The Crown of Glory

"The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: ² shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; ³ nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; ⁴ and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away."

1 Peter 5:1-4

Peter exhorted those given oversight in the Body of Christ to volunteer willingly and not to be motivated by financial gain.  It is fitting those who labour in the Word of God and sow spiritual things reap a reward according to God's gracious provision (1 Corinthians 9:7-11; 1 Timothy 5:17-18).  The opportunity for income should never, however, enter into our motive for Christian service.  If earning money is why we "serve" we are nothing more than hirelings who flee at the first hint of trouble to save their own skin, lacking love for the sheep of Christ's flock.  It may be cliche to say pastoral work is not a career but a calling, yet it is a calling which is a lifelong career--whether in a paid position or not.

This passage makes it clear to embark in the ministry because it is a paid position would be "dishonest gain" or "filthy lucre" in the KJV.  Peter says those worthy of financial support are those who gladly do the exact same job for free if they had the time and opportunity.  Those in leadership or overseeing the church ought not to live as kings and queens, seeking to control or subjugate others under them.  We are to be examples for others as Jesus set an example for His disciples when He washed their feet.  This was not a one-off humbling of Himself but provided a practical illustration which they were to follow.  Jesus humbled Himself to become a man of no reputation, took the form of a servant, and willingly laid down His life to save sinners.

When I became aware of God's call and gifting of me to teach, I identified with Luke Skywalker tinkering with droids and being restricted to a moisture farm in a desert when he wanted to fly a ship in space.  Initially there was a part of me that felt like nothing less than a recognised pastoral position at a church was sufficient.  But quickly I realised God had already given me a wife and children, an opportunity to teach children at Sunday School, and even lead a Bible study.  Since my calling and ordination did not come from men I did not need to tell anyone what God had shown me (which later was miraculously confirmed):  I voluntarily stepped up my efforts in study and teaching in preparation for a day in the future I could not predict.  In time God graciously opened doors He enabled me to step through, and the doors He opens no man can close.

Whether we serve at church in a paid or unpaid position, we should have the mindset of eager volunteers who are joyful to contribute.  Ministry in the church should never be seen as a chore or something we "have" to do but service we delight to do for the glory of God.  The glory of this earth fades and money grows wings and flies away, but those who humbly serve Jesus "will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away."

Rise and Shine

One of the scenes I enjoy in the movie "The Great Race" (of which there are many) is when Max urged Professor Fate to rise from his backseat bed:  "Time to get up.  C'mon Professor, rise and shine!"  The grumpy and likely hungover Professor shouted, "Rise and shine?"  "It's 7:30," Max calmly replied.  "Then you rise and you shine!" bellowed the villain professor to his sidekick.  Though some of us are reluctant to leave the warmth of our beds on a cold morning, God created the sun to faithfully rise and shine.  The sun supplies light and heat according to God's design.

The sun shining is a declaration of God's glory as is written in Psalm 19:4-6:  "Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, ⁵ which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoices like a strong man to run its race. ⁶ Its rising is from one end of heaven, and its circuit to the other end; and there is nothing hidden from its heat."  In shining bright the sun is fulfilling its purpose, doing exactly as God created it to do.  It supplies heat for our planet, rays which nourish plants to grow and governs the day with light.  This call to rising and shining then is to embrace God's purpose and design with our lives to glorify Him.

When the moon is visible in the heavens at night and the manner of shining is different:  instead of being the source of light itself it reflects the glory of the sun upon the surface of our planet.  In a similar way man was created in the image of God and the glorious reflection of His qualities have been dimmed by our fallen, fleshly nature.  It is when we are born again the Light of the World Jesus Christ shines from us as the sun.  We can only "rise and shine" because we have been raised to new life through faith in Jesus Christ and it is His work.  The power to shine in the darkness is His alone and God desires our cooperation and willingness to this end.

Today in this sense is always our "time to shine," not of a desire for fame or fruitfulness but because God is glorious.  On our own we are barren, stark, and cold as the moon, yet after being born again we are filled with the supernatural fire of the Holy Spirit in power.  I am convinced the miraculous work God does inside one person is to be esteemed more greatly than the work He does through that person.  One heart set aflame by the love and fear of God--unlike the sun or moon which will one day cease to shine--will live forever in glory with Jesus Christ.  Our risen Saviour shines as the light of the world through those who trust Him and obey.  God does not need us, but He loves and calls us.  What He calls us to do He will empower us to do just like the sun that rises every day without fail.

The Unalterable Recipe

Since my mum taught me to bake as a child, I have enjoyed making tasty treats to share.  With the rise of the internet it has allowed me to branch out from my trusty Betty Crocker Cookbook and learn to make an array of balanced meals and deserts.  My personal method regarding new recipes is two-fold:  the first time follow the recipe as precisely as possible before making any adjustments, and the second is always try out a recipe before serving it to guests.  Even if I suspect there is too much of one ingredient or not enough of another, I find it necessary to establish a baseline according to the actual recipe so I can know if I have found a keeper or should move on.

One of the greatest compliments as a casual baker is when someone enjoys my offering enough to ask for the recipe.  I have benefited greatly from people sharing recipes with me so I am happy to freely share the love.  Some of the best recipes I have my mother was given by an old lady down the street named Ginger!  I acknowledge people have different cooking and baking styles, but there is one common thing people do:  they ask for a recipe based upon the finished product they enjoyed, and when they receive the recipe feel the need to alter it.  There is no word I am aware of in the English language to describe this curious practice, but there should be.  I am open to suggestions! :)

During a walk yesterday with my wife we discussed this and how people can form opinions about certain ingredients being "good" or "bad."  There are arbitrary amounts we determine to be "too much" or some which seem too little; we make substitutions to cater to our particular tastes and diets.  There is no problem with this!  What I am pointing out is the human tendency to enjoy and want to replicate a finished product but simultaneously want to determine our own way to achieve the same result.  I am reminded of a quote from Leonard Ravenhill, a man greatly used by the LORD known for his praying.  He said, "Everyone wants to have my mantle, but nobody wants my sackcloth and ashes."  People who respected him wanted to be like him, to experience such a revelation of the living God.  They wanted to arrive in a place of spiritual authority like Ravenhill had in a moment when he by God had been brought to this place of humility through years of private prayer.  They liked the end result of a man surrendered to God, but weren't interested to labour in prayer.  Having his mantle given was preferred over following the recipe of surrender to God with perseverance.

If we desire to follow Jesus, He says we need to deny ourselves daily, take up our cross, and follow Him.  There is no shortcut to this complete surrender of our will and choosing to obey Him.  But we are not convinced of this.  So we experiment with various churches, focus in on doctrines of personal interest, buy popular books, and embrace spiritual disciplines others have found profitable--often with little success.  Baking and eating provides insight into our spiritual issues.  Often the problem isn't with the butter made from cows or the sugar refined from cane:  the problem is in our appetites, lack of self control, and unwillingness to submit to God in faith.  The cultures and people of the world bring rich diversity to the Body of Christ the church and Jesus is the Head.  The diets and tastes of people differ, and this is no problem because our unity does not arise from uniformity but from faith in Jesus Christ.

Because of the unique physical bodies we reside in there is a need to alter our diets accordingly:  diabetes, allergies, and intolerances dictate what is safe for us as we employ moderation in eating.  It is fine to steer clear of foods which make us feel ill or don't agree with our constitution.  If we want to follow Jesus we need to follow Him His way.  This life of faith and obedience to Jesus isn't like a recipe we can tweak to improve according to our arbitrary tastes and obtain ideal results.  There is no Christianity without suffering; there is no fellowship or communion with God without prayer.  There is no fruitfulness without faith demonstrated by obedience.  If we desire revival, we must personally embrace it ourselves as we yield to the Holy Spirit.  There is no substitute for Jesus!

The Spirit of Christ

"Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, ¹¹ searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. ¹² To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things which angels desire to look into."

1 Peter 1:10-12

We can have this idea those who have received revelation from God have all the answers or insight, but these verses paint a different picture.  Through the prophets in the Old Testament God revealed the Messiah would suffer and it puzzled the prophets who received this divine revelation.  Under the heavy yoke of the Law of Moses the grace of the Gospel was preached yet not understood.  Inspired by the "Spirit of Christ" faithful prophets searched what suffering the Christ would endure, when it would occur, and how it could possibly lead to glory.  For over a thousand years these questions remained unanswered, and this includes angels who minister in the presence of God.

Peter explained these things revealed to the prophets (without their full comprehension of what or when these events would occur) are a ministry to us.  In the Word of God we have testimony of saints who instruct and teach us according to the power of the Holy Spirit who has filled us by grace through faith.  Their reports generated by the everlasting Spirit of Christ now provides understanding how Jesus Christ did suffer on Calvary, was raised the third day, and now is seated at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us.  He is the Lamb of God slain from the foundations of the world (Revelation 13:8) and knew what He would suffer and how it would lead to everlasting glory--not just for Him, but all who believe on His name.

From this passage two things come to mind:  even the partial revelation divinely granted us can be a blessing and preach unalterable truth to generations yet born.  The prophets had no idea of the full extent of what God revealed through them, and there is no possible way to quantify how useful God will make our testimony as we remain true to His Word.  Instead of making complete knowledge our aim (for who can fully grasp the infinite), knowing God trumps all.  The second point is Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life who has sent the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth.  I am convinced that if Jesus is not the Christ and Son of God He is a devil, deceiver, and blasphemer.  Because He is the Christ, having fulfilled the Law and the prophets, at His name every knee shall bow and tongue confess He is God.

The words of Peter to the council in Acts 4:8-12 is a fitting conclusion of what we know and are assured of by the Spirit of Christ:  "Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: ⁹ If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, ¹⁰ let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. ¹¹ This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.' ¹² Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."  Knowing Jesus Christ as Saviour and God-made-flesh won't just transform your life today but for all eternity--for good!