"This area is set aside for the ordained priests, THE DESCENDANTS OF ZADOK WHO SERVED ME FAITHFULLY AND DID NOT GO ASTRAY WITH THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AND THE REST OF THE LEVITES."
Ezekiel 48:11 (NLT)
• There is a reward for living right.
- If you keep yourself for God, He also will honour you: "If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth, How much more the ungodly and the sinner" (Proverbs 11:31 (NKJV).
- The descendants of Zadok did obey God, and they did not go astray when the people of Israel and other Levites did.
• Be different for God wherever you find yourself: in the place where you work, the neighborhood where you live, among your friends, and in the society at large.
IT is becoming difficult to get genuine and sincere Christians nowadays.
- In fact, sinful Acts are becoming the Norm. LIVING RIGHT is like a shameful thing in the world today!
"And this is not all that is meaningless in our world. In this life, GOOD PEOPLE ARE OFTEN TREATED AS THOUGH THEY WERE WICKED, and wicked people are often treated as though they were good. THIS IS SO MEANINGLESS!"
Ecclesiastes 8:14 (NLT)
• The world may celebrate wickedness, but that does not justify it: "But even though a person sins a hundred times and still lives a long time, I KNOW THAT THOSE WHO FEAR GOD WILL BE BETTER OFF" (Ecclesiastes 8:12 (NLT).
- Some people believe it is difficult for one to live right in this present world.
GOD has not changed, neither His standard has!
WE serve the timeless God. GOD'S silence on any matter does not mean His approval.
• Without Holiness, no one will see God: "Pursue peace with all people, AND HOLINESS, WITHOUT WHICH NO ONE WILL SEE THE LORD" (Hebrews 12:14).
- Some people want to be called ministers of God, and be given titles, but they are not ready to live up to that name.
- If you want to be called after Him, you have to live right—live in purity: "Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “THE LORD KNOWS THOSE WHO ARE HIS,” and, “LET EVERYONE WHO NAMES THE NAME OF CHRIST DEPART FROM INIQUITY" (2 Timothy 2:19).
- Every Christian has a responsibility as a believer and much more as a minister, to live in line with God's Word: "but as He who called you is holy, YOU ALSO BE HOLY IN ALL YOUR CONDUCT, because it is written, “BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY” (1 Peter 1:15,16).
• God honoured the descendants of Zadok because they did not defile themselves: "Depart! Depart! Go out from there, TOUCH NO UNCLEAN THING; Go out from the midst of her, BE CLEAN, YOU WHO BEAR THE VESSELS OF THE LORD" (Isaiah 52:11).
- God will discipline the Leaders who failed to honour Him in their Life: "But now the Lord says: ‘Far be it from Me; FOR THOSE WHO HONOUR ME I WILL HONOUR, AND THOSE WHO DESPISE ME SHALL BE LIGHTLY ESTEEMED" (1 Samuel 2:30).
- He punishes disobedience and rewards faithfulness: "GOD WILL JUDGE US FOR EVERYTHING WE DO, including every secret thing, whether good or bad" (Ecclesiastes 12:14).
- If you do not want to regret at the end of your journey on Earth, live right and walk in the fear of God.
• Let Jesus be your standard, do not make a man your standard: "LOOKING UNTO JESUS, THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH, who for the Joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2).
- Whatever Good you see or observe in whoever you relates with as your mentor, learn it, and shut your eyes to whatever weakness you see: "Beloved, DO NOT IMITATE WHAT IS EVIL, BUT WHAT IS GOOD. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God" (3 John 11).
BE CLEAN, you who bear the vessels of God. - God is TIMELESS, He does not change, and His standard of living right or holiness is still the same.
• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
Peace!