Thursday, February 12, 2004

Common And Sacred


I am very careful how I use these two words. It may give the erronoeus idea that the spiritual is above any other aspect of our life. You may say, "But, Of course!" But, let's stop and analyze this for a second. What is our verse really saying.
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

On face value it seems to say that the things of the flesh don't matter. Does it mean that eating, drinking, excercising, breathing fresh air, resting, bathing, and the such are not as important as praying, reading and studying the scripture? You may say, Well is that not what the Bible says? I say, can we truly separate ourselves in compartments between spiritual, emotional, physical and mental? Have we not learned that one aspect affects the others? What does the gospel matter to anyone who is starving? To them heaven and eternity are important if they can provide a meal, right now. That's why Jesus fed the 5,000. When we are fed and rested we can hear about things that pertain to salvation.

Common implies usual everyday quality or frequency of occurrence and may additionally suggest inferiority or coarseness. Sacred then means opposite: dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity. What makes the difference? The Bible says that anywhere were God is, is sacred. Also, anything that God declares to be, is sacred. If God blesses it, it is sacred. Eating every day is common. But, we pray for God to bless our food. Is it common our sacred? We pray for God to bless our days and interactions? Is what we do and our interactions with others sacred or common? You may say, "I am only a factory laborer?" Did you not pray for God to get you that job? Is is common or sacred. Did you not pray to God for a partner? Is your marriage sacred or common? If God did not get you that car, job, house or spouse - guess who did? If God did not bless your plans or actions this day - guess who is?
Feeding out of Jesus' flesh and drinking of His blood goes beyond a Bible study. When we do this we partake of Him and all we are is affected. Our personal lives, our business lives, and our devotional lives are affected. When we feed and drink out of Jesus' flesh and blood the Holy Spirit dwells in us, and we become His temple. Then He starts the work of sanctification in us. He begins to cleanse and purify our characters so that in the end our body temples are worthy of the presence of an indwelling God.
What is truly common is not eating of Jesus' flesh and blood. Rejecting God's message of eternal salvation. Resisting the work that the Holy Spirit does to make us whole physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually is common. And, like most common things they will end up in the biggest, hottest, and most effective land field ever to exist. It is your choice!

The Special Insights web page resides at:
http://www.1888message.org/sabbathschool/