11/16/2017
Are you a great man or woman of God? Do you have stripes on your sleeve for all to see, as you live the years of your faith for everyone to marvel at? Is your goal for each day to show those around you how mightily you serve, or the pious nature of your calling? If so, then stop the pompous religiosity and seek out humility... seek out Jesus and lose the notoriety of practice.
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV
The Corinthian Christians were largely gentile, but there were also circumcised Jews among them who ate according to the Jewish food laws and behaved in their ways of the Jewish faith. This was a matter of religious piety to them, but also a matter of pride as it separated them from the gentiles. Paul’s mission became to free them from the chains of the law, but more than that, to make them accepting to their brothers and sisters; the gentile Christians.
Do we carry around that trait of separation in us today? Do we have certain “laws” that we use within our church to establish a cast system? Are there greater and lesser among us? If so, listen to Paul as he continues to write...
“Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.”
1 Corinthians 10:32-33 ESV
As I was reading my devotional this morning it had to do with placing God before ourselves. It spoke of serving Him without fanfare, and by joining all of those who seek Him into one body... to unite and not divide the church. We are to live our lives in Him amidst other humans, and in a world filled with humanity.
“The test of the life of a saint is not success in Christian work as the aim; the aim is to manifest the glory of God in human life, to live the life hid with Christ in God in human conditions. Our human relationships are the actual conditions in which the ideal life of God is to be exhibited.” - Oswald Chambers
So how do we go about this? How can we successfully love the sinners as we gently help them lose the sin? Well, we don’t point at Mt. Everest and say... “When you have summited that, then you will know Jesus!”, no, we begin with softly rolling hills and demonstrate the presence of Christ within us in a way that they feel able to follow. We encourage them with our humility in faith and tell them that the least will be greatest.
“But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Matthew 19:30 ESV
Isn’t this what scripture tells us to do? Aren’t we meant to lead others through this journey even as Jesus leads us? Our faith isn’t meant to be a skydiving lesson that begins by our being pushed alone from a plane, and forced to succeed or fail in a few harrowing moments. Our faith is a journey by foot... long and within our ability to accomplish, and we make it by walking together, guided by the Word of God, and the life of Christ as demonstrated by the saints around us.
Jesus spoke of a physical child, but weren’t his words also metaphorically speaking of a child in faith?
“and said to them, "Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great."”
Luke 9:48 ESV
The goal is not to raise up children that will always be less than we are, but children that exceed our wildest dreams. Our greatest hope for those new in faith should be that they one day have a greater faith than we have. We should want them to stand on our shoulders, and see further.
“"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”
John 14:12 ESV
Is your pride in faith a stumbling block to you, and others? Have you earned your reward here on earth by the sacrifice of your heavenly treasure? Do you wear your calling like a badge of honor, having lost your humility and servant’s heart? Search yourself for these answers, and become one of the humble servants of God that others see through... become a nondescript and unobtrusive glass jar that allows those around you to see God within you without paying attention to the vessel itself.
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for your presence in my life, and for filling the amphora of my soul with your great mercy and kindness. Father I thank you for flowing from me, and obscuring my humble design with the golden honey of your grace. Let your glory be all that is seen when those new in faith look to me during our journey. Let your Son Jesus Christ be the compass by which we travel Lord, and your light be the star that we follow home. In you I find my reward, and in you is stored my treasure, never let me lose sight of this truth Holy Father. Never let me confuse the success you have through me with my own, and grant me the humility that is required to be of service to you always. There is no greatness that eclipses you Father, and all should see your glory as we trek along your way. Praised be your name forever, and great is your mercy as you lead us into the grace you have placed before us.
Rich Forbes