A new Command!
Some more RED letter words from Jesus...
John 13:34,35
"A new command I give you; Love one
another. As I have loved you, so you must
love one another. By this all men will
know that you are my disciples, if you love
one another."
John Piper in his book: 'don't waste your life' writes: 'There is no point in overstating the case for the value of secular work. It is not the Gospel. By itself, it does not save anyone. In fact, with no spoken words about Jesus Christ, our secular work will not awaken wonder for the glory of Christ. That is why the New Testament modestly calls our work an adornment of the Gospel. In addressing slaves, Paul says they are "to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior" (Titus 2:9-10). The point here is not tp endorse slavery (which Paul undermined more indirectly by calling the converted slave, Onesimus, "no longer. . . a slave but a beloved brother," Philemon 16), but to show that the way we do our work "adorns" the doctrine of God.
In other words, our work is not the beautiful woman, but the necklace. The beautiful woman is the Gospel- "the doctrine of God our Savior." So one crucial meaning of our secular work is that the way we do it will increase or decrease the attractiveness of the Gospel we profess before unbelievers. Of course, the great assumption is that they know we are Christians. The whole point of the text breaks down if there is nothing for our work to "adorn." Thinking that our work will glorify God when people do not know we are Christians is like admiring an effective ad on TV that never mentions the product. People may be impressed but won't know what to buy.'
Jesus says : "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
At work - At Church - At Sport - At Seminary - At Home - will others see love in us?
I was recently having a chat with a mate - and we were discussing the disappointment of how Christians treat each other... You may have had the same conversations before...
May I challenge you to tell others you are a follower of Christ. Let them watch your life closely. Let them look over your shoulder in how you speak to your spouse, children, spend your money spend your time... We need men and women who follow Christ to model it. Not be ashamed of it. Not be just "Sunday" Christians. Let them see you in the office, not compromise your beliefs to 'Fit in'! - Loving the unfriendly & unloveable!
What does it look like to love one another?
Is it conditional to their religion? If they live in the right suburb? Drive the right car? Married? Single? Christian? Non Christian? Fat? Fit? Educated? Handicapped? Young? Elderly?
How will others know you are His disciple?
I hope and pray that you are loving each other!
The reason you can love each other...
is because...
HIS WRATH IS SATISFIED!!!
John 13:34,35
"A new command I give you; Love one
another. As I have loved you, so you must
love one another. By this all men will
know that you are my disciples, if you love
one another."
John Piper in his book: 'don't waste your life' writes: 'There is no point in overstating the case for the value of secular work. It is not the Gospel. By itself, it does not save anyone. In fact, with no spoken words about Jesus Christ, our secular work will not awaken wonder for the glory of Christ. That is why the New Testament modestly calls our work an adornment of the Gospel. In addressing slaves, Paul says they are "to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior" (Titus 2:9-10). The point here is not tp endorse slavery (which Paul undermined more indirectly by calling the converted slave, Onesimus, "no longer. . . a slave but a beloved brother," Philemon 16), but to show that the way we do our work "adorns" the doctrine of God.
In other words, our work is not the beautiful woman, but the necklace. The beautiful woman is the Gospel- "the doctrine of God our Savior." So one crucial meaning of our secular work is that the way we do it will increase or decrease the attractiveness of the Gospel we profess before unbelievers. Of course, the great assumption is that they know we are Christians. The whole point of the text breaks down if there is nothing for our work to "adorn." Thinking that our work will glorify God when people do not know we are Christians is like admiring an effective ad on TV that never mentions the product. People may be impressed but won't know what to buy.'
Jesus says : "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
At work - At Church - At Sport - At Seminary - At Home - will others see love in us?
I was recently having a chat with a mate - and we were discussing the disappointment of how Christians treat each other... You may have had the same conversations before...
May I challenge you to tell others you are a follower of Christ. Let them watch your life closely. Let them look over your shoulder in how you speak to your spouse, children, spend your money spend your time... We need men and women who follow Christ to model it. Not be ashamed of it. Not be just "Sunday" Christians. Let them see you in the office, not compromise your beliefs to 'Fit in'! - Loving the unfriendly & unloveable!
What does it look like to love one another?
Is it conditional to their religion? If they live in the right suburb? Drive the right car? Married? Single? Christian? Non Christian? Fat? Fit? Educated? Handicapped? Young? Elderly?
How will others know you are His disciple?
I hope and pray that you are loving each other!
The reason you can love each other...
is because...
HIS WRATH IS SATISFIED!!!
posted by PJC at 8:48 pm
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