Training-Living God-Man Living

Training us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in the present age, Awaiting the blessed hope, even the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, (Titus 2:12-13, RecVer)

As we have been practising and living the small-group living in our locality, the shepherding among the saints become more and more intimate. Younger and older ones alike, we learn mutual shepherding in a way of life. Thank the Lord for His leading in the way of shepherding. 

Yesterday, our small-group meeting was very apt as we read a message from the Life Lessons on awaiting the Lord’s coming. The revelation showed all of us the way we have to take and live as a preparation for the Lord’s soon coming. 

My views have been renewed, and it has become much clearer to me now to know the subjective experiences I need to experience in my daily life. I cannot be passively waiting for the Lord’s coming, I must actively exercise to live a God-man life daily. And an exercise of a God-man living requires my active cooperation with God to live the life He desires me to live. The Bible verses we read and pray-read were very timely. It was the Word for me.

Live Soberly

I must exercise strict self restraint in my daily living. This needs my active cooperation with God in taking up the cross, deny my self, and follow the Lord. Without such sobermindedness, the enemy will have his way to intrude into my living. I cannot be loose, but exercise strict control over my self by the divine life supply within me. This kind of sober living is towards myself.

Do you not know that those who run on a racecourse all run, but one receives the prize? Run in this way, that you may lay hold. And everyone who contends exercises self-control in all things; they then, that they may receive a corruptible crown, but we, an incorruptible. I therefore run in this way, not as though without a clear aim; I box in this way, not as though beating the air; But I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest perhaps having preached to others, I myself may become disapproved. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27, RecVer)

Lord, grace me to run the race by buffetting my body and win the prize.

Live Righteously 

Only God is the righteous God objectively, but I must live out the righteousness of God subjectively. This righteous living is toward others. I must exercise to be right in everything with others; in words, in deeds, in attitude, in relationships, in money matters, and the likes. This righteous living will be a testimony to others especially to the ones I am dealing with. 

Live Godly

Godly living is the living out of God. Since God is in me already, yes in the spirit of the believers, it takes one to exercise the mingled spirit to live by the Spirit to live out God. This godly living is toward God.

Theses are the three positive exercises I need to exercise daily as I prepare for the Lord’s coming. Yet, negatively too, there are things I need to avoid and be cautious about it by all means.

Denying Ungodliness 

Living godly life is an exact opposite of ungodliness. Therefore, I must deny ungodliness in every area of my life. I must present my entire body, in fact, every member of my body to God.

I exhort you therefore, brothers, through the compassions of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be fashioned according to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and well pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2, RecVer)

Denying Wordly Lust

The world we live in is the world full of lust that can defile us easily. Everything can be worldly if not handled and done in the Spirit. This requires a moment by moment exercise of living by the Spirit. What a warning! For this, we definitely need the grace of God.

And for all these exercises, there is a need for training. In fact, training is to exercise to deny ungodliness and worldly lust on the negative side, and training also is to live soberly towards oneself, righteously towards others, and godly towards God.

And the ultimate purpose and goal of such a training-living is to be overcomers to bring the Lord Jesus back to fulfill God's eternal purpose.

Lord, grace me to live a training life day by day all the days of my life as a preparation for Your coming again.