The duty of Christians toward their fellow men and women is to let their light shine, not to force on them their interpretations of God's designs.
If those who set themselves to explain the various theories of Christianity had set themselves instead to do the will of the Master, the one object for which the gospel was preached, how different would the world now be! Had they given themselves to understanding his Word that they might do it, and not to the quarrying from it material wherewith to buttress their systems of dogma, in many a heart by this time would the name of the Lord be loved where now it remains unknown.
Unhindered by Christians' explanations of Christianity, undeterred by having their acceptance forced on them, but attracted instead by their behavior, men would be saying to each other, as Moses said to himself when he saw the bush that burned but was not consumed, "I will now turn aside and see this great sight!" All over the world, people would be drawing near to behold how these Christians loved one another, and how just and fair they were to everyone that came into contact with them! They would note that the goods Christians had to sell were the best, their weights and measures most dependable, their prices most reasonable, their word most certain, their smiles most genuine, their love most selfless! They would see that in their families there was neither jealousy nor emulation, that Mammon was not worshipped, that in their homes selfishness was neither the hidden nor the openly ruling principle, that their children were as diligently taught to share as some are to save or spend only upon themselves, that their mothers were more anxious lest a child should hoard than if he should squander, that in no Christian house was religion one thing and the daily practice of life another; that the preacher did not think first of his church not the nobleman of his privileges. They would see, in short, a people who lived by their principles of belief, not merely talked and disputed about them.
I can hear some object: "But the world could not function that way! We must take the words of the Bible too literally. We must, after all, live in the world of men."
Such an objection is but another proof of unbelief. Either you do or you do not believe the word the Lord spoke - that, if we seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, all things needful will be added to us. - George MacDonald
3 comments:
Amen. God employs his Holy Spirit to do the will of the Father and Son. We are vessels he wishes to fill with his Spirit. Our tendency is to fill ourselves with futile things, leaving little or no room for his work thru us. Hence, our vessels weaken or break, only to be thrown into the fire. But by God's grace the Potter reworks the clay that we might become sure vessels, fit for his kingdom, ready to serve. Thank you, Lord. S&L
Wow, great post. Well said.
But not everybody seeks first the Kingdom of God. The all these things is Faith in Christ for Salvation. How about "Without Faith it is impossible to please God." "Accept a man be Born Again He cannot see the Kingdom of God." This isn't man but the holy spirit through God's word when He says these things. To me it makes sense in the Spirit to know that by Faith in Christ alone we can be Born Again, please God and see or enter the Kingdom of God. dh
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