Making the 110% Effort

April 26th, 2007

May 1st, 2007

"Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no will see God". (Hebrews 12:14). Often times I can get discouraged that I do not see God acting in my life or feel His presence. Although our holiness/sanctification comes solely through Christ, we are called throughout the bible to strive for holiness in all thoughts and actions. The Holy Spirit inside me grieves when I choose sin over righteousness. Truly, it is only when I "make every effort" and do not compromise in my convictions that I see God in my life. Below are a few scriptures to consider.

Rom 5:19; 1 Pet 3:18; Heb 10:5-10; 1 Thess 4:7; 1 Cor 1:2; Eph 1:4; Titus 2:11-12; Jam 2:14-26; 1 Jn 1:3-7; Ps 15:1-5; 2 Tim 2:21; Eph 4:30; I Jn 3:3

Well, this was sent to me from someone, actually that I don't think I've even met. But it was sent in the way of a friend - and that's good enough for me.

Romans 5:19 (NIV)

For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

1st Peter 3:18 (NCV)

Christ himself suffered for sins once. He was not guilty, but he suffered for those who are guilty to bring you to God. His body was killed, but he was made alive in the spirit.

Hebrews 10:5-10 (New Living Translation)

That is why Christ, when he came into the world, said, "You did not want animal sacrifices and grain offerings. But you have given me a body so that I may obey you. No, you were not pleased with animals burned on the altar or with other offerings for sin.

Then I said, 'Look, I have come to do your will, O God - just as it is written about me in the Scriptures.'" Christ said, "You did not want animal sacrifices or grain offerings or animals burned on the altar or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them" (though they are required by the law of Moses). Then he added, "Look, I have come to do your will." He cancels the first covenant in order to establish the second. And what God wants is for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.

1st Thessalonians 4:7 (NCV)

God called us to be holy and does not want us to live in sin.

1st Thessalonians 4:7 (GOD'S WORD)

God didn't call us to be sexually immoral but to be holy.

1st Corinthians 1:2 (NIV - emphasis mine)

To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ--their Lord and ours:

Ephesians 1:4 (NLT)

Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

Titus 2:11-12 (NLT)

For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with self-control, right conduct, and devotion to God...

James 2:14-26 (NCV - emphasis mine)

My brothers and sisters, if people say they have faith, but do nothing, their faith is worth nothing. Can faith like that save them? A brother or sister in Christ might need clothes or food. If you say to that person, "God be with you! I hope you stay warm and get plenty to eat," but you do not give what that person needs, your words are worth nothing. In the same way, faith that is alone -- that does nothing -- is dead. Someone might say, "You have faith, but I have deeds." Show me your faith without doing anything, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe there is one God. Good! But the demons believe that, too, and they tremble with fear. You foolish person! Must you be shown that faith that does nothing is worth nothing? Abraham, our ancestor, was made right with God by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar. So you see that Abraham's faith and the things he did worked together. His faith was made perfect by what he did. This shows the full meaning of the Scripture that says: "Abraham believed God, and God accepted Abraham's faith, and that faith made him right with God." And Abraham was called God's friend. So you see that people are made right with God by what they do, not by faith only. Another example is Rahab, a prostitute, who was made right with God by something she did. She welcomed the spies into her home and helped them escape by a different road. Just as a person's body that does not have a spirit is dead, so faith that does nothing is dead!

Psalm 15:1-5 (NCV - emphasis mine)

Lord, who may enter your Holy Tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? Only those who are innocent and who do what is right. Such people speak the truth from their hearts and do not tell lies about others. They do no wrong to their neighbors and do not gossip. They do not respect hateful people but honor those who honor the Lord. They keep their promises to their neighbors, even when it hurts. They do not charge interest on money they lend and do not take money to hurt innocent people. Whoever does all these things will never be destroyed.

2nd Timothy 2:21 (Weymouth New Testament)

If therefore a man keeps himself clear of these latter, he himself will be for specially honourable use, consecrated, fit for the Master's service, and fully equipped for every good work.

2nd Timothy 2:21 (NCV)
All who make themselves clean from evil will be used for special purposes. They will be made holy, useful to the Master, ready to do any good work.

Ephesians 4:30 (Bible in Basic English)

And do not give grief to the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were marked for the day of salvation.

1st John 3:3 (NCV)

Christ is pure, and all who have this hope in Christ keep themselves pure like Christ.

Now, my goal is to come back on these scriptures and look at them even closer. I liked the "beginning stages" of looking at these, but I want to check into them a little further. Just a little bit - I want to make the effort, give it 110%, you know. Johnny Out.