Allowing Correction

Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge. (Pro 23:12)

There is a generation that is encouraged with unbridled expression, outlets of emotions and thoughts without the balanced disciplined inlet of instruction, which is chastisement, correction and rebuke, that can eventually lead to lack of self restrain. Wisdom beckons unto this generation to ‘come’, apply our heart to receive proper instruction, not just to apply instruction outwardly. Applying our heart, the seat of our source of action is to purpose and to yield to the One Who alone is wise (Jude 1:25). Outward actions and speech is the result of heart, in the other words the standards or measurements determined internally determines our behavior.  

What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. (Psa 25:12)

The fear or deep reverence of God, not just for God, is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge. To fear God is also to walk in humility, love and serve Him with all our heart and the result is a humble and teachable son (Duet 10:12). There the heart is highlighted for our consideration to remind us that if our heart is in the right place before God, we live in the place of the loving and divine requirements of Father God.

Presenting Our Bodies

Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. (1Co 6:13)

Generally all believers will agree that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ has brought about the salvation of the spirit and soul. Jesus forgave sins, gave the freedom to sin no more and healed many sick bodies. Jesus came in the flesh to save mankind from sin and resurrected bodily to reveal the incorruptible body which we will soon receive at His second coming. Until the time we either return to the Lord or He returns for His church our bodies are still required for righteousness and execution of His will on the earth. Hence we shouldn't exclude the body from its spiritual connection. One is defiled, so is the other; similarly one is cleansed so must the other be as well such that both are sanctified or exclusive for the Lord (2 Cor 7:1).

What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. (1Co 6:16)

Paul used the context of marriage to talk about the great mystery concerning Christ and the church (Eph 5:32). The mystery is the oneness the church has with Christ as He is with the Father and it is the testimony to the world that Jesus was sent of the Father (John 17:21). If we, His Church is one with Christ, than there cannot be any other party involved in this supremely intricate and holy relationship. The joining of ourselves to any other entity except Christ would deem as harlotry, a charge which is not uncommonly used in Scripture. Harlotry is one that concerns both the act and the heart condition (Matt 5:28). God is concern with purity not innocence. The latter is denying that we have sinned and deceiving ourselves; the former is that the Blood of Jesus Christ has cleansed me and keep me in that exclusive position in Him. We therefore daily conscientiously present our bodies as a living, holy and acceptable, not dead, sacrifice to know or bring to realization His good, perfect and acceptable will (Rom 12:1, 2). We are not slaves to sin, but we through the Spirit mortify the deeds of sin of the body (Rom 8:13). Denying the outworking of salvation through our bodies is to deny the complete work of the Cross and the Church’s oneness with Christ as His body.