READ: JAMES 3:1-8
Today, we shall examine the characteristics of
the sanctified life. First, the sanctified person is time-conscious. Any
Christian who has no regard for time is not sanctified (Ecclesiastes 3:1-4). A
sanctified wife keeps to time because she is aware that her husband is also
time conscious. Anyone who is not time-conscious is not sanctified and anyone
who is not sanctified will commit sin. A man who cannot keep to time is not a
man of integrity and thus cannot be trusted. The sanctified also knows that
there are times for different things. There is a time to laugh and there is a
time to weep. There is a time to be sober and there is a time to be cheerful.
Second, the sanctified believer is organised. You cannot be a favourite of the
King of kings without everything being in order. Our God is a God of order.
There is order in Heaven. Many of us are disorganised and have to make
restitution. In 1 Corinthians 6:12-13, Paul says, “All things are lawful for me, but
all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be
brought under the power of any. Foods for the stomach and the stomach for
foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual
immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.” Not everything
that you want to do is expedient. You must do the essentials according to
priorities. You have to worship and praise God first in the morning. You do not
begin by first asking Him for something, but praise Him. Third, the sanctified
is always quiet. The sanctified is not talkative. Believers must be grave and
quiet. A Christian who talks non-stop may be born-again but he is not
sanctified. As the matter of fact, someone who talks too much needs
deliverance. The Bible says, in Proverbs 10:19: “In the multitude of words sin is
not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.” If you learn to
keep your mouth shut, you are a wise person. James 1:19 says: “Therefore,
my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to
wrath.” Someone has rightly observed that the reason why God gave one
mouth and two ears is that we must hear twice before we speak once. I think
this is correct. Many of us hear once and we speak twice. This is dangerous.
Ask the Lord to change your disposition today.
MEMORIZE: PROVERBS 10:9 –He who walks
with integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his way will become known.
