Priceless Life

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” -Jesus in John 12:24

Jesus gave up his life to usher his people back into relationship with God. I am completely okay with accepting that Jesus died for this purpose but we refuse to die ourselves. I act as if my life is more valuable than Jesus’ because I will not lay mine down in the same way he did. If anyone deserves to die it would be me, not Jesus because whatever is more valuable should be saved first. When asked the hypothetical question, “if your house was burning down and you could grab one thing, what would you grab?” My answer is not “socks!” No, my answer is “wedding pictures.” I save the pictures from the flames because their value far exceeds socks. So whose life is more valuable, Jesus’ or mine? Who should be saved from death? I know the answer but yet I act the opposite. I applaud Jesus for his death but when he commands me to do the same I ignore him. I act as if I didn’t hear him because I do not want to hear him. I do not want to die.

I refuse to have my “cool” reputation murdered at work or school for the sake of the gospel and the good of those around me. I refuse to have my desire for safety and control murdered so that I can love a strange people in a strange part of the world who have never heard the good news of Jesus. I refuse to have my desire for comfort and rest after a long day of work murdered so that I can love and serve my wife wholeheartedly. I refuse to die like Jesus and I treat his life as more expendable than my own. I would never, ever say that my life is more valuable than Jesus’ but my actions proclaim this plainly.

The most unbelievable and shocking thing in all of this is that God still passionately loves me and counts me perfectly righteous in Jesus. Even though I so often treat him with contempt, he chooses to save me from the burning house at the cost of his own life. Why wouldn’t I lay down every facet of my life in submission to such a person? To not do so will lead me to the coma of mediocrity and apathy. I/we have been saved to die selflessly for those who do not yet know him, but will one day worship him as we do.

Hopeful Process

“And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip…” Acts 6:5

“On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven…” Acts 21:8

Over 20 years separate these sightings of Philip. In Acts 6 (30’s AD) he was in charge of distributing food and waiting tables but in Acts 21 (57 AD) he is called Philip, the evangelist. He goes from young Philip, waiter to older Philip, evangelist. This gives me so much hope and freedom for the future. So often I get discouraged because my life is in such transition and upheaval right now. I am still learning how to be comfortable in whom God has made me to be in Jesus. But this subtle story shows me that God entrusts to me small things now, so that when I have more responsibility I will not defame His gospel or love a title more than Him. It took over 20 years but Philip was used mightily by God, so much so that he was distinguished from other Philips in the region by his evangelism.

 So lets enjoy our small roles now because “one who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much” and having God is sweeter than any role He might give us.

The Tangible Gospel

My Struggle

I believe the person and work of Jesus Christ is sufficient to meet all of our needs.  Jesus testifies to this by exclaiming to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) I find that cognitively it is easy to embrace this grace filled doctrine, but often I struggle with a disconnect between holding an understanding and making it tangible. How are the truths and promises of the gospel proliferating beyond the head and heart into overflowing actions?

The Beauty of the Gospel

The beauty of the gospel is that it is not limited to one people group, but rather the truths of the gospel are multicultural, and multidimensional.  This means that the gospel is able to cross cultures and engage millions of individuals in ways that are unique to each person.  The beauty is displayed in the array of diverse worship that is evoked from the multitude.  The gospel is not limited to a definite, distinct directive, but rather it is made tangible in a thousand different ways everyday.  What I offer here are three contextual states that God uses to cultivate a tangible display of His gospel.

Three States

Obedience: When we are obedient to the Holy Spirit’s direction in day-to-day matters an avenue is created for the gospel to take formation.  Let me explain, as we are walking in step with the Spirit, He will put us right in the middle of where God is moving.  Through Paul, God proclaimed, “we are ambassadors for Christ, God (is) making his appeal through us.” (2 Corinthians 5:20) This reveals to us that God uses us to make the gospel tangible to the world.  The obedience of our actions and the grace of our words will scream to the world the transforming power of the gospel.

Suffering: The second state in which God chooses to display a tangible gospel is in the context of suffering.  I do not think this would be a stranger to many.  Where else does our heart find hope when we are in despair?  The hope of the gospel is made most tangible when the Christian is at his end and the only anchor upon which he can cling is the promise in which Christ speaks into his heart.

Community: Lastly, I have found that God uses the community of believers to make the gospel tangible to one another.  As we engage other believers we see imperfect pictures of Christ.  From each other we learn the life changing power of the gospel as it is displayed through the individual.  More than that, the gospel is made tangible when Christians give of themselves to one another.  The gospel is placed on the center stage when Christians bear one another’s burdens.  Living under the rule of the gospel changes the inclinations of the Christian’s heart and make him a radical giver.  This is incredibly foreign to the world, and extremely attractive.

Final Note

These states are not to be taken as all-inclusive.  I dare not limit the power of God and His work through the gospel.  However, I do believe they can be helpful in seeing the gospel more easily.  May we praise God for His goodness in graciously giving us a glorious inheritance!