Through Christ, we have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light (Col 1:13).
Though we are in this new kingdom and under this new rule we are still slaves. We are not our own. We were bought with a price (1 Cor 6:20).
We are still slaves. Slaves though, not to sin, but slaves still. We are slaves to righteousness (Romans 6:15-23). You have been set free! Freedom from sin, but slaves still: "But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." (Rom 6:16-17).
How will your life reflect the glory of God, as His servant?
This week, we'll continue our series on citizenship. Since our citizenship is in Heaven (Philippians 3:20), our lives are going to look a little odd to the citizens of this world. The worldly point of view doesn't go the extra mile, it doesn't turn the other cheek, and it doesn't think of others before thinking of self.
As Christians, these are all ways that we try to be more Christ-like. We try to react to the situations we are in, in the same way Christ would react. We respond with kindness when people are cruel. We respond with love when people hate. We respond with patience when people attack us. We look to the cross as our guide, our example, and our Lord and Savior.
But kingdom-minded Christains don't only think about how to respond to the world. We also need to think about how to respond to one another with love, kindness, and patience. Past conflicts between Christians have very quickly turned very ugly. Knowing that conflicts will come in the future, we can ask ourselves now how it is that we should respond.
We will have a choice in how we react. This morning, we will look at three options Christians have when dealing with conflict. Whether that conflict is on the inside or coming from outsiders, we need to know when is the time for compromise, when we should submit, and when we should resist. In all these times, we always seek to be more like Jesus in the hope that we might win souls by our conduct (1 Peter 3:1).
Matthew 15:18 "But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart"
There's an old adage: "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." This is a good start, but not the full picture. We can't expect a cartoon rabbit to give us all that we need for life and godliness, but within the world there is a mix of good thinking and not as good thinking. We must be careful because the world has its own ideas about right and wrong, about how to be a good person, and about how to be successful. The world tries to influence us to control us and form us to its will. We must resist.
This saying, like many other good-sounding thoughts that are in the world, is a good start. What's better is for our hearts and minds to be changed so that instead of having to bite my tongue and hold my speech, I have something encouraging to bring to the conversation. So many ideas are out there. Many of them originate with well-meaning, good-intended people who have it in their mind a way to make things better. However, to really know if an idea is a good one or not we need to hold it up to the cross of Christ.
We need to listen, and hear, and think about these ideas but don't stop there. Ask questions. Does it go against God's law? Does it elevate human wants and needs above submission to God's will? Do we have to compromise the word of God if we want to see this idea come to pass?
We could also ask questions like: How does this glorify the church? How does this bring glory to God? How does this shine light on the cross?
If an idea can do that, it's probably a good start. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23
Matthew 18:12 “What do you think? . . " Jesus challenges us to think and not just blindly accept whatever we hear. "Test all things; hold fast what is good." 1 Thessalonians 5:21
How can we know what is good? We can learn to be kingdom-minded people. Hope you can join us this morning!
