"Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him - not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith." Philippians 3:8-9
The period of Lent is a time of self examination for most. It often involves the Spirit of God making us quite aware of our own brokenness and complete need for God. It is a time when we stop for a moment and think to ourselves - wow, being a Christian is tough sledding...it's a constant struggle between sin and obedience.
Of interest to me in this passage is the word "rubbish." Paul says that in comparison to knowing God and having a relationship with Him, everything else in his life (his best accomplishments, good works, his money, his power, his fame, his legacy...everything) is rubbish. Paul is making a strong statement here and you might not even realize how strong, for in the Greek in which it was originally written, the great theologian of the church dishes out some uncharacteristically salty language. The greek word translated "rubbish" is skubalon. Skubalon is only used one time in the whole of the Bible, and it literally means #$^@*$! (or human dung if you will).
Paul is shouting in as loud a voice as possible that everything else in his life is #$^@*$! compared to knowing Jesus. In other words, all that matters in life is ones relationship with Jesus.
As we begin our entrance into Holy Week with Palm Sunday tomorrow, let me ask you to reflect on this...
What matters most to you in your life? How does that manifest itself in the way that you live it?
**thanks again for journeying with me through Lent - this will be my last post for the season. I look forward very much to celebrating Easter week with you - either here in the Bay in person, or in the Spirit of unity wherever it is that God has placed you.
Be God's, Scott
Friday, March 26, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Running Lines
"Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." Psalm 126: 5-6
In the movie Hoosiers (one of my all time favorites) Gene Hackman plays the role of new basketball coach Norman Dale, at a little school in Indiana called Hickory High. This school had a very small basketball team that had never achieved very much in that basketball mad state. Coach Dale set the goal of winning a state title before them, and the way that they were going to achieve it was through team play, fundamentals and hard work...lots of hard work. In fact at the beginning of his tenure there, for the first few practices, the team didn't even pick up a ball, they just ran ran lines over and over and over. This physically and mentally exhausted the kids - some even quit. They were not used to this type of suffering in practice. When they (or their parents) complained, Dale simply said, "my practices are not designed for your enjoyment."
What his practices were designed for, whether the kids realized it or not, was to shape them into champions so that they might achieve their goals. The torturous hard work of running lines got them into shape and brought them together as a team. The corporate tears they sowed in practice eventually led to (spoiler alert for a movie released in 1986) them reaping the joy of the Indiana State championship, beating a team much bigger and stronger than them. I don't think that it would be hard to argue that without the blood, sweat and tears of suffering at practices those boys would not have enjoyed the State title. Coach Dale put them through difficulty in order for them to reap amazing joy. I have no doubt that the moment they won that game and experienced the joy of achieving their goals - that all their suffering and toil was forgotten.
I don't know any player who really enjoys running lines, it's hard work that is not a lot of fun - but any player worth his salt will tell you that unless you do this hard work, you will never achieve your athletic goals. As they say, "no pain...no gain."
The Christian life is a lot like running lines at times isn't it? We hurt, we strain, we suffer under the difficult circumstances of life. We work hard at serving our Lord, only to be persecuted, or laughed at. As long as their is sin in the world, life will be hard - "we will sow in tears and continually go forth weeping." Sin and its effects are not pleasurable, our bodies and souls were never designed for sins enjoyment. We were designed for righteousness and God's unfiltered presence. Friends, life will be hard and beat us down.
But our goal is heaven - our hope is victory in Jesus!
We run the race to gain the prize - the salvation of our souls. We shall reap in joy at the harvest because all our suffering and toil will be forgotten the moment we see our saviour face to face.
I never liked running lines, but the thing that got me through was focusing on my goals and not the present struggle. Even in the midst of our earthly struggle, may our eyes be fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.
Be God's, Scott
In the movie Hoosiers (one of my all time favorites) Gene Hackman plays the role of new basketball coach Norman Dale, at a little school in Indiana called Hickory High. This school had a very small basketball team that had never achieved very much in that basketball mad state. Coach Dale set the goal of winning a state title before them, and the way that they were going to achieve it was through team play, fundamentals and hard work...lots of hard work. In fact at the beginning of his tenure there, for the first few practices, the team didn't even pick up a ball, they just ran ran lines over and over and over. This physically and mentally exhausted the kids - some even quit. They were not used to this type of suffering in practice. When they (or their parents) complained, Dale simply said, "my practices are not designed for your enjoyment."
What his practices were designed for, whether the kids realized it or not, was to shape them into champions so that they might achieve their goals. The torturous hard work of running lines got them into shape and brought them together as a team. The corporate tears they sowed in practice eventually led to (spoiler alert for a movie released in 1986) them reaping the joy of the Indiana State championship, beating a team much bigger and stronger than them. I don't think that it would be hard to argue that without the blood, sweat and tears of suffering at practices those boys would not have enjoyed the State title. Coach Dale put them through difficulty in order for them to reap amazing joy. I have no doubt that the moment they won that game and experienced the joy of achieving their goals - that all their suffering and toil was forgotten.
I don't know any player who really enjoys running lines, it's hard work that is not a lot of fun - but any player worth his salt will tell you that unless you do this hard work, you will never achieve your athletic goals. As they say, "no pain...no gain."
The Christian life is a lot like running lines at times isn't it? We hurt, we strain, we suffer under the difficult circumstances of life. We work hard at serving our Lord, only to be persecuted, or laughed at. As long as their is sin in the world, life will be hard - "we will sow in tears and continually go forth weeping." Sin and its effects are not pleasurable, our bodies and souls were never designed for sins enjoyment. We were designed for righteousness and God's unfiltered presence. Friends, life will be hard and beat us down.
But our goal is heaven - our hope is victory in Jesus!
We run the race to gain the prize - the salvation of our souls. We shall reap in joy at the harvest because all our suffering and toil will be forgotten the moment we see our saviour face to face.
I never liked running lines, but the thing that got me through was focusing on my goals and not the present struggle. Even in the midst of our earthly struggle, may our eyes be fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.
Be God's, Scott
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
laugh
"When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue was singing." Psalm 126: 1-2
Lent isn't a time that you'll often hear reflections on laughter - so today is your day!
I am a laugher. I am a smiler. I always have been, and I hope I always will be. One big issue I had with church growing up was that there was little room for these two things. I grew up worshipping with lovely godly folks, but laughter and smiles were in short supply in our church - particularly during the worship service. The pastors always seemed so serious, and most congregants appeared dour (almost downright angry). I never heard anyone ever say anything funny during a worship service (at least intentionally). Sometimes funny things happened but people were too serious to laugh it off.
I remember one time, in the very first church that I served as a youth pastor, that bears this out: The senior pastor was a loving, yet very grumpy looking fellow - he loved God and His people but I recall finding him rather intimidating and serious (and I don't think I was alone). We were celebrating communion (as an aside, isn't funny that we say "celebrating" communion, when really our partaking of the sacrament is anything but celebratory - at least in the way that we usually think of celebrating) and our loving, yet dour faced minister fumbled the tray of communion cups during the hand off to the elder. The tray, along with all the cups and juice went flying and spraying everywhere. The minister had this never before seen frazzled and panicked look on his face as the tray fell. It made such a loud crash, and for a moment everyone was silent as the minster and elders just stood there frozen in shock.
I wanted to laugh out loud so much. This could just be my bizarre sense of humour, but I thought it was probably one of the funniest things I had ever seen. In fact, thinking now, if I was in the minister's place, I would've likely broke the tension and made some sort of funny quip poking fun at my self. This minister, after he got over his shock and embarrassment just kept going on like nothing ever happened. In fact the spilled tray and cups stayed there on the floor for the duration of the service.
Laughter is an outward sign of inner joy. Laughter is what the victorious do when their victory is assured. Laughter belongs in church and in our faith lives. I think that God is richly blessed when we laugh and smile. I think that God would have been warmly joyed when my minister fumbled the communion tray in much the same way that we are when we watch a puppy we love chase a butterfly. I suppose we could rightly be accused of taking ourselves too seriously.
Now sin is a serious thing - something worthy of eternal consequences that are anything but funny.
But here's where laughter comes into our faith life - God has brought us back from the captivity of sin! We've won! And He did so by the most extraordinary means possible - actually becoming a human infant growing only to die and rise again. We've been brought back from the dead - a situation that is so ludicrous and implausible that ones mouth cannot help but be filled with laughter, and our tongues fit for singing.
May you revel and laugh with God today in the sure joy of your deliverance!
Be God's, Scott
Lent isn't a time that you'll often hear reflections on laughter - so today is your day!
I am a laugher. I am a smiler. I always have been, and I hope I always will be. One big issue I had with church growing up was that there was little room for these two things. I grew up worshipping with lovely godly folks, but laughter and smiles were in short supply in our church - particularly during the worship service. The pastors always seemed so serious, and most congregants appeared dour (almost downright angry). I never heard anyone ever say anything funny during a worship service (at least intentionally). Sometimes funny things happened but people were too serious to laugh it off.
I remember one time, in the very first church that I served as a youth pastor, that bears this out: The senior pastor was a loving, yet very grumpy looking fellow - he loved God and His people but I recall finding him rather intimidating and serious (and I don't think I was alone). We were celebrating communion (as an aside, isn't funny that we say "celebrating" communion, when really our partaking of the sacrament is anything but celebratory - at least in the way that we usually think of celebrating) and our loving, yet dour faced minister fumbled the tray of communion cups during the hand off to the elder. The tray, along with all the cups and juice went flying and spraying everywhere. The minister had this never before seen frazzled and panicked look on his face as the tray fell. It made such a loud crash, and for a moment everyone was silent as the minster and elders just stood there frozen in shock.
I wanted to laugh out loud so much. This could just be my bizarre sense of humour, but I thought it was probably one of the funniest things I had ever seen. In fact, thinking now, if I was in the minister's place, I would've likely broke the tension and made some sort of funny quip poking fun at my self. This minister, after he got over his shock and embarrassment just kept going on like nothing ever happened. In fact the spilled tray and cups stayed there on the floor for the duration of the service.
Laughter is an outward sign of inner joy. Laughter is what the victorious do when their victory is assured. Laughter belongs in church and in our faith lives. I think that God is richly blessed when we laugh and smile. I think that God would have been warmly joyed when my minister fumbled the communion tray in much the same way that we are when we watch a puppy we love chase a butterfly. I suppose we could rightly be accused of taking ourselves too seriously.
Now sin is a serious thing - something worthy of eternal consequences that are anything but funny.
But here's where laughter comes into our faith life - God has brought us back from the captivity of sin! We've won! And He did so by the most extraordinary means possible - actually becoming a human infant growing only to die and rise again. We've been brought back from the dead - a situation that is so ludicrous and implausible that ones mouth cannot help but be filled with laughter, and our tongues fit for singing.
May you revel and laugh with God today in the sure joy of your deliverance!
Be God's, Scott
Monday, March 22, 2010
Stench
"Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?" Isaiah 43: 18-19
I have met a lot of people over the years, and I have heard a lot of different stories of sin. Many of the sins could be classified as small (at least from a human perspective), yet some have been staggeringly huge. Truth be told, I have heard enough stories of sin from enough different people, that new stories of sin (no matter how shocking) rarely take me by surprise. However, regarding these stories that I hear from people - I have found a pattern that repeats itself time and time again despite the wide variety of people, and the wide variety of sins: Folks have a hard time letting go of their guilt and moving on.
It seems to me that we have a hard time forgetting and moving past those sins that we have done. Often they seem to follow us around like the stench of a skunk. We often try to move on, but then, out of nowhere, we catch a whiff of our past failure and our guilt brings us back. Feelings of guilt from past sins can prevent us from experiencing joy, intimacy in relationships, and even freedom. Many of us choose to stitch our past sins on our shirts like the Scarlet Letter A - marking us out for all to see as a failure and a sinner. I mean, it's not like we're proud of them...quite the opposite. We do so because we think we deserve it, that we're not worthy to forget and move on. This is a horrible way to live, yet so many of us do so - self-imposed chains tying us to our past.
Thanks be to God, it does not have to be so.
Jesus died to forgive our sins - all of them, even the ones that cause us guilt and shame. And He came to deliver us into a place of freedom. Through the blood of Jesus, as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our sins from us. Jesus shed His blood that you might have freedom from your past, and a renewed hope for the future. In case you're not reading between the blatant lines here, let me say it straight. You needn't feel any guilt anymore for the sins you've done, you needn't beat yourself up over them, or carry them around with you as a reminder of your failure - Those sins (and all your sins) were nailed on the cross with Jesus and then buried with Him in the grave, and there they shall stay.
Jesus wants to remove your guilt and shame. Ask Him to, and He will. He'll give you the freedom that you long for. One where you'll no longer remember the former things, or consider those things of old - God will do a new thing in you.
Be God's, Scott
I have met a lot of people over the years, and I have heard a lot of different stories of sin. Many of the sins could be classified as small (at least from a human perspective), yet some have been staggeringly huge. Truth be told, I have heard enough stories of sin from enough different people, that new stories of sin (no matter how shocking) rarely take me by surprise. However, regarding these stories that I hear from people - I have found a pattern that repeats itself time and time again despite the wide variety of people, and the wide variety of sins: Folks have a hard time letting go of their guilt and moving on.
It seems to me that we have a hard time forgetting and moving past those sins that we have done. Often they seem to follow us around like the stench of a skunk. We often try to move on, but then, out of nowhere, we catch a whiff of our past failure and our guilt brings us back. Feelings of guilt from past sins can prevent us from experiencing joy, intimacy in relationships, and even freedom. Many of us choose to stitch our past sins on our shirts like the Scarlet Letter A - marking us out for all to see as a failure and a sinner. I mean, it's not like we're proud of them...quite the opposite. We do so because we think we deserve it, that we're not worthy to forget and move on. This is a horrible way to live, yet so many of us do so - self-imposed chains tying us to our past.
Thanks be to God, it does not have to be so.
Jesus died to forgive our sins - all of them, even the ones that cause us guilt and shame. And He came to deliver us into a place of freedom. Through the blood of Jesus, as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our sins from us. Jesus shed His blood that you might have freedom from your past, and a renewed hope for the future. In case you're not reading between the blatant lines here, let me say it straight. You needn't feel any guilt anymore for the sins you've done, you needn't beat yourself up over them, or carry them around with you as a reminder of your failure - Those sins (and all your sins) were nailed on the cross with Jesus and then buried with Him in the grave, and there they shall stay.
Jesus wants to remove your guilt and shame. Ask Him to, and He will. He'll give you the freedom that you long for. One where you'll no longer remember the former things, or consider those things of old - God will do a new thing in you.
Be God's, Scott
Saturday, March 20, 2010
un Worthy
"And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son." Luke 15: 18-19
The story of the Prodigal Son (or the Loving Father, however you wish to read and name it) is one of the greatest stories in the grand scope of literature. What makes it great, is that it is really our story, isn't it? The son essentially tells his Dad that he wishes that he were dead. He is leaving and the father better well give his inheritance NOW. Graciously, the father does let his son choose his own path, gives him the money, and lets him go. The son goes on to blow all of his money on wild and sinful living, only to be found homeless, penniless, and without friends and family taking up residence in a pig sty. The son hit rock bottom, realized what a huge mistake he made, and decided that home with Dad wasn't so bad after all. He dusted himself off, humbled and penitent, hoping just to get a job on his Dad's farm.
The above scripture is the reunion scene - and it tells us a lot about God, and a lot about what our response to God ought to be.
The Father (representing God) saw his son approaching the homestead, even though he was a long way off - that meant the father never stopped looking and longing for his son to return. When he saw him, he ran towards him and tackled him down in a flurry of love hugs and kisses - the father didn't force his son to take the walk of shame up the laneway, he, overjoyed at his return, ran to him and showed him how much he loved him and missed him. Through his actions, the father clearly welcomed his son back like he had never left. The great love of the father for his lost and returned son forgave and reinstated in one huge embrace.
God misses us. Many of us have run away from God, and He legitimately misses us. His love for us is so great, that He is actively looking for us, and longing for us to return home to him. And when we do, He will absolutely run to us, embrace us and welcome us home. The pain of what we did, gets swallowed up in His fierce love.
And what of the son...He doesn't take the love and acceptance of his father for granted. Even though his father obviously welcomes him back, and is clearly delighted that he is home - the son realizes that he does not deserve to be there. He still goes through with the speech that he had planned, confessing his sin to his father. He recognizes that his father's response is not only unexpected, it is undeserved as a result of the way that he treated him. He confesses the reality that he was no longer worthy to be called a son anymore.
We, ran away from God's home. We turned our back on His love and care, and went off to go it on our own. The reality is that none of us are worthy to be welcomed back into the family of God. Our sin and disobedience ought to preclude us from ever setting foot there again.
Thankfully, God's outrageous love for us makes us worthy and grants us sonship.
In light of this story, I wonder how often we forget our unworthiness before God's great love. I wonder how often we forget that we really have no right to be here - in fact we still deserve to be in the pig sty.
May we never feel entitled to the love of God, or take His mercy for granted.
Be God's, Scott
The story of the Prodigal Son (or the Loving Father, however you wish to read and name it) is one of the greatest stories in the grand scope of literature. What makes it great, is that it is really our story, isn't it? The son essentially tells his Dad that he wishes that he were dead. He is leaving and the father better well give his inheritance NOW. Graciously, the father does let his son choose his own path, gives him the money, and lets him go. The son goes on to blow all of his money on wild and sinful living, only to be found homeless, penniless, and without friends and family taking up residence in a pig sty. The son hit rock bottom, realized what a huge mistake he made, and decided that home with Dad wasn't so bad after all. He dusted himself off, humbled and penitent, hoping just to get a job on his Dad's farm.
The above scripture is the reunion scene - and it tells us a lot about God, and a lot about what our response to God ought to be.
The Father (representing God) saw his son approaching the homestead, even though he was a long way off - that meant the father never stopped looking and longing for his son to return. When he saw him, he ran towards him and tackled him down in a flurry of love hugs and kisses - the father didn't force his son to take the walk of shame up the laneway, he, overjoyed at his return, ran to him and showed him how much he loved him and missed him. Through his actions, the father clearly welcomed his son back like he had never left. The great love of the father for his lost and returned son forgave and reinstated in one huge embrace.
God misses us. Many of us have run away from God, and He legitimately misses us. His love for us is so great, that He is actively looking for us, and longing for us to return home to him. And when we do, He will absolutely run to us, embrace us and welcome us home. The pain of what we did, gets swallowed up in His fierce love.
And what of the son...He doesn't take the love and acceptance of his father for granted. Even though his father obviously welcomes him back, and is clearly delighted that he is home - the son realizes that he does not deserve to be there. He still goes through with the speech that he had planned, confessing his sin to his father. He recognizes that his father's response is not only unexpected, it is undeserved as a result of the way that he treated him. He confesses the reality that he was no longer worthy to be called a son anymore.
We, ran away from God's home. We turned our back on His love and care, and went off to go it on our own. The reality is that none of us are worthy to be welcomed back into the family of God. Our sin and disobedience ought to preclude us from ever setting foot there again.
Thankfully, God's outrageous love for us makes us worthy and grants us sonship.
In light of this story, I wonder how often we forget our unworthiness before God's great love. I wonder how often we forget that we really have no right to be here - in fact we still deserve to be in the pig sty.
May we never feel entitled to the love of God, or take His mercy for granted.
Be God's, Scott
Friday, March 19, 2010
Welcome
"Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Luke 15:1-2
Here's the thing we often forget about Jesus and what He actually did during His ministry years - He spent time with the social outcast. Sure He spent the majority of His time with His disciples, teaching a leading them - this was, after all the task of a Rabbi. However, much of His ministry time, in and amongst the people He dearly loved, was spent with those particular folks who were sneered at and looked down upon by the religious establishment. The Pharisees detested the tax collectors, because they were Jews working for the Romans interests by taking a large and unfair amount of money away from them (some above and beyond for their own pockets) in the name of Caesar. Tax Collectors were cheats and turncoats - despised. Sinners in the eyes of the Pharisees were anyone from prostitutes to lepers to Gentiles. There was a very clear delineation between sinner and saint in the eyes of the religious in Jesus' day and the general rule was that never the two should meet.
Jesus, however, a Rabbi working within this same religious system, turned this general rule on its ear - Jesus did more than simply not avoid sinners - He sought them out and shared intimate meals with them. In so doing, He made it known that God loves everyone, that God is willing to step down into the world of the sinner and show compassion, and that followers of Him ought not to keep their religion behind closed doors with a sign that says "For Saints Only."
Who are the "sinners" in our world? I know, I know, we are all sinners...but who are those people that society in particular singles out as pariahs? They may be different people in different parts of the world - but are these not the people that Jesus would be sharing His life and company?
As Christians, we are called to be like Jesus. The fact that Jesus ate with sinners, tells us that to be a follower of Jesus is to do likewise. Our churches and worship services were never intended to be exclusive gatherings for the pious and holy - rather, places for all people to come and sup with the love divine. May our lives and churches be places accused of welcoming sinners.
Be God's, Scott
Here's the thing we often forget about Jesus and what He actually did during His ministry years - He spent time with the social outcast. Sure He spent the majority of His time with His disciples, teaching a leading them - this was, after all the task of a Rabbi. However, much of His ministry time, in and amongst the people He dearly loved, was spent with those particular folks who were sneered at and looked down upon by the religious establishment. The Pharisees detested the tax collectors, because they were Jews working for the Romans interests by taking a large and unfair amount of money away from them (some above and beyond for their own pockets) in the name of Caesar. Tax Collectors were cheats and turncoats - despised. Sinners in the eyes of the Pharisees were anyone from prostitutes to lepers to Gentiles. There was a very clear delineation between sinner and saint in the eyes of the religious in Jesus' day and the general rule was that never the two should meet.
Jesus, however, a Rabbi working within this same religious system, turned this general rule on its ear - Jesus did more than simply not avoid sinners - He sought them out and shared intimate meals with them. In so doing, He made it known that God loves everyone, that God is willing to step down into the world of the sinner and show compassion, and that followers of Him ought not to keep their religion behind closed doors with a sign that says "For Saints Only."
Who are the "sinners" in our world? I know, I know, we are all sinners...but who are those people that society in particular singles out as pariahs? They may be different people in different parts of the world - but are these not the people that Jesus would be sharing His life and company?
As Christians, we are called to be like Jesus. The fact that Jesus ate with sinners, tells us that to be a follower of Jesus is to do likewise. Our churches and worship services were never intended to be exclusive gatherings for the pious and holy - rather, places for all people to come and sup with the love divine. May our lives and churches be places accused of welcoming sinners.
Be God's, Scott
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Ambassador
"Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us; we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God." 2 Corinthians 5: 20
David Jacobson was sworn in as the United States ambassador to Canada on October 2, 2009 after his appointment from President Obama. Mr. Jacobson lives in Ottawa, the Capital city of Canada, though he doesn't actually live in Canada. Technically, he lives in and works out of the American Embassy - this property is officially US soil. An ambassador is appointed by the highest authority in his/her country to reside in the capital city of another country, in order to represent the affairs of their homeland. They are given authority as ambassadors to speak on behalf of their leader, in addition to ensuring their country's best interests are maintained. An ambassadors primary work is communication - communication with both his/her leader, and the country they're appointed to serve in. Essentially, ambassadors are called to sacrifice living on their home soil, in order to speak for and represent their country in a foreign land. Though, I'd hardly call Mr. Jacobson's appointment a sacrifice (Ottawa is a pretty nice and safe place to live) - sacrifice might to be easy a term for Karl Eikenberry: US Ambassador to Afghanistan, or William Garvelink: US ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Isn't it interesting that Paul calls all Christians, ambassadors for Christ. Whether we realize it or not, we have been appointed by Christ Himself (the very highest leader in the Kingdom of Heaven) to represent Him in this world. We are given the authority to speak on His behalf, and to represent His interests here. And we are called to do so sacrificially, while living in a foreign land - made so by the taint of sin and rule of the devil. Just as an ambassadors primary job is communication - our primary job as ambassadors for Christ is communication. We are at once to be in constant communication with our leader Jesus, while at the same time communicating His message with those dwelling amongst us in this world.
And what message does Christ want us to communicate? What are His interests that He desires us to represent in how we live, and by what we say?
Reconciliation...
The message that all may find peace and unity in the Kingdom of Heaven. The reality that Jesus Christ died and rose again in order to free all from the chains of sin and the devil - that no one needs to be His enemy, that everyone is welcome in Kingdom through the forgiveness of Jesus. We have been reconciled to God through Jesus.
Reconciliation is the message that Christ calls all Christians to bear into the world as His ambassadors.
May each and every one of us fulfill our appointment with faithfulness.
Be God's, Scott
David Jacobson was sworn in as the United States ambassador to Canada on October 2, 2009 after his appointment from President Obama. Mr. Jacobson lives in Ottawa, the Capital city of Canada, though he doesn't actually live in Canada. Technically, he lives in and works out of the American Embassy - this property is officially US soil. An ambassador is appointed by the highest authority in his/her country to reside in the capital city of another country, in order to represent the affairs of their homeland. They are given authority as ambassadors to speak on behalf of their leader, in addition to ensuring their country's best interests are maintained. An ambassadors primary work is communication - communication with both his/her leader, and the country they're appointed to serve in. Essentially, ambassadors are called to sacrifice living on their home soil, in order to speak for and represent their country in a foreign land. Though, I'd hardly call Mr. Jacobson's appointment a sacrifice (Ottawa is a pretty nice and safe place to live) - sacrifice might to be easy a term for Karl Eikenberry: US Ambassador to Afghanistan, or William Garvelink: US ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Isn't it interesting that Paul calls all Christians, ambassadors for Christ. Whether we realize it or not, we have been appointed by Christ Himself (the very highest leader in the Kingdom of Heaven) to represent Him in this world. We are given the authority to speak on His behalf, and to represent His interests here. And we are called to do so sacrificially, while living in a foreign land - made so by the taint of sin and rule of the devil. Just as an ambassadors primary job is communication - our primary job as ambassadors for Christ is communication. We are at once to be in constant communication with our leader Jesus, while at the same time communicating His message with those dwelling amongst us in this world.
And what message does Christ want us to communicate? What are His interests that He desires us to represent in how we live, and by what we say?
Reconciliation...
The message that all may find peace and unity in the Kingdom of Heaven. The reality that Jesus Christ died and rose again in order to free all from the chains of sin and the devil - that no one needs to be His enemy, that everyone is welcome in Kingdom through the forgiveness of Jesus. We have been reconciled to God through Jesus.
Reconciliation is the message that Christ calls all Christians to bear into the world as His ambassadors.
May each and every one of us fulfill our appointment with faithfulness.
Be God's, Scott
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