“The
person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit
of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they
are discerned only through the Spirit.” First Corinthians 2:14, NIV
Godliness is unnatural and goes against the world. When
Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount, he was teaching His followers how they
were to be different. Jesus wants all who will follow him to clearly count the
cost and understand that being His disciple means that followers will be in
disagreement with the world.
Disciples are to have humility, be unselfish, and have compassion
for others. Disciples are to live righteous, that is righteousness by God’s
standards, not the world’s standards. We are to love God with all our heart,
soul, and mind. Jesus wants us, as His followers, to know that we gain success
and value in this life by being righteous. Disciples are to forgive and
practice forgiving others. We are to have the spirit of forgiving so that
others cannot offend or hurt us beyond our ability to forgive. We are not to
hold grudges toward those who hurt or abuse us. Disciples are to be pure in
heart. Our motives are to be right and pure. Our motive is always to bring
glory to God through His Son Jesus Christ. Disciples do not seek glory and
praise of others. Our lives are not about us. Disciples are to be Christ to
others, for Christ sake, and not for oneself. God allows us to see Him in the
midst of purity of heart through helping others.
Jesus is being very direct and honest. He wants us to know
that becoming like him is unnatural. It is contrary to human nature and
contrary to the world. Jesus is reminding us that this world is not our home. We
are foreigners in a strange land. We are Kingdom people destined for the
Kingdom of God. We are aliens in this world, voluntary slaves to Master Jesus.
We are to serve in whatever ministry and walk of live our Master has placed us
in, and serve him willingly with full obedience. The more Godly we become, the
more pain and suffering we endure and the more scars we obtain. Jesus suffered
and died. Paul suffered tremendously. With the exception of John, all of the
Apostles died a martyr's death, and John was banished to the Island of Patmos
where he died of old age.
The world hates holiness because holiness reveals the
ungodliness in the world. This is why Jesus taught us to let our light shines
before men; we are to live unnatural lives!
Prayer: “God, help me
to live an unnatural life. Fill me with humility, unselfishness, and compassion
for others. Develop in me righteousness and enable me to love You with all of
my heart, soul, and mind. Help me to forgive others as you have forgiven me.
Grant me a pure heart and right motives in all that I do. Grant me courage to
be bold and brave, and to have a willingness to suffer for You. Oh God, help me
to live an unnatural life. Amen.”
