Not a Hint

If you were told that being a Christian was an easy path, then someone wasn’t telling you the truth. There is some truth to the adage, “if it were easy everyone would do it.” No, being a Christian can be challenging. Staying apart from the world, denying our fleshly desires, and going against the culture of society can be difficult. But that is what we are called to do. When Paul wrote to the church of Ephesus, he put it this way in chapter 5 verses 3 through 5:

"But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person - such a man is an idolater - has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."

If you follow Christ, you travel the narrow road, you enter the narrow gate, and the bible tells us that not everyone will find it. It is the wide path that leads to destruction where most people will find themselves. No one is perfect. Not even the best of us are sinless. But we are held to a different standard than the world. Yes, being a Christian can be hard, but it is also rewarding. And we find that out most clearly when we are in step with the Spirit.

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Paul tells us that as believers there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. We may not have Jesus in his physical form walking with us every day, and the world and it’s pull on our human nature may be strong, but we need to strive to meet the standard that God has called us to. It is impossible to do on our own. But all things are possible through Christ who strengthens us. And he tells us that there is no temptation that we will face that he will not provide a way out of. We need to press in to God, to draw near to him and he will draw near to us. Being in step with the Spirit is the only way we can walk in a way that is pleasing to God.