Learning to follow Jesus is not a crash course in church stuff but a painstaking, every day journey of discovery of self and personal potential as a functioning part of Jesus' sacred body on earth today. No, I'm not putting down theology or doctrine or even church traditions, although I wont endorse all of that either. I'm simply saying if you really want to follow Jesus, you MUST begin there, with him and let him teach you how a real relationship with God the Father looks and sounds. He alone knows exactly what our Father is looking for in all of us.
As Paul wrote his second letter to the Christians at Corinth, that church was an absolute mess, just like some churches today. They seem to have turned their swords (so-to-speak) on each other rather than on the one who creates ALL that division and strife. People are never the enemy. Satan is the enemy and because he rules in the world, too often he also rules the church. And, he knows exactly how to create that sense of outrage in us when things don't match up with MY expectations.
So here is some of Paul's instruction to them and to us:
"Since then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience."
For, Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all and therefore all died. And he died for all that those who live should no longer for themselves but for him who died and was raised again. So, from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view." 5:11, 14-16 NIV
When Jesus died on the cross, in prospect, we all died with him. When he was raised from the dead, in prospect, we all were raised with him. What does that mean? We have a new life because we died to self and now live to serve God as our Father and Jesus as Lord! What that translates into is this in very plain words, "COME ON PEOPLE. GET OVER YOURSELF. WE HAVE A MISSION TO FULFILL HERE AND WE NEED TO QUIT THIS PETTY, SELFISH FUSSING AND FIGHTING OVER ALL THIS CHURCH STUFF AND GET ON WITH GOD'S BUSINESS!"
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come. All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation." 5:17-19
Here is presented a trio of new realities of this life of faith:
- I No Longer Live For Me. You should sit down in a quiet place and come to grips with that new reality for how you think, speak and live it out because it will impact every relationship in your life. If you're married, it has to start right there then spread out to others in your family and your broader sphere of influence.
- I No Longer See Others With Old Eyes. Now that's a mountain to climb. Every new creation in Christ has battled with that one, including all of Jesus' Apostles and Paul.
- Now, life for me is more spiritually than materially defined. Again, that's a journey, a tedious learning process but it's also a beautiful blessing. Just ask someone who has been out there trying to "persuade men" for a long time. Jesus is there every step of the way, in good times and in the worst of times.
"Finally brothers, aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints send their greetings. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." 13:11-14
Now those are some sweet words to live by. Until next time, may God give you greater faith and love than all of your challenges.
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