Does it Really Matter?
Don’t’ touch this! Don’t taste that! Don’t go near this! Do you think things that are here today and gone tomorrow are worth that kind of attention?
Yet, on the other hand, you and I are responsible for lovingly confronting the explicit sinful behavior of my brothers and sisters in Christ through exhortation and encouragement with the Word. The Bible tells us in Hebrew 3: 12-14a to spiritually watch out for one another. It says, “See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”
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You Have a New Wardrobe
S. (scripture) Colossians 3:9-11 (MSG)9-11
Don’t lie to one another. You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire. Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.
O.(observation) In these verses of Scripture, Paul is not only telling the Believers in Colossae how not to live but why they should live a certain way. Using the analogy of a new custom-fitted wardrobe, Paul parallels it with their new humanity in Jesus Christ. He reminds the Christians in Colossae and you and I today that since God has given us a new custom-fitted wardrobe (so to speak), we have a responsibility to strip off and get rid of the old stuff, for it no longer befits us. The new wardrobe ironically isn’t about what we wear but refers to the condition of our heart which dictates our thoughts and actions. In other words, Paul is letting us know that because God has made our hearts anew, what we think, say, and do should reflect our new humanity (new wardrobe) in Christ, as we are clothed in His image.
A.(application) Not too long ago, I gave a dress of mine to my granddaughter that I had held for 20+ years with hopes of one day fitting into again! Though I could have possibly lost the weight to fit the dress, the dress no longer fitted me. What I mean is that the dress was designed for a much younger person more than someone my age. As I reflect on the day, I gave the dress to my granddaughter (who happened to love it, thinkin it was retro), I can better hear what Paul is telling us. As we grow in Christ, we should desire to let go of some habits, practices, or behaviors that no longer resemble who we are. I realize that letting go may be challenging for us (remember, I held my dress a long time), yet, when we let go of things for God’s glory, He empowers us to do so.
P.(prayer) Father, I pray that my Sistahgurl will be empowered today to let go of the old wardrobe and put on the new wardrobe you have custom-designed for her.
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Words that KILL
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Steward not Owner
As a Pastor, I am called to be His spiritual supervisor “so to speak.” In other words, I am entrusted with the hearts of others to nurture, encourage, equip, correct, rebuke to love with His Truth, and to lead them into the Truth of who He is; then, I am to empower them to do the same for someone else. I am not a dictator, sin sniffer nor owner of my gift(s) or any position that He has given me. I am a spiritual steward. Therefore I must be careful not to lord my position over anyone as if they were to lift me higher. I am not to be as the world’s “celebrity.” NO, His great love is equally given to me as it is to you; our calling may just be different. The Floor Church is not my church, it is His. Empowering Women, WorshipFest- Hawaii or any other ministries that I’ve been privileged to lead are not my ministries; they too are my Master’s; I am simply a steward of. Therefore, it is not my responsibility to grow His church – to change a person’s life – to be fruitful in numbers or abundant resources, it is my Master’s responsibility – the One who has called me. I am a steward; He will grant all increase and bring forth the fruit of my labor. I am simply called to do and to be obedient to what He tells me to do always; the results of what I do are His; for His glory and fame always – never mine. I take delight in this, for as a steward, there is not pressure for me to produce or to perform; I can rest – Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV) says: 28 “Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly i heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burdent is light.” As a steward, I simply TRUST & OBEY; period. My prayer today is that all those called by God and gifted with a certain talent, would shift the paradigm from ownership to stewards. That we would break down the wall that separates us as the Body of Christ or from those who have less and help each other out. I pray that we would knock over the pedal stool that attempts to lift us higher, and simply do the works of ministry by loving those around us; encouraging, equipping and empowering others to do likewise. That we would allow the One who has called us to do what only He can do in us and through us. When we surrender to the calling of stewardship, He will use our lives to impact the communities around us with His gospel preached and seen – to bring glory to His name. This is the only thing that should really matter-right?
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WAIT not WEIGHT
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