As we come to our third and final goal for this new year—for all of Christian living—let’s review the first two:
Goal #1: Flee Youthful Passions. As God’s people we are to be running away from the sinful passions and desires are contrary to God and tempt us to disobey God or wander away from God.
Goal #2: Pursue Righteousness, Faith, Love, and Peace. As we flee the sinful desires of our flesh and this world, we are to pursue, or run after, godliness.
Now we come to our third goal, which has to parts, but first, our focus text, 2 Timothy 2:22, one more time:
“So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”
Goal #3: Flee and Run, Together. The Christian life is not meant to be lived alone. While it is an individual responsibility to flee sin and pursue godliness, we are supposed to do it “along with those” who are doing the same thing. And we should be careful to make sure that those we are with are actually doing the same thing.
How do we identify those who are doing that? Well, those who profess faith in Jesus that you go to church with is a great place to start. The people you in united together with in the setting of the local church, where you worship God, serve God, and proclaim God together, is the best place to find those pursuing godliness. Paul gives two marks of those we should pursue godliness with: those who 1) call on the Lord, 2) from a pure heart.
“Those who call on the Lord” simple means, those who pray. Prayer is a mark of a genuine Christian life; and those who are pursuing godliness will live a growing life of prayer to God. Only in calling on the Lord will we truly find godliness as we pursue it. Godliness doesn’t come from our own work. We need Christ’s help as we pursue it. And prayer (along with time in the word) is how we find Christ’s help.
“From a pure heart” means putting on no pretense of having it all together; no air of superiority. A pure heart pursuing godliness exhibits Christ to those around them, and also the humility to know they haven’t arrived yet. The pure in heart know they are imperfect, awaiting perfection when the Perfect One appears.
Are you pursuing godliness along with others who are pursuing godliness? Are you surrounding yourself with people who are calling on the Lord from a pure heart?
Prayer: Oh God of victory over sinful passions and desires; God of righteousness, faith, love, and peace. Draw us near and into unity with those who call on your name from a pure heart. Strengthen us in unity by the truth of your Word and the power of your Spirit, in worship of you and in fellowship 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