One of the many advantages of growing up in the mid-west is the various farmhouses that remain in use. Some of these houses are well over 100 years old. They are not the mansion plantation houses in the south, but they are still beautiful in their own humble way.
One thing easily noticed is that many of these old farmhouses have two front doors. They are separated by just five to ten feet. Both doors look identical, same height, same width and even the same door.
The reason for two front entrance doors lies in that one is the formal entrance for when company visits and the other is more casual, for the family only.
I can imagine the formal entrance is kept more tidy and spotless. The floors are most likely not messy, and everything is placed in its correct spot.
The casual side, however, may not be messy but for certain the effort placed on the formal side is not on the casual side.
Think of this in terms of your relationship to Jesus. Philippians 1:6 says, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion on the day of Jesus Christ.”
Last Thursday our discussion was around sanctification. It is the process we are 1. Instantly sanctified at new birth and 2. Progressively sanctified as we live. We are always working towards being more like Jesus, He becomes greater, we become less.
This passage here in Philippians is also passage on sanctification. For those who are saved, it is only because God began that good work. Ezekiel 36:25-27 clearly states it is a work done by God alone.
But for those who are saved, those who have had this good work done in them, you now can work to holiness. How? Because God is at work in you, and He will keep working in you until completion.
The problem for many, and I will speak personally here, sometimes there are 2 entrance doors. One that I wanted Jesus to see, more formal, more together and then the real me. I can’t fool Jesus. In reality, there is ONLY one door to me. Jonah is not the only one who has loved God and tried to hide.
Monday, we will start here and add some thoughts, but for the weekend be challenged with this: what comes to mind when pondering how you can be more holy? That is your starting point to pray and ask the Father, “Help me to grow and be more holy.”
SDG