WEDNESDAY’S WORD – SPOT – 3/7/18 Sadell Bradley – New Life Covenant Cincinnati

“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself UNSPOTTED in the world.” (James 1:27) Often we focus in this verse on caring for the most disenfranchised around us, which is good. Today, I’m going to explore the ‘C’ clause: developing a faultless piety that includes the practice of remaining unpolluted by this world’s system.  A SPOT is a small mark or stain; figuratively, a moral blemish or stain. Romans 12:1-2 admonishes us not to be conformed to this world’s system (copying it’s behavior, customs and patterns). We are to be transformed by renewing of our minds with the Word of God in order to demonstrate the will of God (what is good, acceptable and perfect). We do this by presenting our bodies on the altar as living sacrifices unto God, which is our spiritual act of worship – the least we can do for all Christ has done for us. Our lives are not ours.

The first images that came to my mind were age spots. As babies, our skin is smooth

and pliable. Over the years, wear and tear, and overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays causes skin to produce excessive melanin, which results in spots. Aging also causes the loss of elasticity, which brings about wrinkles. There is a striking difference between these two hands. The change is not immediate. It happens gradually over time, through day in and day out contact with the elements. The more subtle exposure by just being out in it, the more likely it will show. Some choose not to go out into the elements, others cover themselves to prevent being spotted.

We are the Body of Christ, which makes this a great metaphor. Throughout the epistles we are advised to ready ourselves for the return of the LORD Jesus Christ, anticipating a new heaven and earth.“So then, dear friends, since you are  

looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.” (2 Peter 3:14) Christ will present Himself a Bride and return for a Church, “without spot or wrinkle or any such thing.”  (Ephesians 5:27) There’s a war going on! It’s a war for your life and your soul (your mind, will, emotions, choices). The thief wants to kill you, steal from you, and destroy you. (John 10:10) He will use any tactic – even slow subliminal erosion by exposure to what you see, hear and experience to take you out. He is to be resisted, not indulged. (James 4:7) Paul instructs Timothy to “Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called…keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our LORD Jesus Christ.”  (1 Timothy 6:12-14) This world and its stuff is so tempting and distracting, let’s not allow it to suck us in and take us over.