McMahon Life

II Corinthians 6:16b-7:1

“For we are the temple of the living God; as God said
“I will live in them and walk among them.  I will be their God, and they shall
be my people.
Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch nothing unclean;
then I will welcome you, and I will be your father and you shall be my sons
and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and of spirit, making holiness perfect in the fear of God.” [Emphasis added]

Over and over again I find the apostles, the leaders of the church, and Jesus himself imploring the disciples of Jesus, the church, to be different from the world around them, to be set apart, to “come out from” the world, to stand apart, to stand in contrast to.  This is not about standing in judgment over, but about modeling a different type of community – a community in this case marked by being cleased from “every defilement of body and spirit” and “perfect holiness in the fear of God.”

Here we have Paul reminding the Corinthian church of a promise God gave to the Israelite people, a promise expressing his desire to live in and among them, to be their God and their father, a promise that is brought into realization when the people are able to “come out from them, and be separate from them…”

Could it be that our ability to be God’s people, to actually begin to see the realization of the Kingdom of God here on earth, is contingent upon our stepping out from the world?  Could it be that our lifestyle determines whether or not we function in the calling to be the children of God?  That seems to be the promise of God.

“Come out…be separate… then I will welcome you, and I will be your father, and you shall be my sons and daughters…”

Let us therefore, the people of God, earnestly seeking His Kingdom, separate ourselves from the world, not removing ourselves from it, but living differently within.  Let us pursue discipline that facilitates purity, of mind, spirit, and body.  Let us clease ourselves from ungodly talk, seeking and thinking about only what is godly and uplifting.  Paul says later in Philippians 4:8,

“…beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

Let us then be separate, be holy, different from those around us because of what we place our minds on, how we treat each other, and how we respond to adversity.  I think how often it is adversity, conflict, “persecution” – whether spiritual or not – mistreatment, injustice, that evaporates my desire to think on the “such things” that Paul lists.  I think how easily I am distracted from the things of God to consider the things of earth – pursuit of justice (is not God my defender?), pursuit of recognition (is it not God who truly recognizes me?), pursuit of provision, (who then, is truly my provider?), pursuit to fit in.  It is a constant struggle to place myself in the hands of God, my provider, protector, lover, and friend.  But it is truly from that place that I can remain in a presence where I consider the things of God, where I respond in the love of Christ with the attitude of service and generosity – in all occasions, regardless of the fairness.

God, my Savior and redeemer,
forgive me for allowing my mind to think on unholy, unworthy things,
and thereby allowing myself to become distracted from the only thing that really matters: you.
Forgive me from pursuing my own gain, instead of relying on you.
Show me the places in my life where I must “come out from” and “separate from” the world around me.
Give me strength and courage to follow you into holiness.
You are my King.
Amen.