Good Morning Friends,
I have served as an elder and a deacon in the Presbyterian church in a bicameral system of government much like the one our nation uses. And tradition has it that the power rests with the elders, like the Senate, but the growth of the church is based on the deacons. So, in many ways, deacons are responsible for the financial needs of the church. They hopefully serve out of love. Today we read about the great wonders and signs of Stephen, the first deacon, and of Jesus in the miracles of the feeding of the people and of their healing and the questions people had regarding these wonders realizing that we can proclaim the Gospel with and without words. And so, like them we ask more specifically in the hope that the Holy Spirit is working in each of us to reveal an answer. So, How Can We Witness To The Work Of God In Us?
Scripture: Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. Then they secretly instigated some men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” They stirred up the people as well as the elders and the scribes; then they suddenly confronted him, seized him, and brought him before the council. They set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed on to us.” And all who sat in the council looked intently at him, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Acts 6:8-15 (NRSV)
The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.” Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
John 6:22-29 (NRSV)
Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes. Your decrees are my delight, they are my counselors. My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to your word. When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes. Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works. My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. Put false ways far from me; and graciously teach me your law. I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your ordinances before me.
Psalm 119: 23-30 (NRSV)
Message: Many times, we touched on the importance of love in the process of sanctification and of course, without that, all this is a noisy gong. But presuming we love and are hearts are in the right places what work are we do? People ask this thinking that there are many works of God and yet when Jesus responds he does so with the singular form of the word.
The work of God in us, is that we believe on and in Jesus. Now we think that too simple, but here is the deal…we overvalue the weight of economic and political affairs more than Christ’s offer to conquer selfishness and ill temper in our own lives. So, we have trouble with this simple belief because our nature is to labor for the food that perishes instead of the food that endures to eternal life. It does not appeal to our human nature that a belief would be more important than an action. In fact, it is so simple, and we believe so strongly that there must be something else to it, that we tend to dismiss it. Jesus says that the work of the Father, God’s work in us is to believe on and in Jesus. You can make it more difficult than that if you wish, but you are missing the life that God intended for you to live if you do and here is why… When we believe we automatically ask another question… God, what would you have me to do? Now figuring out the will of God is not such an easy task, but it starts with believing. You see, God is much more concerned with our being, than our doing. But if we truly believe we will do things that reflect our belief. So, let that work of doing be your witness too, but focus on being in love. Do what is required of the responsibilities assigned to you but with trust and morality in all things, love. Be agreeable and timely and professional, but love. Contribute your ideas in a way to add value and cooperation. Be fair and honest. Be reliable and steadfast. Keep promises. But have a divine purpose behind it all so that how you handle what you do makes Jesus more attractive to those who do not yet know him. Show an exemplary work ethic as a witness of the belief in us that embraces love.
And So, it all starts with believing in Jesus, but it does not stop there. We are to grow ethically in love as we shared what we believe. We are to shine for Jesus in whatever role we are given. This is the main and principal thing we can do to glorify God and the singular thing that is well pleasing in his sight. Without a belief in Jesus rooted in love it is impossible to please God. Being a theist is great, but it cannot end there. Doing great works are wonderful but without Jesus no work is worthy of being called good. This is the way God operates. It is not the works of people in and of themselves, it is the pure gift of God’s grace. Friends, the chief end of people is to glorify God and enjoy God, but to fulfill the main purpose we must believe. We are to embrace a belief in Jesus with a love that lasts as a witness glorifying God.
Pray we realize that the greatest miracle of all is Jesus and that we might believe in Him and
the things for which He stands. Pray we hunger for the way of life Jesus teaches. Pray for the fullness of God that Jesus reveals to us. Pray for the grace and help Jesus came to offer us that overcomes our disappointments, discouragements and frustrations. Pray for the victory which makes it possible for us to believe. Pray we realize that it all starts with believing in Jesus whom the Father has sent, and that this fundamental and foundational thing is the one thing we must first do. Pray we realize that there are lots of works to be done, but if we hope to glorify God the singular one of primary importance is that we believe. Pray we realize that this is a gift we can never earn but hopefully a gift that in the Spirit witnesses to a belief that prompts us to love more fully.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 