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What should be the focus of God's people, His sheep?
A central purpose of the Church is the provision of spiritual food to assist the development of each of its members (Ephesians 4:12-15). The physical church of old received their entire diet from God for forty years (Exodus 16:35, Joshua 5:12). The manna given to Israel was a type of Christ’s spiritual food that He feeds his spiritual children with today (Psalms 78:23-25, John 6:31-35). Spiritual knowledge is passed along by inspiration through those called to be teachers and preachers (Ephesians 4:11, Romans 10:14). The Holy Spirit helps remind us of what we have been taught (John 14:26). The core of this teaching takes place on the Sabbath day (Acts 15:21, Luke 4:16, Acts 18:4).
In the Church, God is taught, accomplishing a central purpose for the Church itself. Jesus’ commission to Peter and the apostles can be seen as, “Feed My lambs. Tend My sheep. Feed My sheep. Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you”(John 21:15-17, Matthew 28:20). Feeding on Christ’s doctrine facilitates our growing up to become more like Him (Ephesians 4:14-15).
The teachings of God (doctrines) constitute the true food He gives us (Acts 16:4). It is not just the receiving of that spiritual food that makes one a child in the developing Family of God (Romans 2:13). Rather, the sons of God are those being led by the Holy Spirit away from carnal mindsets and carnal deeds (Romans 8:13-14). They behave as children, taking in the spiritual food of Christ and growing in God’s character (James 1:21-22).
One’s behavior demonstrates either his acceptance or his denial of God’s doctrines. In times past, some who received divine food were rebellious about living by it (Nehemiah 9:13-16). Their example becomes our warning to both receive God’s truth and respond to it without carnal ambitions (1 Corinthians 10:3-12). To successfully receive our part in the Kingdom, which the Sabbath day foretells, we must conduct ourselves in a godly manner (2 Peter 3:11-12).
God’s children are presented with a plethora of opportunities from which to choose. Some promote godliness, others trend toward self-promotion. Those choices have been consistently placed before us since Adam and Eve were first in the Garden. Such opportunities arise constantly, tugging at each of us to embrace one or the other. There is good reason for this to happen to each of us regularly. Christ is coming soon and He must determine the genuineness of our character so He can accurately judge us and give us the appropriate reward. Consider the position that places Him in when reading this passage. “He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still. And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work” (Revelation 22:11-12).
Perfection is associated with the Kingdom of God, while the time we’re in now is a time for the development and testing of future spirit-being members of the God family. Consequently, in this present age, Christ set us an example of being tested to the extreme by Satan, Rome, and the religious leaders of His day. Accordingly, He says to us in His Body, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and 'a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 10:34-39).
The true sheep are focused on the Source of their food and are not distracted from their growth by others (John 10:3-5). We also have God’s Spirit to help us bring every thought into captivity to Christ, if we choose to do so (2 Corinthians 10:5). The testing of our character (James 1:12-18) produces perseverance , which leads to a genuine; enduring “perfection” that God is seeking from us (James 1:3-4, Matthew 5:48, Matthew 10:22).
With the Spirit inside each of us, our response to such temptations should be like that of Jesus who “made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name”(Philippians 2:7-9). And He will do the exact same for you, if you do likewise (Revelation 3:12).
We should appreciate more fully the dynamics that are part and parcel of the Church experience (1 Peter 4:17). The path to our success is intentionally difficult and narrow (Matthew 7:14) and the spiritual fight impossible to win on our own (Ephesians 6:12-13). Do not get distracted from pursuing godliness. Rather, continue your course of praying every day, studying to receive the Bread of life, and striving to live by it in a steadfast and exemplary manner (Matthew 5:14).
For more information on God's calling and His people, request a copy of "Transforming Your Life: The Process of Conversion " and also the Bible Study Course lessons .
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Origin of article "Living God's Way"
Keywords: doctrine perfection God's sheep
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