Passage of the Day:
It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body[a] in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.[b] The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8.
Reflection:
As I read through the book of Exodus this summer, Israel is being introduced to the God of their forefathers. Besides Aaron and Moses, there is an initial reverent fear of the Lord as the Ten Commandments and God’s expectations for daily living are explained by Moses. However, while Moses spends 40 days on Mount Sinai in God’s presence, Israel convinces Aaron to create a golden calf, a god that they can see, to replace the Great I Am. These are the types of growing pains modern-Christian’s experience, struggling to walk by faith.
Prayerful Action:
And to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody, 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12.
Working Out Your Salvation:
In a moving section of a letter to the Church at Rome, the apostle Paul opens up about his own spiritual growing pains, Romans 7:14-20. As a former Pharisee, Paul appears to wrestle with a spirit of perfection as he daily fails to keep in step with the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:25. Subsequently, Paul realized that the only way to overcome the weaknesses of his human body was to place his complete faith and trust in Jesus’ strength, Philippians 4:13. Paul learned that the weaker he become, the greater the opportunity for Christ’s resurrection power to shine through, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. Like Jesus’ earthly brother, the more your faith is tested, the closer you get to becoming spiritually mature, James 1:2-4. This is what the Bible calls working out your salvation.
Song of the Day:
The lyrics of the attached song got me through tough times in college when my faith got arid and dry. May you get into the daily habit of asking the Lord to fill you up spiritually this July.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 