No sour-faced Puritans, please

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Living with joy”

Our Bible verse for today: “Therefore, let all of us who are mature think this way … In, any case, we should live up to whatever truth we have attained.” Philippians 3:15;16 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “No sour-faced Puritans, please”

This morning, I want to return us to our thinking from yesterday regarding the joy that comes from living rightly. Paul writes that if we are mature and maturing in Christ, we will live like it.

A couple of words of caution are needed here. First of all, don’t be unreasonably hard on yourself about this. None of us are perfect and we won’t be until the day we arrive in heaven. Even the Apostle Paul admitted, here in Philippians chapter three and in other letters as well, that he was still a work in progress. So, don’t make excuses for unbiblical conduct, but also don’t beat yourself up about it either. Confess it, correct it, and move on from it.

Also, as we consider Paul’s challenge to us in verse 16 to live what we profess to believe, we must remember to keep this in the context of the main theme of this letter – “joy”. This life-long transformation known as the process of sanctification is not supposed to be a dark and heavy thing that turns us into a bunch of sour-faced Puritans. We’ve all met people who wear their faith like a heavy old coat – just trudging through their days and suffering for Jesus. But who wants that? Who’s going to be attracted to a faith like that?

A mature faith in Christ is a thing of joy. Remember, the Fruit of the Spirit in your life produces characteristics like love, joy, and peace. As you mature in Christ those things should become more and more a part of who you are. If that’s not the result you’re experiencing then you’re doing it wrong.

That doesn’t mean your life will be trouble free. It won’t be. And it doesn’t mean you should paste a phony smile on your face and pretend that life is all lollipops and gumdrops. It isn’t. But it does mean that the more mature you are as a follower of Christ the better equipped you will be to face all of life with strength and dignity, and with love, joy, and peace.

So, strive for spiritual growth by practicing the basic spiritual disciplines of the Christian life. Live what you profess to believe. And do it all with the joy that is yours as a mature follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. And please, don’t be a sour-faced Puritan.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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