Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob. (Psalm 24:3-6).
Having received the Lord Jesus Christ, as the Lord, our Savior, we are made righteous. We have access to the throne of grace to express ourselves in God’s presence through the Lord Jesus Christ. However, living in sin prevents us from obtaining His favor. The Lord does not hear the request of sinners,” If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not listen to me” (Psalm 66:18).
After we accepted the Lord Jesus Christ, our new mindset should be toward the path of righteousness, through daily reading of the Word and walking in obedience to the latest revelations of the Word in our lives. Paul admonished,” therefore, as ye have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ, walk-in Him rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” (Colossians 2:6-7).
During the process of our walk with God, we may get caught up with some ethical situations along our path, not excluding the Christian environment or the Church. There was a controversy among the Corinthian Church regarding the Christians making clicks of the apostles. Some claimed to belong to Paul and others to Apollo, a situation where they made idols of the favored apostles in their lives- and devotion to them. Paul had to correct the Christians about this carnality of enjoying strife and division concerning the work of God in the Church.
Paul denied the Corinthian Christians’ claim of belonging to him or Apollo. He reminded them apostles are insignificant in their lives, though he planted and Apollo watered; but God gave the increase. Also, he made them realize Jesus is the only foundation anyone is to build upon, and any other building or emphasis should be upon the foundation already laid, Jesus Christ. Furthermore, Paul instructed Apostles are God’s laborers and work their best unto God according to the grace given to them. On the last day, at the judgment, any other foundation upon Christ’s work will be tested by fire; a valuable work unto God will stand, while a flimsy or hypocritical one will be eradicated by fire. Every piece that withstands the fire will receive a reward, but the one destroyed will become a loss to the owner. (1Corinthians 3:1-14).
What manner of mind are we to have in the service of God and man? Do we idolize a church group as the final authority, or Jesus Christ as the only foundation? Did the Pastor or leader lay His life down for the Church to follow?
Paul said, follow me as I emulate Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1). We can interpret this statement another way, as do not follow me when I’m off the track of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul, while striving toward Christ’s character, said,” and be found in Him, not having my righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;” (Philippians 3:9).
As we walk with the Lord, interact with Christian leaders and friends, we are to walk in all diligence and soberness, having the Word of God as our guide to decipher the truth, wherever we are. Jesus while emphasizing the relevance of Himself (the Word), said,” I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me, you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this, my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so, you will be my disciples” (John 15:4-11).
Only the Lord understands everyman’s motives, including the Church leaders, pastors, and Christian groups, for who we require their fellowships. However, as we walk intimately, diligently with the Lord, and in the light of His Word, the Holy Spirit helps us to discern the truth, and we can distinguish the wrong from right.
The best leader can still make errors.
There are still wolves in sheep clothing in the Christian environment; diligence in the Christian walk guides the Christian against misleading information as the Lord Jesus Christ instructed,” Ye shall know the truth, and the fact shall make you free” (John 8:32).
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