by David Brenneman
"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again. Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me." Philippians 1:21-30.
"Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:1-11.
Most have heard that phrase "You never get a second chance to make a first impression".
Better still..."A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a citadel. With the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied; He will be satisfied with the product of his lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit." Proverbs 18:19-21.
How about going a little bit deeper.
"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:29-32.
Should it make you wonder about those times in life where you participated in saying things, doing things, that were supposedly done in "fun" and left people offended or hurt, scarred even whether or not they revealed that to you?
Even Scripturally speaking there's no escape of the consequences of our actions at times.
I have mentioned before of what I have come to identify as honestly low points in my life where I bowed to peer pressure and participated in belittling others in my younger years. Berating because of their allegiances to others or other things different from my own. It really didn't mean much did it? I mean nobody got hurt did they?
Is it really that big of a deal?
Consider again our opening passages. If Jesus included such teachings for us then it applies to us all.
Our reactions to things are being observed by someone at all times. How we dress if it's modestly or not is observed by someone. How we really feel about others is observed by someone. How we adore people, places and things is observed by someone. What we crave blindly without regard for what anyone else thinks is observed by someone. Those thoughts we have that have never been spoken are being observed by someone. Those things said in "fun" are observed by someone. The intentionally hateful things we have said or done have been observed by someone. The love, the joy, the peace we eagerly seek in others or other things than in our relationship with Jesus are observed by someone.
That someone is Jesus.
The Spirit of God is everywhere. His testimony is absolute with regards to the affairs of mankind.
It is the Spirit who testifies as to whether or not people are saved or not.
The Bible further says that it is the Lord who searches the hearts of mankind. All the time. 24/7 365 days a year...every second of every single minute for everyone who is alive and breathing.
So now...what are you so comfortable doing, saying, thinking...that you read in the Bible you shouldn't be?
The Disciples were commanded to go and make more disciples teaching them all that Jesus commanded. To make them fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. That they would have Him be the forgiver of their sins and the leader of their lives.
Are you aware of this particular passage?
"Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin." James 4:17.
Hmm. No room for misinterpretation there is there?
These so-called fun things in our lives should be filtered by the Word of God. Regardless of how they are...if we give the wrong impression to the world then the world won't see Jesus in us nor will they glorify our Father in Heaven will they?
Even if it isn't by way of the fun things. How we behave in public in everything. How we behave behind closed doors. In the thought to be private places in our hearts and minds...there's to be the reminder that in Christ He is ever present. His Spirit is there...would He approve?
This isn't to say that fun won't happen in our lives by following Jesus. It's that we shouldn't be willing to give in to the things of this world that the Word of God says we shouldn't in order to have it.
You really don't get a second chance to make a first impression.
We either are Ambassadors for Christ or we represent our fallen sin nature to the world. When our lives are reviewed and revealed before Jesus there's but two piles of what comes out of it. Righteousness that goes towards a crown to give back to Jesus or ashes.
Deeds, thoughts and intentions are weighing and tested by the fires of God's truth on that day.
Walking with Jesus, following Jesus, is to learn how to become conformed to His ways. The Disciples gave up their life and lifestyle to be taught how to be and how to live in the world.
Consider a big one. Anger.
"This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God." James 1:19-20.
We add to that pile of ashes later on before Jesus when we give ourselves over to Biblically inappropriate anger.
We, in those times of anger, often act or react and then have costly consequences to deal with that may take a lifetime to mend.
Are the thoughts and intentions, the actions and feelings you want to hold onto going to do anything to honor Jesus and to grow you in Christ? Will people see Jesus in you or see you only?
The Disciples who later became the Apostles...learned to live life in Christ to the degree that there was no mistaking them as Christ-followers. The ill-placed rage and anger of the Pharisees and Sadducees after the resurrection of Jesus at the Apostles came only because they went from 1 problem person to 12 of the exact same type. Then very shortly thereafter over 3,000 came to Christ for salvation and their problem with Christianity grew exponentially.
What are you doing to give the right first impression before those whom God put in your life, your world?
Are you going to be stubborn and not give up parts of your life that are not going to give others the impression that you are a Believer?
Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.
What kind of crown of righteousness that you give to Jesus on that day your life is reviewed is entirely on you.
Your obedience to God's Word adds to that and your disobedience creates ashes.
As the question stands: are you seeking the approval of man or of God in Christ Jesus?
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
No comments:
Post a Comment