We are Always of Good Courage

“So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Corinthians 5:6-10 ESV).

 

Paul was having a discourse about the subject of trials and tribulations and persecutions. And here he was talking about how, while we are still in these flesh bodies, that we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling (see verses 1-5). And I do a lot of that kind of groaning, too, especially the older that I get. I long for the day when I can be out of this flesh body and I can be forever with my Lord – no more pain, no more sorrow.

 

So, even though we go through hardships and persecutions and trials and tribulations which test our faith, we are to be of good courage knowing that God has allowed these things in our lives for a purpose, and that through them we should grow stronger in our walks of faith and in our commitments to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And they should help us to mature in our relationships with the Lord and in our understanding of his word, too.

 

So, we walk by faith and not by sight. We believe God. We believe his words. And we follow him even in times when it seems as though everything else is fighting against us. And even though we long to be with Jesus and to no longer have to suffer, we are of good courage knowing that God is working all things out for good in our lives if we are his followers, and if we are obeying him with our lives, and if we are not walking in sin.

 

But, regardless of what we are going through, we make it our aim to please the Lord in all that we do and say and are in our being, because we love him. And this is not optional. We are all to be living our lives to please our Lord in walks of obedience to his commands and in holy living. And we are to no longer be living to please our sinful flesh, doing what our flesh desires in contradiction to our Lord and to his commands.

 

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. So, do you see what that is saying? All of us who believe in the Lord Jesus, or who make professions of faith in Christ, are going to stand before God one day and we are going to be judged according to our works. And if we sowed to please the flesh, we will reap destruction, not eternal life.

 

For the Scriptures are quite clear on this subject. If we walk according to the flesh, and not according to the Spirit, and if sin is our practice, and not walks of obedience to our Lord, we will not inherit eternal life with God, regardless of what faith we have professed in Jesus Christ with our lips. For we are to be those who are dying daily to sin and to self and who are following our Lord in obedience in holy living, who are no longer walking in sin.

 

“Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others… For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised” (2 Corinthians 5:11,14-15 ESV).

 

Amen! Jesus Christ did not die that horrible death on a cross just to forgive us our sins and to promise us heaven when we die, but regardless of how we live. He died that we might die to sin and live to his righteousness, and for our Lord, and no longer for self. And he shed his blood for us on that cross to buy us back for God (to redeem us) out of our lives of slavery to sin so we will now honor God with our bodies in walks of obedience to his commands.

 

[1 Peter 2:24; 2 Corinthians 5:15; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 6:1-23]

 

So, this is how we are to be living, as servants of the Lord Jesus, in walks of obedience to his commands (New Covenant) and in holy living, and no longer in sin. And this is what we are to teach to others in order to persuade them to obey the Lord and to live holy lives pleasing to him. For if we make sin our practice, and if obedience and righteous living are not what we practice, we will not inherit eternal life with God, God’s word teaches.

 

[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; Jn 8:51; Jn 14:15-24; Jn 15:1-11; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:16; Rom 8:8; 1 Co 10:1-22; 1 Co 15:58; 2 Co 5:9; 2 Co 9:8; Gal 5:6,16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 5:10; Php 2:12-13; Col 1:9-14; 1 Thes 2:4; 1 Thes 4:1; 2 Thess 1:11-12; 2 Tim 2:4,21; Tit 2:11-14; Tit 3:8; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 5:9; Heb 11:6; Heb 13:6; Jas 1:21-25; Jas 2:17; 1 Pet 1:1-2; 1 Jn 2:3-6; 1 Jn 3:4-10,22-24; 1 Jn 5:2-3; 2 Jn 1:6]  

 

Just a Closer Walk with Thee  

 

Hymn lyrics by Anonymous/Unknown

Music by American Melody

 

“For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you” (2 Co. 13:4 NASB).

 

I am weak, but Thou art strong;

Jesus, keep me from all wrong;

I’ll be satisfied as long

As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.

 

Through this world of toil and snares,

If I falter, Lord, who cares?

Who with me my burden shares?

None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.

 

When my feeble life is o’er,

Time for me will be no more;

Guide me gently, safely o’er

To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.

 

Just a closer walk with Thee,

Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,

Daily walking close to Thee,

Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6Ks49apflE

 

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