Friday’s early morning scheduled garbage pick up means our trash must be gathered on Thursday evenings and placed at the roadside. No matter who carries out the bags, the grandkids always want to help. Maybe it’s simply a ploy to go outside again but Poppy invites their help. He balanced them on one arm in turn until they were old enough to walk. Now he will hand one loose tie on top of the bag to one of the grandchildren, linking them together as they walk up the driveway with the garbage bag between them. He shoulders the entire weight but they get to feel like they are helping. If I’m honest, that’s a fair picture of my relationship with Jesus. He does all the heavy lifting. I feel privileged to be invited along.
“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2co.5.21.NLT
“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.
He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.
He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.
Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.”
Titus 3:4-7 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/tit.3.4-7.NLT
“As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it.”
2 Corinthians 6:1 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2co.6.1.NLT
Paul, in his letter to the church at Corinth, painted a word picture of how honoring God where they were planted might look. Christian faith is never an idealistic pursuit. Following Jesus is all-encompassing. Every area of my life is impacted by my faith. He changes me in recognizable ways so that the watching world might know that there is a God in heaven who loved them so much that He sent His own Son so that they might have eternal life in Him.
Corinth, a major port city in Ancient Greece, offered opulence and anonymity. Anything goes could have easily been its motto. Having worked there for many months as a tent maker during his missionary travels, Paul would have been familiar with the lavish lifestyles and rampant idolatry. When he wrote warning the Christians in the church at Corinth to stand firm in their faith, he didn’t mince words. “Please don’t squander one bit of this marvelous life God has given us!” (The Message) How we live in front of a watching world positively or negatively impacts our witness. So does who we allow to influence us.
“Do not be yoked together with those who do not believe.
For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness?
Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?
What agreement does Christ have with Belial?
Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols?
For we are the temple of the living God, as God said: I will dwell and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.
Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord; do not touch any unclean thing, and I will welcome you.
And I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 CSB
https://bible.com/bible/1713/2co.6.14-18.CSB
“Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit.
And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.”
2 Corinthians 7:1 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2co.7.1.NLT
“So you must live as God’s obedient children.
Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires.
You didn’t know any better then.
But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.
For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end.
Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.”
1 Peter 1:14-16, 23 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1pe.1.14-23.NLT
Jesus, the Word who was with God in the beginning and who was God incarnate, through whom everything was created, gave life to everything and brought light to everyone. (John 1:1-4) He has always existed and He has been doing the heavy lifting since before the world was created. In fact, He says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.15.5.NLT
When Paul remembered being confronted by Jesus on the road to Damascus, he asked the voice who spoke from heaven in blinding light one question. “Who are you, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
Acts 9:5 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/act.9.5.NKJV
Jesus holds out His hand to you and me, inviting us to walk in step with Him. Accepting His invitation is at once the simplest and the most rewarding decision you will ever make.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.””
Matthew 11:28-30 NET
https://bible.com/bible/107/mat.11.29.NET
“Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.”
Colossians 3:10 NLT
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