-

 2 Corinthians 1:15-16 - Understanding and Trust

We get a sense here of the growth mindset of the Christian.  No matter our age, position, or circumstances we must keep growing.

        Do you have others that understand how much you love them?  We are to be others focused.  We will nod to our brothers and sisters in Christ on the day of the Lord’s return (v.14).  It will be a nod of thankfulness and perhaps relief - happiness and joy.  We will be proud of them and they of us.  Who will you be thankful for and proud of on the Lord’s return?  Well, your family, friends, churchmen - all of those who understand God’s grace and know your love for them.  Jesus wants for us to yearn (deeply desire - not that you needed my definition) for fellowship in heaven.  That is, Christians are designed to love others.  When we are following Jesus we seek God’s benefit for others.

Let me try and be a little clearer.  I want my buddies to be in heaven.  I want to see them there and know that they too got it.  That we all did.  That we knew we were sinners saved only by the Son of God on the Cross.  But not just my buddies, all those Christ loves - our enemies as well.  Even the difficult people at work.  God loves them.

        And my precious family.  I pray that my beautiful wife is there (she has a strong faith and I know she will be).  And my kids (and their spouses and kids).  May we spend eternity together.  I pray my parents will be in heaven.  What a wonder it will be to see those we love.  And I pray that our family members that don’t yet know Jesus will be there as well.  But not only family members.  All of the brothers and sisters in Christ that we’ve walked with and served with over the years.  Henry.  Todd.  Bill.  Shane.  Alan.  Dave.  John.  Dan.  Aaron.  Tracy.  Ethel.  Wally.  Mark.  The list could go on and on if you think of those you’ve served alongside over the years.  Those that know Jesus and trust His grace will be there.

God’s way is the only way out of this evil world.  It is important what our hearts desire (what we “want”).  It better not be earthly ambition and gain.  If so, God help us.  We should live with God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings.  And we should want to bless our friends - anyone that meets Jesus' definition of a neighbour.  Serve them, for this is the only shot we get.  That is the growth and service mindset of a Christian man, a Chrisitan leader.  

We should plan well, never carelessly.  The Christian is well prepared, with a diligent plan, always depending on God.  He is open and obedient to God’s will; not his will.  Don’t fib, lie, or casually say yes when you mean no.  Don’t think there are two ways when there is clearly only one.  That’s the world’s nonsense - it will not end well.  Christians don’t aim to dominate others.  Instead, we aim to work alongside others to help them grow their faith - their understanding and trust in God.  For God gives no proxies for faith.  We each get one ballot - signed and sealed with our own faith.

        God always does what He says.  All of God’s promises (not some of them) are fulfilled in Christ (v.20).

        Lord Jesus, thank you for your marvelous church; it is yours.  May we be faithful to you today - all day.  Please mold us with God-given holiness and sincerity.  Amen.



Edinburgh, Scotland.


Comments

Post a Comment

I'd love to hear your comments, and if you have questions email me at dcbell1111@gmail.com.

Popular posts from this blog

-
Image
 2 Timothy 3 - Are You a Christian, Christian?           Early in my legal career (I'd been practicing about five years and about five years into my Christian walk) I had an interesting encounter with the CEO of one of our firm’s clients.  It was 2001 and technology companies were thriving.           My neighbors in S.W. Calgary were Lebanese immigrants and faithful members of their mosque.  They were some of the best neighbors we’ve ever had.  They owned a bakery that made Pita bread.  I’ll never forget the day we took possession of that house.  As they often would in the eleven years we lived there, they brought me a big bag of fresh bread.  We shared many good conversations with them over the years.  I love them and I pray God blesses them.           My neighbors had a friend from the mosque who was the CEO of Wi-LAN - a publicly listed tech company that held patents for technology that was key to the Blackberry - and later many other mobile phones.  Wi-LAN made many in the mosq
Read more
-
Image
 Hebrews 2:1-5 - Signs and Wonders - Miracles and Gifts I can shock myself at my inability to learn simple lessons.  They say just showing up is 90% of success.  Well, I’m confident inattentiveness, waffling, and ambivalence are keys to failure. In this passage, we hear yet again a warning to “listen very carefully” to God’s message or we run a real risk of total failure - drifting away from God (2:1).  With responsibility comes consequences.  Just ask any sentry, goaltender, place-kicker, or pilot.  You have a job to do - if you don’t do it well the results are clear.  So, let’s do it well. It’s the same as we develop and grow as Christians.  We have to make a decision to grow.  I've been reading about growthmindset lately and I think God is finally getting through to me.           It will not come as a shocker to any dad hooked on porn, a mom who has dabbled in an office romance, or the pastor who’s craftily swindled money from the church.  Christians can’t just casually li
Read more
-
Image
 Hebrews 6 - Faith and Endurance These next two chapters of Hebrews are incredibly encouraging for the Christian.  God gives us confidence and courage to do what we must.  When the whistle blows, be ready to go.  God in Heaven is developing your character; He’s preparing you to fight His battles.           We are responsible to grow.  We know that God repays people for the wrong they have done (Jeremiah 50:24).  And that God uses whomsoever He chooses as His instruments of justice (Jeremiah 50:20).  “For the LORD is a God who gives just punishment; he always repays in full” (Jeremiah 50:56). Thinking of God’s character is sobering, and good.  We know Jesus is the King, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.  In the next few chapters, we hear the truth about who Jesus is and our responsibilities to Him. Nearly 2,000 years after the death, burial, and resurrection of our King we are reminded that there are false teachers today - those leading people astray for power and greed - just as there
Read more