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Living Carefully And Urgently
Brian Mashburn
April 24, 2016
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Careful And Agressive Living
After last week's teaching, one of our High School Students set up a time for us to talk. "So the Bible says," he began, "we are NOT saved by living sinlessly, but that we ARE called to live the sinless life. Could you explain the relationship between those? How does that work?"
I so appreciated the opportunity to tell this young man just how good the "good news" is. I never tire of telling sinners that their sin does not hinder their salvation. I never tire of backing up this outrageous claim with the weight of scripture with verses like "it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast" (Eph 2:8-9).
I'm unsure of what I love more: The news itself, or the confused, re-orienting look in people's eyes when they begin to believe it! I know it's starting to sink in when they ask the inevitable follow-up question: "Then what motivates me to not sin? Why should I live carefully?" I love answering that too.
Love. Gratitude. Faith - not just in God's forgiveness of sin - but in God's claim that the sinless life is the best way to live. The Christlike way produces joy!
This week, Paul tells us to live carefully, but also to live aggressively. Like a man hurrying his pregnant wife to the hospital, life is in the balance, so be aggressive. But life is in the balance, so be careful.
Live life in the Spirit, and you will find yourself singing and making music from your heart to the Lord. Live carefully, but live aggressively. Live aggressively, but live carefully. It is the best possible life.