them. God does give us these things in Christ, but he also tells us to pursue them. We’re not supposed to sit around and wait for our sanctification to happen.
Are you actively pursuing godliness? As you lay down sin, are you picking up holiness?
Prayer: Father, through Christ you have provided all that is necessary for life and godliness. Teach me to know righteousness, faithfulness, love and peace. Show me what it is to pursue godliness, holiness, a life that pleases you and lives in fellowship with you. Help me to die to the sinful passions of this world, and live to pursue you, my God and King. Amen.
Apparently there’s a big storm coming. Lord willing, I’ll see you Sunday morning as we gather to worship the Lord and pursue godliness and holiness together.
Grace & Peace,
John
You can reach the elders anytime by email, call, or text at:
Jon Collins, jcollins@thevillagemi.com, (810) 869-3949
John White, jwhite@thevillagemi.com, (810) 275-4267