Today’s Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:17-18
“He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.” – John 7:18
Most things that are taken to extreme can be harmful. For example, if you read on a medicine bottle that one tablet a day will make you well in ten days, and then foolishly reason that ten pills will make you well in one day, you will harm yourself.
The same thing can be true of our application of Scripture. Now, one of the clear teachings of Scripture is that you and I should live separated unto the Lord and separated from sin. The apostle Paul’s words recorded in 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 say, “‘Therefore come out from among them and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.” If you and I are to serve the Lord, our lives must be clean.
“Fair enough,” you say. “But how is it possible to carry to extreme such a simple teaching of Scripture as this?” Let me give you an example. When my wife became a Christian, she stopped using any sort of makeup. Dawson Trotman, founder of The Navigators, encouraged her and other women to try using some. His reasoning? All they were accomplishing by being pale-faced was to draw attention to themselves. They stood out in a crowd.
As far as we know, Jesus never did that. He did nothing to draw attention to Himself in the way He dressed or combed His hair. As Christ’s people we must come out from among the worldly by our attitude toward sin and by our love for Christ, but not through excessive outward practices that draw attention to ourselves.
Prayer
Lord, keep me from getting caught up in equating godliness or ungodliness with outward appearances. Amen.
To Ponder
To draw attention to self through either excess or restraint can interfere with our witness.
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