For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. Romans 2:13
Many years ago when my father was working in Newfoundland, he would tell us of the wonderful people he worked with there in the construction camp. But there was one aspect of those workers that he found unusual. Those men who stayed in the camp during the weekend would spend the weekend drinking and partying. But on Sunday morning, they would all make their way to a nearby Catholic church for the weekly service there. Then they would come back to the camp and resume their celebrations. It was as though they felt an hour of being pious was enough to make up for a weekend of revelry. I can assure you that those Newfoundland construction workers were not alone in their attitude. Most of the mainstream denomination churches are experiencing steady declines in attendees these days, but most of those who do attend are there primarily to soothe their consciences because of their behaviour during the past week. And as long as they lard the collection plate well, their so-called spiritual leaders give them little rebuke. Sadly, too many Chritians seem to be affected by this same attitude.
How different are you on the Lord’s Day compared to the rest of the week? Of course, on the Lord’s day, you dress differently from your work or school clothes, and the clothes you relax or play in. And you attend the meetings during the day. But what about your language during the week, do you tend to slip into the loose language of the world around you? Do you go to places where you would never want the other Christians to see you? Do you skirt the edges of legality in business dealings, or cheat on taxes (or school tests), or associate with friends who regularly engage in destructive lifestyles and habits? What about those ministry messages you hear during the meetings, do you ever think of them and how they should impact your life? What about the Scriptures and the devotional messages that read (or that you push aside), do you heed the guidance that they have for you? Which half of our text do you fall into?
We are justified before God as far as our sins are concerned. That is the great wonder of our salvation. But God would have you and me to life out our justification every day, for His glory. And He would have you and me live out our justification as a testimony to the lost souls around us, and as an example to other Christians.
We have heard what our Lord expects of us. Are we doers of it? -Jim MacIntosh