Care, Concern, and Desire to Serve

As we get this week started, let me encourage you to consider the advice from the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15. In that council, they were trying to decide what part of the law applies to all the non-Jews. As they considered it, they determined that all people were only saved by faith through believing in Jesus Christ. The Apostle Peter made the best case for it. He summarized God’s plan: “But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they” (Acts 15:11).

Jesus’ half-brother James, the pastor of the church in Jerusalem, helped them think through the issue with specific biblical principles. He taught that the Gentiles should tailor their freedom in Christ in such a way as to be sensitive to the believing Jews, the unsaved Jews, and the Gentiles who had heard the law of Moses. In other words, he wanted all followers of Christ to live a humble life in consideration of those around him or her.

How should we live then?

We need to consider those around us with a sense of care, concern, and a desire to serve. We want to be sensitive to those around us always. This includes three basic implications for each one of us.

First, we must treat every person as an ambassador of Jesus Christ. What we say, what we do, and our attitude should reflect a genuine care, concern, and desire to serve the other person. Whether or not we believe the other person is a follower of Jesus or not, we should be sensitive to the way we live in front of them.

Second, we cannot force our personal preferences on others. Whatever your preferences are as to how you live your life in order to honor Jesus Christ, you cannot force that upon another person. Unless the Bible explicitly commands or forbids a particular thing, then we need to treat it as an area of liberty. In Ephesians, Paul says to forbear with each other in love – literally, put up with each other (Eph 4:2-3). He also writes, “Be patient with all” (1 Thess 5:14).

Third, we must never conflate salvation with sanctification. In order to be saved, you just simply repent of your sin, turn to God on the basis of the death of Jesus Christ as the wrath-bearing, substitutional atonement, and ask Him to save you. When you do this, you get saved or become a child of God. On the other hand, progressive sanctification deals with living out your salvation on a daily basis as you follow Jesus as your Lord. Of course, they are connected; yet, they are also separate as well.

Don’t Be Like That Guy

This weekend I heard of a pastor who called a local school this week and demanded things to hold someone accountable for something he heard about from another person. Fortunately, one of our Sonrise members answered the phone. As a mature follower of Jesus, this member was not offended or turned off to the Gospel. Yet, this pastor was rude, said mean things, and was demanding. Aware that I have failed many times before myself, I think that this text would be a good reminder for me to treat those around me with a sense of care, concern, and a desire to serve. What would have been good for this pastor, is good for me too. I humbly hear the story and challenge myself to live every day with these three implications in mind.

 

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