2 Timothy 2:19 “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”

Here we have another indication of the caliber of people in the early Church. It might seem absurd that such an admonition would be necessary, but it obviously was. Actually, hypocrisy and false pride notwithstanding, such an admonition is actually just as necessary today. The thing is, we tend to justify our own unrighteousness, in our own minds at least, while pointing horrified fingers at that of others. That just doesn’t work, because God sees the depths of each heart so we can hide nothing from Him. God accepts each of us as we are; we don’t have to “get clean” before we can come to Christ. However, we are not to remain in the pigpen! Sometimes it is the people who were caught in what we would call gross sins who have an easier time of making a clean break, because the difference is so obvious. It can be much more difficult with subtle sins, like compromise in the entertainment we consume, for example. Jesus Christ is the “gold standard,” of course. He loved and associated with sinners, but hated the sin and did not allow Himself to be stained by it. “Turning from sin” means in our own heart and actions, not rejecting those who don’t live up to whatever standard we set.

I deal with this constantly, in my own heart and in the lives of those to whom I minister. I am subjected to temptations, particularly to things in which I used to indulge, and I must stand firm against such. I must also be open for the Holy Spirit to show me any thought or attitude that is not pleasing to Him, so that I may repent of it. As a pastor, I am not to be legalistic, but I am to make it clear that making Jesus Lord involves every area of life. We are all prone to turn over less than all the keys to the rooms in our heart (to use my grandfather’s metaphor). When we are saved we give Jesus the key to the front door, so to speak, but most (if not all) of us have locked rooms further in, whether few or many. We need to give Him the master key to all of them. Only then will we be walking in the fullness of what He intends for us, in all joy and holiness.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the way You are showing various people in this church rooms they have kept locked. Help each of us be quick to turn away from wickedness, as You define wickedness, and stop making excuses and trying to justify ourselves. May we move forward with the speed and the joy that You intend, so that as individuals and as a body we may fellowship fully with You, doing Your will on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!