When I watch the political drama that passes for ‘government’
in this era, one of the great tragedies is the rewriting of the ‘facts’ by our
politicians that keeps our nation from finding real solutions to our real problems.
Each side points to the ‘failures’ of the other while seeming to be oblivious
to their own. This refusal of the facts is not just a politician’s problem. We
are all tempted to excuse or justify our choices, often to the point of
hypocrisy. Jesus reminds us, in that well-known passage, about the foolishness
of trying to take the splinter out of another’s eye when there is a fence post
in our own eye.
In my reading of Scripture, I read the words of John, the
Baptist, who challenged his hearers to "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance." (Matthew 3:8, NIV) Christians who are quick to point out the sins
and failures of others while apparently blind to their own tattered robes of
righteousness rob the Gospel of its beauty.
Spiritual pride is a terrible
disease of the soul. I hear myself
ranting about ‘those people who do those things,’ sometimes. Thankfully
there is the faithful witness of the Holy Spirit Who challenges me to go look
in the mirror! Yes, He says, Jerry, "produce
fruit in keeping with repentance." (Matthew 3:8, NIV)
Grace-filled disciples are called to be holy as God is
holy, overcoming temptation. When we are authentic about our own needs and
God’s grace, we will lead others to Christ, rather than point out
their sins. Paul, who acknowledged his own need of mercy and grace, invites people
to “follow me as I follow Christ.” Such a statement in the absence of
humility and authenticity is the height of arrogance.
Jesus told the Pharisees
who insisted that others that they should emulate their efforts at spiritual purity
that they were the equivalent of like “whitewashed tombs, gleaming outwardly
but full of death.” Why? Because
they were unwilling to see the truth, preferring to look good over actually
being good.
My friend, when we are obedient, submitted to the Spirit,
and in daily prayerful conversation with Christ He will lead us into a beautiful
wholeness of life. This does NOT grow out of our own religiosity. It is the
‘fruit’ (the evidence) of the presence of the Spirit living in us, by faith. In such people there is a beautiful and undeniable
reality that, while often understated, makes Jesus visible.
Timothy Keller, a
now retired pastor from New York City, speaks of Christians who lives with a “contextualized Biblical
Gospel.” These Christians do not segregate their ‘spiritual’ life from
their work or home life. They seeks to integrate the Gospel of Christ in each decision.
The good news of Jesus is taken out of the pulpit and into to the streets and
leads people from evil that enslaves into the freedom of the Spirit.
An understanding of the Gospel like that does not allow us to be hypocritical! It is a transforming experience, something that happens by working the inside out. Jesus said it is like a seed that germinates and pushed to the surface, growing until it bears fruit.
Here is the word from the Word. It challenges us to live
authentically, starting with knowing ourselves. "Don’t just listen to
God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling
yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing
at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look
like.
But if you keep looking steadily
into God’s perfect law—the law that sets you free—and if you do what it says
and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. If you
claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are just fooling
yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and lasting religion in the
sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their
troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us." (James 1:22-27,
NLT)
Let’s let His beauty shine today!
(Video of this
blog at this link)
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I'm no longer a slave to fear
I am a child of God
I'm no longer a slave to fear
I am a child of God
You unravel me with a melody
You surround me with a song
Of deliverance from my enemies
Till all my fears are gone
From my Mother's womb
You have chosen me
Love has called my name
I've been born again into Your family
Your blood flows through my veins
You split the sea so I could walk right through it
My fears were drowned in perfect love
You rescued me so I could stand and sing
I am a child of God
Brian Johnson | Joel Case | Jonathan David Helser
© 2014 Bethel Music Publishing
CCLI License # 810055
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