by David Brenneman
"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." James 1:2-8.
"Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death." James 1:12-15.
"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. Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." James 1:19-27.
A different attitude, a different way is what lies ahead of those who have come to Christ for salvation.
We shouldn't fit in with the world around us. We should be recognizable as follows of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.
When people go to a Consolate of a foreign country there's a good chance that people recognize the Ambassadors of that respective nation.
We are to be Ambassadors for Christ in this world while we yet live in it. Interestingly enough it's quite often times that our dealings with sin and our sin nature that should tell the world to whom we belong.
An Ambassador of another country is a distinct individual in public as well as should be in private. They adhere to the laws and rules of their native country as much as is possible as they represent their nation.
What does your life show of how much effort you put into presenting yourself as an Ambassador of Jesus Christ? When you pray, how do you do it? What do you pray for? Do you ask for wisdom? Ask for forgiveness? Ask for help?
When you are out and about are you cognizant of your position as a Christ-follower? Do you blend into the world in which you live or are you different?
Saw a quote from the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia "God assumed from the beginning that the wise of the world would view Christians as fools and He has not been disappointed. If I have brought any message today it is this: Have the courage to have your wisdom regarded as stupidity. Be fools for Christ. And have the courage to suffer contempt of the sophisticated world.".
The Disciples learned through the interactions of Jesus and the Pharisees and Sadducees, the Scribes of their day that being different from what was expected of Jews was going to hurt. They learned to embrace what Jesus taught them and did not shrink back from it.
Being a doer of the word is going to cause you to stand out. Not giving the devil a foothold is going to make you stand out. Standing firm in the Lord is going to cause you to lose relationships at times.
As quoted before "I would rather stand with Jesus and be judged by the world than to stand with the world and be judged by Him."
Being different in our world for Christ is often hardly tolerated, especially when those living life in all their utter sinfulness demand that all accept them for who they identify as being.
Do you represent your Savior and Lord well in your part of the world?
Or are you unrecognizable among those whom you are with?
We are to live life in Christ Jesus in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.
We may indeed live a life of adversity or a life that isn't or a life with a mix of both...live it to the glory of God in Christ Jesus.
My choices along these lines of trying my best to represent Jesus is to not get swallowed up in things such as rivalries. To not waste my time on drama television shows. To not get mixed up into politics to the point my blood pressure goes up.
What I am intentionally doing is praying more. Being intentional in my Bible reading and if any extra book reading its by Godly men and for the purpose of growing in Christ. If I wear a shirt with something on it I want it to point people to Jesus. I really don't want to wear the logos of corporations or sports teams because those absolutely do not point people to Jesus.
I share these things because of the intentionality of my desire to please Jesus. I always have known its going to cost me. Cost me friends and possibly family. Going to cost me opportunities. Going to cost me in relationships. The Scriptures say to count the cost.
We all go through adversity of various types and kinds. How we do shows ourselves and the world to whom we belong.
Representation of ourselves to this fallen world is going to hurt when our enemy is attacking us because and only because we are Christ-followers.
What are you doing in your life to show that you indeed are an Ambassador of Jesus Christ? Are you wearing something appropriate to your calling in Christ that isn't? As aptly pointed out...you never get a second chance to make a first impression.
Are you speaking as one who follows Jesus? Are you behaving as one who believes God's Word?
In truth nobody really cares if you dress up like they do. It's not really going to tell them much. They really aren't going to believe you are different from the world if you talk like they do.
"For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-31.
The Spirit of God who is at work in us is breaking up the hard ground of our hearts. We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them. Are you? Do you?
Also from James: "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4.
What do you look like in a mirror?
Do you see one whom represents Christ well or do you see someone who is doing their best to fit into the world around you? Are you running from the lessons that are yours to learn from the Spirit or are you there to learn? Are you hiding your being a Christ-follower or does the world know you are?
Paul wrote to all to be sure of your salvation in Christ. To stand firm in what is right, pure and true in Christ.
So what say you about all of this?
Any Ambassador of any nation that does not represent their nation well is recalled and dismissed from their high position. When they apply or are called to be one they are explicitly instructed as to just what this entails. Even they are told not to expect outsiders to understand.
Do people see your life in Christ Jesus in such a way that they glory your Father in Heaven?
It's a powerful thought: If you were with Jesus during those many teaching times. Would you be included with them in having a hardened heart?
Embrace the world or embrace Christ.
"Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matthew 16:24-26.
Will you be ashamed of how you lived your life in the presence of Jesus when you give an account of it before Him? Will He tell you "Well done!" or will He have something less appealing to say to you? Jesus said that for some all their life will go up in smoke and all that they will have is the salvation they got from Him.
We are to be different...are you?
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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