Comparison

They say "comparison is the theif of joy" but I think maybe that depends on what's being compared. For Paul, he had great insight into what God has in store for His children. Paul knew of the glory and majesty and blessings that God will give to them that believe on that great and last day. For Paul, that meant that comparison was a source of joy because he was able to look past the present sufferings and look forward to the new home. 

If we compare anything, let's look forward with joy at the hope we have in Jesus. 

“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.”

—2 Corinthians 4:17-18

"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,

and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord

more than those who watch for the morning,

more than those who watch for the morning." --Psalms 130:5-6

What should the Christian’s relationship with the world be like?

What should the Christian’s relationship with the world be like? At first glance, one might think that the Christian should have no relationship with the world. The Bible sometimes uses the phrase “the world” to describe the enemies of God and His people. One such example is Ephesians 6:12 in which Paul through the Spirit of God warns us, “. . . our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Therefore, one might assume the best relationship is either not at all, or to stand in opposition to the world.

This would seem to fall in line with James’s similar warning in chapter 4 where we learn, “that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” Indeed, a friendly relationship with evil or a level of comfort with the unholy and ungodly things of this world would certainly damage our faith or put our reliance on God or allegiance to Him at risk.

However, to adopt such a view that the world and its people are irredeemable goes against what it means to be ministers (2 Cor 3:6), missionaries (Acts 12:25), ambassadors (2 Cor 5:20), and servants (Rom 16:1) since the mission field itself is not only the weary Christians but also the fertile soil of the world.

In fact, Paul felt the need to clarify in his letter to the Corinthian church that when he wrote about the kinds of people the church members should associate with or avoid, he intended for them to avoid sinners that bear the name of Christ, not all sinful people. He goes on to say that if the message was to avoid all sinful people, “you would have to leave this world.” (1 Cor 5:9-11).

Paul says he doesn’t expect us to be astronauts. He does expect us to be in the mission field, in the messy world we live in, not as friends or allies with evil but as a voice crying out in the wilderness calling people to repentance and salvation (Is 40:3, John 1:23).

Preaching the Gospel

This morning, we continue our series in a study of worship: what it means, why we worship, and how we worship. Last week we talked about the connection between the words for worship and for worthy. Our worship is an expression of our recognition of the One who is worthy: God. Psalm 18:3 describes worship as a calling on the Lord: “I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so I shall be saved from my enemies.”

We worship in song, in prayer, in the gathering around the table of thanksgiving, and we also worship in studying the word of God. Just as we talked about various ways that offerings and sacrifices could be brought in a way God does not desire, we also see boundaries and direction for what should be taught in the church. Our messages should not just be life-lessons, personal anecdotes, and a bit of light-heartedness. Neither should they just be the text of the Bible without explanation or application.

Our messages require a number of vital ingredients, both from the ancient world of the text and from the day and age in which we live. “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12). We must have the text, and we must know what to do with that text (James 1:22). We must have the Scriptures, and we must know how to handle them (2 Tim 2:15).

Our messages must be relatable and clear (1 Cor 9:22). Sometimes, clarity comes with an awakening. Sometimes, it is well-received but at other times, the truth may bring pain (Gal 4:16). However, painful truths give us no right to be hurtful:  “Instead, speak the truth in love” (Eph 4:15).

Our messages warn, they give hope, they bring compassion, they offer love, they promise peace. Sometimes, our messages even use words (1 Pt 3:1).

Is your life bringing a Gospel message to the world around you?