Christ's Love Unites

I rejoice in the wisdom of God, how He has comprised the body of Christ of many members.  Jesus Christ is the Head, and He grants gifts and talents to each of us through the Holy Spirit.  The book by Os Guinness titled "The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life" explores the call of God upon our lives as Christians.  Though it's been years since I read the book, I remember how he made a distinction between the general call and the specific call upon each Christian.  All of us are called to love God and one another, to forgive, to pray for one another, and to share the Gospel with others.  These are all aspects of the general call we must embrace on the path to discovering our individual calls to specific roles and functions in the church - the Body of Christ.

God has seen fit to draw together people of various ages with unique perspectives, different backgrounds and personalities, with distinct talents and weaknesses to make up the church that spans the globe.  He has sovereignly led each believer to gather and join in worship and service with Christ as our common denominator.  He lays upon our hearts varying degrees of desire to accomplish His will and the power to accomplish it.  Even those who share a call to a single role will have unique ways of answering it.  This is a beautiful thing, the freedom God has provided each of us as we obey the leading of the Holy Spirit.  1 Corinthians 12:28-30 says, "And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?"  The answer to Paul's rhetorical questions is obviously no.  God has given unique calls, gifts, and roles in the church.

Directly after these verses, Paul launches into a better, higher way of living:  one where all we say and do - indeed the very substance of our lives - is to be the demonstration of God's perfect love.  Every calling, all service, every distinct ministry in the church is intended by God to be according to His love, the same love Christ demonstrated when He went to the cross for the sins of the world.  What I have witnessed over the years (and nearly in the past slipped into that sticky slough myself) is people becoming more and more critical towards the "church" in general.  They feel it is their calling to be watchmen, to warn like the prophets of old.  Predictive and didactic (corrective) prophesy is a vital part of the Body of Christ today.  In accordance with the Word when a prophet speaks today, his words and tone must be motivated and flavoured with love for God and others - even for atheists, heretics, and hypocrites!

What can happen with our individual callings is think everyone should share our perspective or approach.  When others do not agree with our methods or conclusions, the temptation is to separate ourselves from them.  It is sad how when we give the smallest differences the power to divide us when Christ and His resurrection power should unite us!  God's love is never content with distance.  Division in the Body is a massive problem.  I'm thinking if your leg was chopped off in a car accident, instantly you would know you are in serious trouble and need to see a doctor immediately.  Have you cut yourself off from fellowship with other Christians because of a disagreement?  Take the initiative to humble yourself, leaving your gift at the altar so you might first be reconciled with your brother.  Is it wise to use the internet to air your unresolved differences with the whole world, stirring up bitterness, judgments, and gossip?  Why not just suffer wrong and tell God about it?  We must be careful examine our motives in everything we do - even when we write a blog post! :)  Do we write because we love God and people, or do we just want to make our point?  God knows.

Redeemed Injuries

One thing I find very comforting is the redemptive power of God in every aspect of the life of a believer.  Our flesh may cringe and disagree, but the claim of God's Word and the power of Jesus Christ is undeniable.  Paul wrote with confidence in Romans 8:28-29, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."  All the things we experience are not good, yet God is able to reconcile them for His purposes.  A Christian, therefore, will never suffer pain or difficulty needlessly.  God has glorious, divine purposes in all He allows.

Last night, I started thinking back on the number of permanent injuries I sustained from my time serving with the youth at Calvary Chapel El Cajon.  I held my hands in front of the mirror.  Seeing the unnatural bend in my left thumb, I thought back with a smile to that night at the Centre when Matt broke that thumb during a game of dodge ball.  I pulled on my right thumb to adjust it.  As I did so, I remembered how Jason hyper-extended and cracked it during a game of football.  I thought of my right elbow and how something snapped whilst arm wrestling Kevin on my kitchen table.  That was my final arm wrestling contest!  Then I looked at my front teeth, yep, the chip was still visible.  I remembered how Brian landed a shot on top of my head during a jousting competition the night before Easter at Shadow Mountain.  Though I carry with me tangible reminders of those moments, without a shred of frustration or regret I was led to pray for each of those young men and others besides.

I thought of pains I had endured, and also the wounds I mistakenly inflicted on others.  There were times over the years I failed as a leader.  I made mistakes in dealing with conflicts.  Sometimes I tried to do the work of the Holy Spirit.  I prayed for those God brought to mind, drawing solace from the fact that God would redeem even my mistakes for His glory - even as He used old injuries to remind me to pray for dear people He and I love very much.  Have you pain?  Have you injuries inflicted by friends or enemies?  Every scar tells a story, and God will redeem every one with His love.  Praise the LORD for His redeeming power, and how He takes even our injuries and uses them to accomplish His everlasting purposes.

Children Are Known

God's character is revealed in scripture as just, One who does not show partiality.  All excuses or justifications of men are swept away by God's righteous judgments.  Though God put on human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ, God is not like a man that He should change.  His Laws are absolute, and His holiness without fail.

This morning I read a most enlightening passage, a verse which stands in stark contrast to the views some have of a gracious God.  2 Chronicles 36:9 says, "Jehoiachin was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months and ten days. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD."  "Evil" is a word in our society reserved for the worst of the worst.  God summed up the 100 day reign of Jehoiachin in a way no one would dare today - a child merely eight years old - like this:  "And he did evil in the sight of the LORD."  Heavy, isn't it?  God did not soften His judgment of Jehoiachin because of his age, his parents, advisors, the fact he was thrown into the deep end as king at a tender age, or the culture of his day.  Jehoiachin stood alone under the piercing gaze of a righteous God, and did evil in God's sight.  This undoubtedly clashes with the views of some, that a good God could have such a view of a mere child.  But that is the point.  God is good, and in Him is no darkness at all.  Without atonement, Jehoiachin would stand eternally condemned for his wickedness - even at eight years old.

There is none who does good, no not one.  In our natural condition, from the womb all are cut off from fellowship with God because of sin.  Proverbs 20:9-11 says, "Who can say, "I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin"? ¹⁰ Diverse weights and diverse measures, they are both alike, an abomination to the LORD. ¹¹ Even a child is known by his deeds, whether what he does is pure and right."  Even a child is known by God by his deeds, whether he works abominations or righteousness.  By the works of the flesh shall no one be justified, but the righteous live by faith in God.  God knows if there is something good in us toward Him, even during our childhood (1 Kings 14:13).  God grants all opportunity through the Gospel to be forgiven and reconciled to Him.  The Judge of all the earth will do right.  There is much we cannot know or grasp now, but we need not grope for God like a man in the dark.  He has revealed Himself in the person of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit, and His immutable Word.  God has demonstrated His love for us because whilst we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Sin is serious business, and God's law reveals our desperate need for a Saviour.  Children and adults alike are observed by God according to righteousness.  How great is our need for the Gospel!  How precious is God's gift of forgiveness and salvation He has offered to all who repent and trust in Him!  Let us not excuse in children what God condemns as evil.  We are to faithfully discipline our children compelled by love, even as God chastens us.  In a culture adrift and bankrupt of biblical morality, God's standard can be upheld in mercy, grace, love, and steadfastness.  God is no respecter of persons, and His righteousness is without partiality.

Rejoicing Always in the LORD

"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!"

 Philippians 4:4

At Calvary Chapel Sydney, we've been studying through Philippians.  Rejoicing in the LORD is a common theme repeated throughout the book.  It's amazing to consider these words were penned by Paul, a man who had been imprisoned without committing a crime.  In fact, in the book of Acts it states one of the rulers who could have released Paul kept him in chains because he hoped to receive a bribe from him - which Paul did not pay!  Paul had every opportunity to be bitter and angry for "losing his freedom."  Yet Paul had learned the secret of contentment and peace that passed understanding through faith in Christ.  He rejoiced in the LORD always, and exhorted all others to do the same.

God uses the circumstances of life to reveal to us the condition of our hearts.  He allows struggles and difficulties to purify and strengthen our faith and resolve to obey Him.  I experienced one such instance (which remains in the infancy stages!) yesterday.  I play baseball on Saturdays with mates at a club in Rouse Hill.  Before the game I knelt on the field for a quick prayer, committing myself and the game to God.  I started on the mound, and for five innings we battled.  Behind 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning with two outs, I hit a ball up the middle and ran.  As my foot came down on first base beating out an infield hit, I saw the ball kick past the first basement.  Without hesitation, instinctively I began to turn to run to second.  Problem was, my right lower-leg didn't get the message as fast as the rest of my body.  I felt my right knee twist out of joint and all my weight pushed down on it - and down I went like a sack of potatoes.

After a couple of minutes I was able to hobble off and ice up.  I could move my leg, but I knew I was done for the day.  We failed in our comeback bid and lost the game.  Personally I had lost a little bit more still:  the ability to easily walk without a pronounced limp or take off socks and shoes!  24 hours later I am not sure if it is a strain, sprain, or a partial tendon rupture (will make an exam appointment tomorrow God-willing).  But having first given the game to the LORD gave me great peace through the knowledge everything is under God's control.  Whether I am back to the diamond in a week or rehab back to health over months, God has me on an adventure of sorts.  He wants me to do some personal pioneering in patience.  He adjusts our limits at times so we might seek to find our satisfaction and comfort not in what we can do but in His presence and what He has done.

I take Paul's exhortation to heart.  In the LORD I can rejoice always, even when my knee is swollen, stiff, and sore.  The peace God gives is independent of my circumstances or how I feel.  Will I choose to experience this rejoicing for the long haul?  Only God knows, but I aim to.  Whether we suffer a strain or complete knee destruction, God remains just as good.  For those who are facing the worst life can offer, Jesus understands because He has gone through it.  He was in all points tempted - He had every opportunity to become bitter at His Father for what He allowed Jesus to face.  Jesus willingly went to the cross for the joy that was set before Him.  You can rejoice in Him, for He is able to deliver and save.  He will never leave or forsake those who put their trust in Him.