Conversing the Kingdom: Daily Pursuit

2 Corinthians 5:11-21


When God in Christ reconciled the world to himself two things happened. First our sins were no longer counted against us, a fact that should never be taken lightly as Simon the Pharisee did. Instead we should take our lead from the prostitute who understood more fully what it meant that her sins were forgiven. Secondly the message of reconciliation was entrusted to us. This is a responsibility given to the church and not an optional extra. This is something that requires a daily pursuit! What are we doing about if? If Jesus were to ask us today what would we say to him. What has our service today for him looked like? What have we considered important enough to include in our Facebook statue, was it for God's glory? How should our lives look if we are to take this responsibility seriously...

Conversing the Kingdom: The Fear

Psalm 128

"Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord." The phrase "the fear of the Lord" is often misunderstood but it has many current parallels that can be helpful in our understanding such as: The fear of the government causes us to abide by the laws and stay out of jail. The fear of the referee causes us to abide by the laws of the game and avoid being sent off. By fearing the Lord we "walk in his ways" and abide by his laws in obedience that brings about a freedom and joy unparalleled. Because we live as we should and our worship is directed to the one true God and not elsewhere in idolatry there is blessing...

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Conversing the Kingdom: Labor in Vain?

1 Corinthians 15

Paul often refers to believers who have died as those who sleep. It is not a gentle way of saying so and so has died but more a description of their current state. Yes, Paul acknowledges that when a believer dies they are immediately present with the Lord (2 Cor.5:8). But sleep refers more to the state of the body. The period between the body of flesh dying and the occupation of the new resurrected body to come on the last day. Our spirit is eternal but the body is perishable. When we rise again, instead of a body of dust after the image of Adam, we shall inherit a spiritual body after the image of Christ. What an amazing promise, what an amazing hope. No longer will death have a hold over us. And this is for our encouragement that we "be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord we labor not in vain...."

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Conversing the Kingdom: Striving to Excel

1 Corinthians 11-14

In these chapters Paul has much to say about the calling on the church, the body of believers, the body of Christ. He details first what the authority structure should look like. Then about the Lord's supper and its administration and how it is set apart from any other meal. Then he explains about spiritual gifts and how the same Spirit manifests through believers in a diverse way for the common good. But he also warns against elevating some gifts at the disregard of others. Instead he encourages a unity in the body that acknowledges each part and its unique roll in the whole. He then explains that although these spiritual gifts are important here on earth they are only temporary and a dim reflection of their future glory in the world to come and what is most important is Love, a love that never ends.
"Pursue Love" Paul commands and "earnestly desire the spiritual gifts..." and in particular prophesy. Why prophesy? Because prophecy by definition is upbuilding, encouraging and consoling for the church and this is Paul's heart for the church. As Christians he commends us to "strive to excel in building up the Church." Why? Because as the "outsider enters (into the church) he will be convicted by all, he will be called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed and so falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among (his Church)"
What greater calling to the Church can there be!?

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Conversing the Kingdom: You are Sufficient

Psalm 142

When times are good when we have money in the bank, a roof over our head, friends who loves us and family who stick by us it is easy to say with David "You are my refuge my portion in the land of the living" and that is sufficient for me. But what happens when we loose our job and money flows away and we can't pay our rent. What happens if our friends turns against us and our family desert us. Can we say then that the Lord is still sufficient... What is it in our lives that we hold onto too much that prevents us following God's will for our lives. Do we value a friendship too much that we will not risk it to share the gospel with that person. Do we value our money too much that we can't be generous...

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