How to Behave: Part XIII
Romans 15:14-22
Personally, I've been completely satisfied with who you are and what you are doing. You seem to me to be well-motivated and well-instructed, quite capable of guiding and advising one another. So, my dear friends, don't take my rather bold and blunt language as criticism. It's not criticism. I'm simply underlining how very much I need your help in carrying out this highly focused assignment God gave me, this priestly and gospel work of serving the spiritual needs of the non-Jewish outsiders so they can be presented as an acceptable offering to God, made whole and holy by God's Holy Spirit.
Looking back over what has been accomplished and what I have observed, I must say I am most pleased—in the context of Jesus, I'd even say proud, but only in that context. I have no interest in giving you a chatty account of my adventures, only the wondrously powerful and transformingly present words and deeds of Christ in me that triggered a believing response among the outsiders. In such ways I have trailblazed a preaching of the Message of Jesus all the way from Jerusalem far into northwestern Greece. This has all been pioneer work, bringing the Message only into those places where Jesus was not yet known and worshiped. My text has been, Those who were never told of him— they'll see him! Those who've never heard of him— they'll get the message!
And that's why it has taken me so long to finally get around to coming to you.
Paul knows how to compliment people… if someone told me that they thought I knew what I was doing when it came to any area of my life my confidence would grow. Telling me I’m able to guide someone else would encourage me to go and guide someone. And being told I’m needed in an endeavor straight from God would make me feel incredible! After hearing Paul tell them how to behave towards each other and strangers they were told that these were just reminders of how important it is that they continue in these things because it is helping Paul reach the Gentiles with the message of Christ.
Did you ever stop to think about your role in your community? If you are a teacher you are taking on a role that frees someone else to go reach those who have never heard of Christ. If you are behind the scenes babysitting, doing construction work, vacuuming… you are allowing people to do what they need to do to serve Christ in the way they are called to serve instead of sitting on the sidelines because children were demanding, a floor needed sanding, or there were too many chores to do anything else. It may not seem like much, but whatever it is you do, give it to God and He will use it for His glory.
Hugs & Love
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1 comment:
How we act in our everyday lives is a testament. At some point, when it is discovered that we are Christians, all that we have done will be seen in a new light. Hopefully, it will be one of the impression that we were acting according to the "good" cliches about our faith.
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