When I drive up to my house, I take note of the property next door. The landscaping is nicely done, the fence in good repair - in all, very attractive. On the other side of my house, it is a different story. The lawn is neglected, the edges are not trimmed, and a pile of discarded lawn furniture is dumped behind the house. What a contrast. These two little pieces of suburbia got me to thinking about my life. Do I live in a way that improves the scenery for those who notice when they pass by? Another way to ask that is, "do I live nobly?" That word, nobly, means to live gallantly, magnificently, and splendidly. Those noble by inheritance were expected to honor their noblesse oblige (Fr.) -an obligation to live benevolently and honorably because of their social position.
We need not be rich or of the noble class to live nobly! Indeed, in Christ, we are called to be noble.
The Word says, "Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things." (Philippians 4:8, NKJV) And Jesus says that what fills our minds will fill our lives, for 'out of the heart the mouth speaks!' We are given life in Christ, called into the family of God. With that grace gift comes a new identity and an obligation of which Paul reminds us: "Live in a way that is worthy of the people God has chosen to be his own." (Ephesians 4:1, CEV)
Don't mistake pretension or exclusivity for nobility! We are not called to think we are better than others. Jesus, who was very God in flesh, did not insist on titles or deference from others. He did not climb the social ladder so he could spend time with the elite of the land. His love for all earned him the scorn of the 'nobles' who mocked Him as a 'friend of sinners,' a description He wore gladly. He loved the poor, ate with those who were recognized 'sinners,' and gave dignity to the discarded. That was His true nobility. And, it must be ours. Our lives must be marked with holiness - foul language replaced by praise, filth replaced with purity, greed replaced with generosity, hate replaced with love, fear replaced with peace - and those things then shared with those who live around us.
Believer, spend time with the Lord. Learn from Him how to live nobly in a base world. Then go and improve the scenery with your life.
Here's a word from the Word. As you meditate on it, I pray you will understand your calling better and be inspired to become a noble person, for God's glory. "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.
It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."" (1 Corinthians 1:26-31, NIV)
1 comment:
Before you even posted this Scripture in your blog: "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.
I was thinking to myself how easy it is to let ourselves become proud. You know, like if I think my "scenery" looks very good to others, I might think I'm more important than I really am. I think its a very thin line because its okay to recognize our worth in life, but when we cross that thin line and think that we are so great and indispensible to God is when we run into trouble.
To quote you from a sermon quite a long time ago you said some people have this mentality: "It's a good thing I'm on God's team! No! It's a good thing He's on our team!"
Sometimes I think its easy to forget just how powerful God is..and how He doesn't need us at all. As John The Baptist states in Matthew 3:9 9And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
When everybody understands what John the Baptist stated there, we'll then understand that God doesn't need us, though He wants us to be his disciples.
Sorry for being so long-winded here, Pastor Jerry. I also just want to say that you're a very good writer and I enjoy your work.
- Jon Rindos
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