1 Corinthians 6:11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

When a plain-spoken US TV personality recently paraphrased verses 9 and 10 in a magazine interview, the homosexual lobby and those who support them simply exploded, accusing Christians of being utterly hateful. However, they were deliberately ignoring this verse. The Gospel is not that some people are good enough to make it into heaven, it’s that all have sinned and by so doing totally missed the boat, but God has made a way through repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 3:23-24 and many more) Any time a Christian gets self-righteous he is playing directly into the devil’s hand, because such an attitude effectively denies the Gospel. We are to live as purely as we can, but recognize that it is only by the grace of God that it is possible at all. (1 Corinthians 4:3-4) One of the greatest obstacles to salvation is simple pride: we don’t want to admit that we are indeed sinners with no hope in ourselves. That’s why Jesus’ biggest enemies were the Pharisees, the most straight-laced people of His day. They generally said and did the right things, but for the wrong reasons, and so stood in opposition to the Son of God.

I have a problem in my own ministry that people look at my lifestyle and think they could never be like me, so they don’t try. That’s not just a misunderstanding, it’s a real obstacle to their spiritual growth, or sometimes even salvation. I don’t want to dwell on how I have been in the past, but I am sharply aware that it is only by the grace of God that I am what I am. The point is, that same grace is available to anyone who will open their heart to receive it. My message has got to be God’s love and grace, or it will be totally meaningless. I am to encourage believers to live up to the grace they have received, (Ephesians 4:1) but not do it from a legalistic high horse. It’s not that there are no rules, it’s that they are guidelines for life, rather than excuses to punish us. The devil is certainly a liar, and to stand against him I must speak the truth in love, wielding the Sword of the Spirit with skill and precision, so that spiritual tumors may be cut out and spiritual chains cut off (Ephesians 6:17, Hebrews 4:12) so that people may be set free indeed, for their blessing and the glory of God.

Father, in Your grace You allow me to participate in what You are doing. Thank You. Help me get it through to the believers that You want to use them as much as You do me, because it’s not the vessel, it’s the contents that matter. (2 Corinthians 4:7) May we as a body indeed do the works of Jesus, just as You have spoken to us in our verse for the year, (John 14:12) so that many may be brought to the full salvation that You desire and intend, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!