Flee Sin, Pursue Righteousness
The Active Call of Discipleship
Sometimes it seems like we only talk about “what not to do” in the fight against sin. Now, don’t get me wrong, there is much effort to be expended in the avoiding or stopping of sin in your life. The issue, however, is that many times we leave the conversation there. Stop getting drunk! Stop having sex with people you are not married to! Stop lying and gossiping about one another! Stop being greedy!
The Scripture does not stop with the “don’t” part of the conversation. Paul explains, “But flee from these things, you many of God; and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.” (1 Tim 6:11). When you read the ethical instructions in the New Testament there is a regular refrain of replacement. We are to put off the old man, and put on the new man. We are to take off the garments of sin and put on the garments of righteousness. You will only succeed in removing sinful habits from your life by replacing them with godly habits. Now, look back at 1 Timothy 6:11. Paul tells us to flee from these things (sin) and instead pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. The words “flee” and “pursue” both imply the expending of effort. I must run away from one and actively run toward another. What are you pursuing? What are you chasing after? What are you expending effort, energy, and resources to obtain? When someone “pursues” a degree it means that they put forth much mental, emotional, physical, and financial effort to obtain that degree. Classes must be paid for and attended. Tests must be taken and papers must be written. The goal is the degree, but that goal will not happen by passive waiting. An Olympian will not win gold by passively waiting for the victory to be given to her. She must train diligently, sacrifice, and persevere to obtain the prize. Yet, how many times do we go about the activity of following Jesus with a passive frame of mind? We show up to church once a week but that comprises the bulk of our “pursuit of Jesus.” Flee sin by actively pursuing righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. The word “pursue” implies focused, concentrated action. It means leveraging your time and expending the mental, emotional physical, and financial effort necessary to obtain righteousness or godliness or faith. Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 4:7, “On the other hand discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.” Train yourself to be godly. Train your heart by means of specific exercises and activities to be godly. A righteousness of life, godliness in demeanor and character, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness will not happen by osmosis or without effort. You must pursue these qualities. Have you stopped to write down a plan for your spiritual formation? Have you made a plan for cultivating righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness? What habits do you need to incorporate? What habits need to be replaced? What are the specific actions you need to do in order to “pursue”? Following Jesus is not passive osmosis. Following Jesus is grace empowered action. Are you pursuing the character of Jesus or some other agenda for your life? |
