[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (SSEU) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]
𝕀
ℂ𝕆ℝ𝕀ℕ𝕋ℍ𝕀𝔸ℕ𝕊
𝟞:𝟙𝟡-𝟚𝟘
"Or do you not know that your
body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God,
and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God
in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s."
I remember Jesus, cleansing the
temple more than once in His public ministry of around 3 years.
He was furious,
He was serious,
It is obvious
And is glorious
Because He was zealous
for the house of God.
This verse says that we are the
temple of God the Holy Spirit. What measure of cleansing do I need?
𝕀
ℂ𝕆ℝ𝕀ℕ𝕋ℍ𝕀𝔸ℕ𝕊
𝟟:𝟚𝟙-𝟚𝟜
"Were you called while a
slave? Do not worry about it. But if you are able also to become free, rather
do that. For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord’s
freedman. Likewise he who was called while free, is Christ’s slave. You were
bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. Brothers, each one is to
remain with God in that condition in which he was called."
Some people got saved when they were
old enough, and they mistook their calling into the family of God to be the
calling into the mission of God.
They tried to become missionaries
or pastors or evangelists. They thought their conversion experience was for the
commission. They would even try to go to seminary and so on. I think even
William Wilberforce struggled to differentiate that. John Newton helped him to
be where he had been. And he remained and became a great politician, reformer!
The demon-possessed guy got saved
by Jesus, he wanted to follow Jesus like the rest of the disciples. Jesus
forbade him. However, a son of perdition, Judas Iscariot was chosen to be not
only an Apostle but even a Finance Secretary.
IAS officer (Tax Collector) Matthew
was called to be an Apostle. Another IAS officer, Zacchaeus (chief tax
collector) who had a special invitation from Jesus seems to remain friends with
all his friends. In fact, he invited all his IRS, IPS, etc, friends to a party
and presented Christ to them.
Calling to Salvation doesn't mean
Calling to Gospel Ministry. Everyone is called to Salvation, only a few are
called to the Gospel Ministry. Even among the few, some disqualified
themselves. BTW, good news! Nobody disqualified themselves from salvation!
𝕀
ℂ𝕆ℝ𝕀ℕ𝕋ℍ𝕀𝔸ℕ𝕊
𝟠:𝟙𝟙
"For through your knowledge he
who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died."
Who is a weak brother? And who are
the strong? Well, I am a weak brother if I hang out with those who are stronger
than me. I am a strong brother if I hang out with the weak.
But Christ died both for the weak
and the strong. The strong must not despise the weak but must help the weak.
The strong must not boast of their strength (freedom) but must come alongside the
weak in restricting their use of strength (freedom).
The practical implications of this are
huge! I have discovered some, and many more to discover!
𝕀
ℂ𝕆ℝ𝕀ℕ𝕋ℍ𝕀𝔸ℕ𝕊
𝟡:𝟙𝟞
"For if I proclaim the gospel,
I have nothing to boast, for I am under compulsion. For woe is me if I do not
proclaim the gospel."
As a minister of the Gospel, I have
nothing to boast about. Conversions are the works of the Spirit. Counselling is
also the wisdom from the illumination of the Spirit.
Gospel ministers are unprofitable
slaves just doing their duty. Not for fame or praise or appreciation or
recognition, but of course, to please the Master. When the Master pleases, the
slaves are happy.
Even in real life, when the boss is
in a good mood, the workers are happy. They say that when mama isn't happy,
nobody ain't happy!
Negatively, gospel ministry is not
easy— full of discouragement within and without. Yet, woe is me if I cease,
stop, or quit!
𝕀
ℂ𝕆ℝ𝕀ℕ𝕋ℍ𝕀𝔸ℕ𝕊
𝟙𝟘:𝟚𝟛-𝟚𝟜
"All things are lawful, but
not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things build
up. Let no one seek his own good, but that of the other person."
Mature Christians are not measured
by their expression of freedom but by their suppression/resistance of freedom
for the sake of others.
I want freedom. There's even a song
"I want to break free." I want to be independent. I want privacy. I
want to do whatever I want.
However, I am called into the body,
to come alongside one another, to bear one another's burden. It's also true
that people love me when my good deeds influence them. When I am selfish,
nobody likes me, nor do I like myself, and my conscience condemns me. When I
think only for myself, the other person suffers and reverberates to all the
parts of the body.
The world says, "My rights, my
wish, my life, my money." Christ says, "Deny self." Love others.
Sacrifice your freedom for the good of others!