The Bible is often taught through filters that make the
people of God into heroes, who did spectacular things, with experiences far
removed from ordinary life. By making David, Moses, and Peter (to
name a few) into legendary heroes we tend to forget that each of them lived out
their faith in real life – with some major failures included with their notable
achievements. David met Goliath on the battlefield and took him with a
slingshot and he also committed adultery with one of his general’s wives!
Moses gave us the Law and but also struggled with his temper! Peter led
the Church, preaching a Pentecost message that brought 3000 conversions. He
also quivered in fear before a servant girl and vehemently denied Jesus, on
the night of His trial!
In our Christian experience we will, most certainly, enjoy
the same kind of mix; some victories and some trip-ups that land us flat on our
face. That is why the faith is not about us but rather about God’s covenant
love gifted to us through Jesus Christ. We are not saved to become
superheroes. We are ‘becomers’ – changed day by day into the likeness of Jesus
- who are given the Spirit so that we can, in turn, give good gifts to the
people with whom we work and play.
Paul’s letter to the Romans teaches us themes of great truth
– how God reveals Himself, the nature of His transformative power, the great
grace that is ours in Christ, the unfailing promises He makes. It is lofty
stuff, stretching our minds, filling our hearts. And, all that
truth has practical implications. The last three chapters of the letter
get down to nitty gritty, daily choices. Paul reminds those Christians in
Rome (and us!) that we are not just to sit around listening to sermons and
taking Communion; we must become different, in an ordinary way. Why? To pay God
back for His grace? No! Our lives make Him known in a dark world and
causes people to praise Him. "May God, who gives this patience
and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other—each with
the attitude of Christ Jesus toward the other. Then all of you can join
together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ." (Romans 15:5-6, NLT)
God is glorified, not so much in the heroic and
spectacular, but in the ordinary.
What kinds of things are we directed to do for God’s
sake?
Paul says, “Be good citizens, honoring those who govern,
seeing them as God’s servants. Pay your taxes.”
He goes on to tell us to “Avoid debt and pay your bills!”
Now there’s a novel thought. Yes, our Christianity finds expression in
our money!
We are directed to “Love extravagantly! Our only continuing
debt being one we feel towards others in love.”
“Be holy,” he says. And, I need to quote him directly
in this area. "Don’t live in darkness. Get rid of your evil
deeds. Shed them like dirty clothes. Clothe yourselves with the armor of right
living, as those who live in the light. We should be decent and true in
everything we do, so that everyone can approve of our behavior. Don’t
participate in wild parties and getting drunk, or in adultery and immoral
living, or in fighting and jealousy. But let the Lord Jesus Christ take control
of you, and don’t think of ways to indulge your evil desires." (Romans
13:12-14, NLT)
In chapter 14, Paul reminds Christians that they need to get
along and stop fighting over secondary issues! "Accept Christians who
are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or
wrong." (Romans 14:1, NLT) "So then, let us aim for harmony in
the church and try to build each other up." (Romans 14:19, NLT)
The world around us concludes the Gospel is a joke when we expend so much
energy debating the right kind of music, the right way to dress, or the right
way to eat! "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted
you, in order to bring praise to God." (Romans 15:7, NIV)
If we allow ourselves to imagine that our best experience of
Christ and service will be found on a ‘missions trip’ to an exotic locale, or
leading some ministry where we stand in front of thousands to teach, or
developing an outreach to rescue girls from sexual slavery, or some equally
noble thing – we will miss out on doing God’s will right where we are.
Most of us will love God best by loving our family, paying our bills, refusing
to indulge daily temptation, and staying deeply involved with our local church!
Let’s not fall into that old error – having a better
talk than our walk!
Here is the word from the Word. May the Lord be
praised in your ordinary life, and mine, too.
"So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you:
Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and
walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God
does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so
well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking.
Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily
recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture
around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the
best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." (Romans
12:1-2, The Message)
_____________
Mighty To Save
Ev’ryone needs compassion,
Love that's never failing,
Let mercy fall on me.
Ev’ryone needs forgiveness,
The kindness of a Savior,
The hope of nations.
Savior! He can move the mountains:
My God is mighty to save,
He is mighty to save.
Forever, Author of salvation;
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.
So take me as You find me-
All my fears and failures,
Fill my life again.
I give my life to follow
Ev’rything I believe in
Now I surrender.
Shine your light
and let the whole world see,
and let the whole world see,
We're singing,
For the glory of the risen King!
Jesus,
Shine your light
and let the whole world see,
and let the whole world see,
We're singing,
For the glory of the risen King!
Ben Fielding | Reuben Morgan
© 2006 Hillsong Music Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG
Publishing)
CCLI License # 810055
Jerry D. Scott, Pastor
FAITH DISCOVERY CHURCH
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