In last week’s episode, I gave two examples I recently discovered of the Replacement Principle, stated succinctly in this passage:
2 Timothy 2:22 ISV Flee from youthful passions. Instead, pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love, and peace together with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart.
Note in this passage that Paul did not merely say to run away from lust, but he also said what to run toward (godly character qualities) and whom to run with (other believers).
To summarize: The Replacement Principle states that we are to turn our focus away from what we are NOT to do, and turn our focus toward what we ARE to do (and who we are in Christ), and join with others who have the same focus.
Today, I want to elaborate on the last part of this principle: pursuing godly character qualities “together with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart.”
There are MANY verses that elaborate on this important principle of joining with others who have the same focus. As has been said often, we cannot live the abundant life alone. As believers, God made us to need each other. We each have different gifts and callings to contribute to the body of Christ. In fact, Paul used the word picture of the physical body to describe the church as the body of Christ:
1 Corinthians 12:14-18 NASB For the body is not one member, but many. (15) If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. (16) And if the ear says, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. (17) If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? (18) But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.
Did you catch that? God has placed each of the members in the body, with unique gifts and callings and roles, to collectively serve the body. And this is “just as He desired” and designed it to be. We need one another!
Here are some other passages that emphasize the importance of spending time with other believers who have the same focus:
Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. [Meeting together (in worship services, in small groups, in church service opportunities, etc.) is a powerful way to encourage and serve one another.]
Romans 12:10 ESV Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. [Showing honor to someone goes beyond merely loving out of duty. Showing honor recognizes someone as being made in the image of God, and having intrinsic value worthy of our respect. When we view others as God views them, it makes it easier to be around those that we might normally find a little difficult to fellowship with.]
Acts 2:42 ESV And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. [Live, in-person fellowship (such as praying together or eating meals together) is an important way to encourage and serve one another.]
1 Peter 4:9 ESV Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. [It is important to not only serve one another, but to do it with a cheerful attitude.]
1 John 1:7 ESV But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. [As we individually draw near to God and walk in the light He gives us, we will in the process be drawn near to each other.]
Will you join me in purposing to turn my focus away from what I am NOT to do, turn my focus toward what I AM to do, and join with others who have the same focus?
Today, I encourage you to “Reflect on This.”