Good Morning Friends,
Well, if you do not believe in God that is one thing, but if you do you really have to wrestle with today’s question. No, it is not a question about the location of the garden of Eden or who is Lucifer, or the final resting place of Noah’s Ark or the location of the Ark of the Covenant. It is not what happened to Elijah and Enoch. You are not going to find answers to those questions here. The question of the day though is more personal, and I would suggest much more important. So, for believers trying not to be hypocrites I ask this, What Is Our Responsibility To God?
Scripture: You remember our labor and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct was toward you believers. As you know, we dealt with each one of you like a father with his children, urging and encouraging you and pleading that you lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God’s word, which is also at work in you believers.
1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 (NRSV)
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of filth. So you also on the outside look righteous to others, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous, and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ Thus you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your ancestors.
Matthew 23:27-32 (NRSV)
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20 (NRSV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NRSV)
Message: Part of our heritage is not so wonderful even as we have rewritten it. But addressing the hypocrisy of it comes with violence if we force it. Therefore, we must accept personal responsibility for doing what we can quietly as well as publicly, to move the needle. We without question have a responsibility to do justice and to share the Gospel. Related to that we must fully understand that until the Lord returns there are souls to reach and ministries of every sort to be performed but first, we really must face the reality of who we are. And we are flawed creatures, but also beautiful creatures made and loved by God. Yes, we are responsible for our money, time, energy, talents, gifts, bodies, minds, and spirits, and we should invest in nothing that does not in some way contribute to the work of the Lord. But sometimes it will be small acts of grace to buy culture more time to heal. Yes, justice is also required but balanced with love for without love there will never be peace.
The Bible teaches us that our responsibility as believers is to work uncompromisingly as the Lord has gifted us and share what we have learned about God’s love. But let’s face it, not everyone is made to be an evangelist and fewer still evangelists in foreign countries. The harsh reality is that in countries like North Korea, Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia and Yemen, Christians suffer persecution. The same is true in parts of India and South America. Indeed, knowing where to go and what to do is not so easy. It must be revealed to us by the Holy Spirit. Perhaps your ministry might be closer to home with family and friends and acquaintances. Still there is a test and whether it is a call to Wall Street or Main Street or the back alleys of slums around the world or even rural villages needing water or flooded cities needing evacuation, I cannot say. But wherever you go, if you go, know that as with Paul there will be times of testing. Some will persevere and others pack it in. And woe to those not prepared for the task even closer to home. One must figure out how. Oh, we can mind our own business, living in our comfort zone but how then can we demonstrate Christ in our life? Not everyone is willing to suffer the shame and sacrifice for Christ and not all are called to do this. It cannot be forced upon a person… it must be an act of free will… a choice led by the Spirit. So, do we live lives pleasing to God or lives pleasing to ourselves and others? Are we gentle, genuine, and generous to others? Well, maybe we are and maybe we need some help to keep open to the calling of the Holy Spirit. Simply put, our responsibility lies in working for the Lord but also realizing we have each been made for a purpose and learning that purpose is important. Thankfully God will help us as we help one another. This work is not in vain even though it may be frustrating. Friends, when one door is shut another will open. Paul was given the responsibility to blaze a gospel trail to the Gentiles. Your journey will be different but know this, God does expect us to take personal responsibility in all areas of life with what we have been entrusted. But we are to live our lives in the will of God. And that is something we must rediscover each day anew that is more a journey into our own personal lives than an outreach to the world.
And So, the answer to today’s question is really more interesting and profound than the teaser questions offered in the introduction. For sure it is our responsibility to abide in the Word but in addition, the Word is to abide in us…love is to abide in us in a way that reflects that we were created by God. You see, God wants our love more than strict obedience to perceived legalities. To be continually filled with God’s presence is our responsibility. But we cannot do this alone. We must ask God for the grace to experience love. Grace is an amazing thing, and I must admit that I have a hard time getting my arms around it. And that is both from the perspective of receiving grace and extending that grace to others. But as usual, God knows our difficulty and provides us with the presence of His Spirit. It is our responsibility to forgive seventy times seven. Which is to say we must learn to love people despite their flaws. It is a gift to love. But there are some things we need to consider related to our responsibility and our relationship with God here. The Word and the Spirit must be in balance. Too much of the Word can dry us up in legalism. Too much Spirit can blow us up. We need a balance to grow us up as beings both beautiful and yet flawed but still loved.
Pray we are filled with God’s presence. Pray we are open to love each other despite all our flaws. Pray we share what we have been entrusted as we are able. Pray the hole in our hearts are filled with the truth of God. Pray we have a purposeful boldness that assures we are heard but not so bold as to get us killed. Pray we find a way to address God’s expectations, plans, purposes, and priorities despite encountering hostility and hate. Pray we put away childish ways. Pray we make a commitment to both sow love and reap grace in the balance of a relationship with God. Pray we realize that we will be held personally responsible for our actions and lack of actions. Pray we realize that our faith without works is dead. Pray we are moved to do all the good we can where we can. Pray the word of Christ dwell in us filling us in all wisdom, with grace in our hearts to the Lord guiding us. Pray we are obedient to God’s leading. Pray we believe and love. Pray we love mercy and walk humbly with our God. Pray we learn to accept ourselves as the amazingly beautiful beings we are. Pray we relate to the ONE who made us as children of God so we might relate authentically to others with the love we have received.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 