Worth a Thousand Words

When trying to understand a concept, sometimes a comparison or a visual can be very helpful. The inspired writers of the New Testament used that technique a great deal, especially when talking about the people of God.

For example, Paul says that we are the “family” or the “household of God” (1 Timothy 3:15). A household in those days included everyone; mother, father, children, aunts, uncles, cousins and even those who worked for the family. It was a broad and inclusive idea. Everyone had a place and everyone belonged.

Continuing that idea of belonging is the concept that we are “the body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12-20). Just as in our physical bodies, each part contributes to the whole and makes things better. In God’s kingdom, there are no unnecessary parts. Everyone has a place.

Other word pictures stress the closeness that we have with God and his son. Revelation 19:7-9 tells us that we are “the bride of Christ”. Now that is something! God chooses the closest human relationship that we have, that of a husband and wife, to describe his relationship with us. Think about that for a while.

Other more common pictures are that of “Sheep with their shepherd” (John 10) or a “Father with his child” (Galatians 4:4-7). Both of those pictures are images of protection, provision and care.

We are also called “God’s field, God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9). Fields are used to grow certain things. Buildings are built with a specific purpose in mind (you build barns differently than houses because they have a different job). This reminds us that we have certain things to contribute and certain purposes to live out. As Paul said, “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).

These pictures remind us that we have a good message to share. They are positive and each of them speaks about how much God loves us.

Fortunately, the pictures say it all.

Making things better

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows…Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:7-9).

This passage is often quoted to teach the importance of focusing on spiritual things, but I believe that these verses teach other lessons as well.

For example, notice that effort is often required before the reward is seen. Oddly, many people seem to think that blessings should come without requiring anything from them beforehand. In reality, it does not work that way.

In marriage counseling, couples are often told to “act as if you are in love”. Why? Well, when each person takes responsibility to “Go first” and to treat the other with love, then that attitude will likely grow in the relationship. However, if both sit back and wait for the other to treat them well, nothing good happens. This “Go first” principle applies in any relationship. You can often improve things by going first and doing the things that you wish others would do. If you wait for everyone else to treat you properly first, you may be waiting a long time.

Note, too, that we are encouraged to keep trying. Farmers in New Testament times did not sow seeds as farmers do today. Back then, the farmer would “broadcast” the seed by throwing handfuls of it everywhere. He sowed generously and expected some of it to do something good (see 1 Corinthians 9:6-11). I like that picture! Our job is not to try once and then quit if nothing happens. We are to go about doing the good we can do, day in and day out, trusting that God will give us a good result in “the proper time”. As someone once noted, “The only thing that can hinder our harvest is letting ourselves grow weary”.

While there are no guarantees, in most cases you can make things better by simply going first and living out the love of God.

The Christian Dress Code

The Bible college I attended had a “Sunday morning dress code” (Guys had to wear a shirt and tie and the girls had to wear dresses or skirts). Considering the range of backgrounds and opinions about what constituted “acceptable attire”, the dress code was appropriate and necessary.

Did you know that the Bible specifies a “Christian dress code” that applies, not just to Sunday morning, but every day of the week?

As you may suspect, this dress code does not have to do with physical clothing. Instead, it is focused on our attitudes, actions and how we represent Christ.

A quick tour through the New Testament yields an entire list of things that are to “Put on”. That list includes things like: truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, the word of God, prayer, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, love and a quiet spirit (see Ephesians 6:11-17; Colossians 3:12-14; 1 Peter 2-4).

Fortunately, as with most things in the word of God, this transformation does not rest on my own strength or goodness. You see, the first thing that we are told to “put on” will help us with all the others. “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27).

When we are “clothed with Christ” then we have the power to change. As Paul says, “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24).

This is not about earning salvation. Rather it is about showing, on the outside, the change that is taking place on the inside. As Jesus said, “A good tree bears good fruit” (Matthew 7:16-20).

We immediately recognize a police officer, a firefighter or an astronaut when we see them because of what they wear. When people look at the attitudes that you “wear” each day, will they know that you are a Christian? Will they see Christ?

In this case, our “Sunday best” is not just for Sunday.

“Well… maybe… but”

Here is a strange question for you: If Jesus dropped by and told you to do some very specific things, would you do them?

I do not know what your response would be (I mean after you woke up from passing out at the sight of Jesus), but I do know this: The first time Jesus was here, he heard lots of excuses.

Just for interest’s sake, I made an “Excuses tour” of gospels last week and noted every excuse that people used in order to get out of doing what they were asked to do. Some said that it was too difficult (Mark 10: 17-22). Others said that they would do it later (Luke 9:57-62). Others said “yes”, but later found reasons not to bother (Luke 14:16-20). One decided that his business was more important than listening to God (Luke 12:13-21). Still others wanted “just a little more proof” that Jesus was the Son of God (Mark 15:29-32). I could fill this whole article with excuses.

Then John records that, “Many of his disciples said, ‘This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?’” (John 6:60). Notice that the message was not “hard to understand". They clearly understood what they were to do. The problem was that it was “hard to accept”. That is likely the issue for most of us.

You see, in various ways, God is going to ask us to do certain things, or to stop doing certain things. If we are listening at all, we are going to be challenged in a thousand different ways.

At each of those points, our response will be either faithful following or excuses and missed opportunities.

As James reminds us, “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins” (4:17).

So, what is God asking you to do? Are you doing it?