There’s a song that we used to sing all the time in church when I was a little kid:
Be careful little eyes what you seeBe careful little ears what you hearBe careful little hands what you doBe careful little mouth what you sayBe careful little feet where you goBe careful little mind what you thinkFor the Father’s up above and he’s looking down with love, so be careful little child what you do
I’m struck sometimes by the way things geared for children can so often capture something about our faith journey that we lose in the nuance and complexity of being adults. In this song the message is simple and clear – God loves you and the things you do matter, so be intentional with your thoughts and actions. Live a life pleasing to God.
We were in Psalm 51 this past Sunday exploring the importance of repentance as the entry point to sanctification. David had done some truly shocking, selfish and horrible things just prior to writing this Psalm, and from what we see in Scripture I think it’s safe to say that initially he was more interested in preserving his image than he was with doing the right thing. His pride drove him to have Uriah killed in order to cover the scandal he’d created.
However, when God sent the prophet Nathan to confront David with his sin, his response became very different. The light of God’s truth shone on his actions and David chose to repent before Nathan and before God. He acknowledged the depth of his bondage to sin, threw himself on the mercy of God, asking to be made a new creation because the old was incapable of committing to God’s purpose. David knew that he needed to be sanctified – made holy before God and continually conformed to the image of God. He needed a new heart.
That’s a great image to look to for anyone who wants to follow Jesus, but there’s something that we may miss as we focus in the need for a personal change of heart – we can miss out on how the blessing of being sanctified must extend beyond our personal salvation.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you. – Psalm 51:12-13 – NLT
We are saved so that others might be saved. This is what’s been going through my head. God cares about us and he wants the best for us. We know this from his Word. Read the book of Proverbs and you’ll see that the Bible offers wisdom for living in pretty much every facet of life – finances, work, learning, family, friends, health and community. God’s desire is that we would not suffer, even to the point of coming to offer himself as the payment for sin so that we can be eternally reconciled to him. He loves you deeply. What we can miss though in our personal journey of faith is that God also loves everyone else. When you decide to follow Jesus, you are not only entering into a personal salvation covenant with God; you are committing to fulfilling the redemptive mission of God for the world. This isn’t anything new in scripture – it’s repeated through out:
“I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” – Gen. 12:3
“Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will spread out in all directions—to the west and the east, to the north and the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants.” – Gen. 28:14
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you. – Psalm 51:12-13
People from many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem. – Micah 4:2
Remember that Christ came as a servant to the Jews to show that God is true to the promises he made to their ancestors. He also came so that the Gentiles might give glory to God for his mercies to them. – Rom. 15:8-9
This is one of the reasons why our actions matter so much to God – a sanctified life not only reflects an authentic inner change of heart because of the indwelling Spirit of God; a sanctified life stands as a witness to the world of what a life dedicated to God looks like. It’s never strictly been about personal piety or being superior to anyone; it’s about authenticity before God and the world.
So here’s the point I want to make, and I think Paul puts it best:
Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. – Eph. 4:2
What you do matters to God. If anyone claims to be a follower of Jesus then it is imperative, not only for our own hearts but for the world around us, that we live out sanctified lives. The world needs Jesus too much for his followers to miss out on this.
Getting back to Psalm 51, it’s important to realize that we’re not always going to get this right. David used his power to take Bathsheba into his bed, violating her as well as her marriage in the process. David used his power to preserve his image and had Uriah killed. David wandered far from what God had called him to be and yet still we see in scripture that David is called a man after God’s own heart. How can that be? In a word: Repentance.
Followers of Jesus are not called to a life of perfect piety (although we do strive for holiness). Followers of Jesus are called to a life of humility, grace and reliance on the Holy Spirit in us. The witness that we have for the world around us is not a charmed life of wealth, health and moral perfection. Our witness is that we have been saved by grace and that grace overflows from our hearts. When we fail at that though, and we will, the way back on track starts with humble repentance.
In every aspect of our lives – work, leisure, shopping, social media – we need to be mindful of how our words and actions are speaking to others. A life marked by the Spirit is easy to spot – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. It’s also clear when we are not living out of the power of the Spirit. Galatians 5:19-21 spells it out pretty clearly. When that happens, pride will push us to defend our actions either by justifying or minimizing or denying. Humility examines our actions in the light of God’s truth. Being humble and quick to repent is the gateway to the sanctifying work of the Spirit. It is also the outward sign of an authentic inner reality.
We’ll get into this from the pulpit soon but it’s worth saying here. In Ephesians 6 Paul uses the illustration of putting on armour for life by the Spirit. Each piece on it’s own is valuable, but it only works in conjunction with the whole set. Many of us have the helmet of salvation, but running around with only a helmet is not only dangerous for the individual, it’s uncomfortable for everyone who has to see it.
There’s a reason God cares about what we do. He cares for our wellbeing and he cares for the witness we present to the people around us.
We may not always get it right, but when we are quick to sincerely repent when we get it wrong, we are showing what it looks like to authentically follow Jesus into the peace, forgiveness, joy and purpose that he has to offer anyone who believes.
You are loved.
(Originally published Jan. 10, 2023)
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