All too often, we as men worry about what is important to people rather than what’s important to God. People only care that the outside of the cup–meaning our body–is clean, even if the inside is filthy. We often strive for the approval of men rather than living for the honor of God. As men of faith, we often talk about the light of Christ yet live in private darkness. But our faith walk is never about the outward appearance that man sees; it’s about what God sees.
The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
I Samuel 16:7
Man judges by the outward appearance, while God judges what’s done when we are alone! Paul talks about training his heart to be in conformity with God’s will.
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
1 Corinthians 9:25
Before Christ, we lived in darkness and were on a path to death and eternal separation from God. By His grace, we now live in the light, and all our past sins no longer bar us from heaven and a loving relationship with our Heavenly Father. Yet we still operate in this fleshly body. We are men with an eternal purpose but operate in the same body that once was against the very will of God. This is the reason God sent His Son to die: so that He could pay the penalty we could not pay. While the penalty of our sin is now paid in full, God still left us in our earthly bodies for now. But as men of faith, we aim to please our Heavenly Father by reminding ourselves daily of our gift of salvation, and by honoring Him with our actions and words.
While the outside of the cup that is our bodies may seem clean to others, we are constantly at work cleaning the mess on the inside, which is only visible to God–the only One who can judge what is unseen. As we walk with Him, the things that were once important to us will fade away. Yet even as they fade, we still must daily examine His will versus ours. A great author once said that our walk by faith is like a musician who cares little for the audience’s acceptance but only for the conductor’s approval. If our goal in life is to make sure the audience is happy and entertained, this will only leave us worn out, disillusioned, and–even worse–failing to do the Father’s will.
If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
John 15:19
Men, because we have been chosen by God, there is a great internal battle between the Holy Spirit and our flesh.
For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
Galatians 5:17
At salvation, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit, marked as children of God. Our bodies became the very temple of God. Because we are His children, the Holy God gives us the strength to have victory in our struggle with the flesh. We now have no charges of sin against us. While we may still live with the consequences of our sin while we’re on this earth, God sees us as blameless because of Jesus’ sacrifice for us.
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.
Psalm 51:16-17
God desires obedience and a contrite heart, not sacrifice! Men, obedience is our faith in action.
Seeking to do God’s will not only glorifies the Father, but it also brings an eternal reward. The very work being done on our flesh solidifies that we are God’s children. Paul talks about disciplining his body so he doesn’t become disqualified for the work God has called him to do.
But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
I Corinthians 9:27
Men, we are to apply this same principle. As God’s children, our salvation is secure, but we remain stuck in an old flesh that needs to be retrained. Before salvation, we lived under the cloud of darkness, satisfying our flesh whenever we pleased. Now we live in the light, but we must stay on guard and not be controlled by the fleshly desires that still linger from our old life. This is not easy or instant. Our struggle in the flesh will continue as believers, yet this very struggle is a testimony that the Holy Spirit is at work within us. He doesn’t leave us to live a life of failure to control our flesh. We can now walk in faith, not by sight or the flesh. Remember that Paul, even as a man who had a full encounter with God, still struggled to do God’s will.
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
Romans 7:15
Without the Holy Spirit living inside us, we wouldn’t understand that our struggle is actually evidence that God is cleaning up the inside of Our Cups! We must never lose sight of the fact that our struggle in the flesh is a sign that the Spirit of God is constantly at work in us and rebuilding us from the inside out! So, as we consider our old self that cared more about the outside of the cup, let us remember that as men of God, the real proof of our walk with Christ is what’s on the inside–and that’s what God cares about. No more striving for man’s approval, only God’s will!
Have a great weekend.
Steve Thomas
RTM