Living Soberly

Titus 2: 11 - 14, For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. NKJV

When Jesus died on the cross at Calvary, it wasn't just for our sins. He died so that when we come to faith in Him, we can live our new lives for Him, and He will be glorified through us. Jesus was a type of Seed. Consequently, we, who believe in Him as our Savior are His fruit. Once we accept Jesus' redemptive work as payment for our sins, we are the benefactors of God's grace; God has an inheritance in us. In other words, when we become born again, it is no longer all about us; all things now connect to God. Nevertheless, how will we choose to live our lives after coming to faith is God's inheritance? If we should choose to be entangled in the cares and pleasures of this world, then God will receive no glory for the work that He has accomplished in our souls.

We are commanded in God's Word to live soberly. This term simply means that we are to live holy and undefiled having a sound-mind and being self-controlled under the power of the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, only the believers who fear the Lord will be willing to exercise self-control or discipline while living in this present world.

I can't write about this subject and not be reminded of the sin of Samson and David. They were both godly and God-fearing men who allowed their flesh nature first to seduce them and then intoxicate them into committing sin with no hesitancy. Unfortunately, because of their evil actions, great sorrow and shame took over their lives. They were reaping what they had sown; Romans 3 instructs us that the wages of sin is death. 

We're living in very troubling times today; even so, we must be spiritually minded so that we can discern the times in which we're living. Many are wondering where God is in all the madness and calamity we're seeing. Some are even considering that God has washed His hands of us. However, if we know scripture, we know that those whom God loves, He also chastens or corrects. God is allowing this generation to reap a small portion of what it has sown in the flesh, to shock us out of our slumber or drunken stupor. Even so, as a result of the correction that God has allowed, many believers have given themselves over to fear because they don't know the ways of God. 

If we read Matthew 25, we will understand that the Bridegroom had to awaken the ten virgins prior to His return. Five of them were wise and were prepared. Nonetheless, they fell asleep while waiting. However, five of them were foolish. The unwise virgins misused their time while waiting on their Bridegroom; they did nothing to get prepared. Nevertheless, what does this parable mean to believers in the world today? It means that we must not allow ourselves to be seduced into living for the pleasures of self. Instead, we must be about our Father's business serving the Lord with whole hearts. If we commit, and we live according to God's will, His Spirit will keep us from falling asleep spiritually and entering into temptation. Those who drink do so at night. We must not adopt and adapt to the ways of the world just because it appears that God has forsaken us. It's only a test to see whether or not we will obey God's commandments (Deuteronomy 8).

Are you a Christian, who is concerned or maybe even worried about the direction society is headed in our generation? Are you living everyday to serve God and to fulfill your destiny in Christ? The Lord is calling us to awake and to arise from our slumber. He is calling His church back to their First-love so that we can bring Him glory in the earth. God isn't trying to destroy the world. He is working very diligently to prevent Satan and the flesh of man from destroying it. God wants to sober up His people so that He can continue blessing us. Even though we have already chosen to accept Christ, we must choose this day Whom we will serve. Let's glorify God by living a sober and blessed life until Jesus returns.

Living Every Day for Christ,
Pastor Asa Dockery