2 Corinthians 6:17-18; 7:1 

¹⁷Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate,” says the Lord. “Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” ¹⁸And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,” says the Lord Almighty. ^7:1Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

Asian

         An Asian man won several competitions in Mathematics worldwide. As expected, prestigious universities in the western world offered him full scholarship but he turned them down. Instead, he shifted to religion and lived as a monk. He was forgotten for a while until he announced that he left the life of a monk and got married and established a startup business.

         He concluded, “A simple life in a community is far gratifying than a secluded life of solitude.” Likewise, Christian life is solitude. God chose us for a purpose. It says in 1 Peter 2:9-10, ⁹You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. ¹⁰Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

         By his grace, God called us out of worldly life and set us apart to live righteously as holy people. God chose us for a special order or function, a royal priesthood. We proclaim the good news of his grace and love. We intercede and help potential believers to reconcile with God through Christ.

         How can we practically prove that our merciful God chose us to be a people belonging to him? We aim to perfect holiness in Christ. Holy means sacred, pure, blameless, saint and set apart specially for godly purposes. Let’s meditate on 1 John 3:2-6,²When Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. ³All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. ⁴Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. ⁵But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. ⁶No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.

         Can anyone stop sinning? How? The Holy Spirit is with us. He warns us when we sin. He helps us seek forgiveness from God. He also guides us in everything we do and behave righteously. For instance: It is right to listen to teachers, abide by the policy or obey our parents. Commands from God are meant to separate obedient believers. Obedience to God favors us.

1.  Favor

            ¹⁷Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate,” says the Lord.“Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”

         In many aspects of life, we compete for best result. And it is favorable to follow the rules. God set the rules for us to come out of darkness and be separated, why? God designed favorable adventures for his children, and we can explore them in Christ. How strong do you believe that reality?

         In sport competitions—basketball, baseball, football, hockey, or even billiard, there are elimination rounds, then semi-finals and final games. All participants try their best effort to reach the next level. The higher the level they can reach, the better the compensation or award they can expect.

         Seriously now, let us internalize what it declares in 2 Timothy 2:2-5.

²The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. ³Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ⁴No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. ⁵Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules.

         What is the rule here? “Entrust the things we heard to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” In short, we are instructed to make disciples just as Timothy was discipled by Apostle Paul. So, we share the message of reconciliation and make disciples. We are instructed also to teach everything that the Lord commanded us to do like witnessing.

Franchise

         Probably, smart business people learned business strategy from the Scripture. Which one? Businesses like restaurants sell franchise. What is a franchise? It’s a license or authorization to operate a company. Franchise holders, franchisors or owners of the brand provide resources for buyers of franchise or franchisees to operate a particular business accordingly.

         If the owner of the brand sold more franchises, he profits more gains. Of course, it also favors buyers of franchise to operate popular brand. They would simply implement business strategy and use the same products to expect beneficial results. Franchise has similarity to making disciple. Right?

         All we need to do is follow the Lord’s instruction. First, we testify for how Christ transformed our life. Testifying for Christ is actually a strategy to discern potential believers. Potential believers are interested to know more about Christ because they were already prepared by the Lord to learn.

         Are you eager to teach about your faith? Listen. Anyone can think of bright ideas, methods or promotions how to attract people but most often there is disappointment when expectations fail. What could be a problem?

         Together, let us seriously learn from Mark 9:5-7, ⁵Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” ⁶He did not know what to say, they were so frightened. ⁷Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

         Peter suggested a favorable idea. But the Lord ignored him. We also can come up with great ideas to serve the Lord, but unless inspired by the Holy Spirit, God rejects them. So, what could we do? We are instructed by our heavenly Father to listen attentively to his Son Jesus Christ.

2.  Father

           ¹⁸And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,” says the Lord Almighty.

         How is your relationship with your parents? Parents can be negligent. But surely, responsible parents take good care of their children. God our Father is love. He is the source of love, and he loved us. He designed for us the best adventure we can experience in Christ. Together, let’s reflect on John 3:16, ¹⁶God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

         Jesus Christ is one and only most precious Son to God the Father. Yet, he sacrificially gave his precious Son Jesus Christ to be tortured and died as punishment for our sins. We believe that Jesus sacrificed to save us from eternal torture, and he also assures us of eternal life with him.

         What is your personal understanding about eternal life? How should we explain to ordinary person what Jesus prayed in John 17:1-3? ¹Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. ²For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. ³Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 

         Eternal life is knowing God the Father and Jesus Christ. Originally, the term translated as “know” is more than head knowledge. To know God is first hand intimate experience similar to intimate relationship of husband and wife. You know your wife can cook but your knowledge grows deeper when you personally see your wife cook, and taste the food she cooked.

         God is eternal. To know about God by reading the Scripture is head knowledge. But when we follow his instructions, we experience his grace. We grow in our trust in him. Our relationship with God as Father becomes more intimate. Intimate relationship with God our heavenly Father happens only when we follow his instructions and listen to his precious Son Jesus.

         Let’s learn from Luke 10:40-42, ⁴⁰Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” ⁴¹“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴²but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

         Martha tried to serve the Lord but she was distracted. Martha wanted her example of service for Mary to follow. Christ may have appreciated that Martha prepared dinner for everyone. But Martha worried and upset with Mary. So, the Lord told Martha clearly that Mary who was listening to him is better than distracted preparation for dinner. Many of us are like Martha.

         Many of us like to serve the Lord, but we are distracted, worried and upset that we may not finish our task. We should learn to listen like Mary. Listening to the Lord helps us discern how we may properly serve God.

         It’s wise to serve the Lord properly. Together, let’s sincerely reflect on Ephesians 5:15-17, ¹⁵Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

         To know the will of God and properly serve him is wise. How is that? If you’re in a restaurant with your friend, you will ask what your friend wants to eat, and that’s what you order. But, if you order food without knowing that your friend has allergies, that’s not proper. Dear friends, it’s wise to listen attentively to the voice of the Lord so that we can serve him properly.

3.  Friend

           ^7:1Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

         God promised to receive us as his children and he will be our Father, if we separate ourselves from uncleanness. Perfecting holiness practically proves our separation as children of God. We want to be holy like God. We want to be purified from everything that can infect our body and spirit.

         Friends, it favors us to have firm confidence to the fulfillment of God’s promises. When we enter heaven, how wonderful would that moment be? And God says, “My children, welcome to heaven!” To be welcomed face to face by our heavenly Father, that would be a grand celebration in heaven.

Arrival to Canada

         When we came to Canada in 2009, we arrived in Winnipeg just past midnight. At the Winnipeg airport, church members eagerly waited for us. Unfamiliar faces smiling and welcomed us. I cannot remember all the faces of those who waited to welcome us. But certainly, it was wonderful sight to reminisce and remember. I have cherished that moment for a longer time.

         It will be more wonderful moment when Christ returns and takes into heaven. We will see brothers and sisters in Christ, friends, relatives and angels too. Will you be excited to see the Lord God Almighty face to faces? Just imagine what will happen as it declares in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17,

         ¹⁵According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

         Are you ready to see Jesus face to face? When Christ returns in our lifetime, we will be transformed into immortality. We will be transported into heaven. We will see God face to face. We will hear his voice audibly. We will hear songs of angels and believers praising God night and day. Can you imagine how amazing that experience will be? No boring moment, ey?

         But before judgment day, we will reign with Christ for millennium or thousand years on earth. How could we explain to ordinary person what it declares in Revelation 20:6? ⁶Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.

         We hope to reign with Christ for a thousand years. Therefore, we aim to perfect holiness. These days, Christians are bullied somewhere. When Christ gives us authority to reign with him for a thousand years, that would be a great time for us. Together, let us prayerfully do our best to perfect holiness while we wait for Christ to return in our generation. Amen!

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