"Every Opportunity" Part 3

"Every Opportunity" 

Part 3

"I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of Thy righteousness, even of Thine only."

(71:16)

     

     The truth that the sins of every human being made necessary the suffering, forsakenness, and death of the Lord Jesus Christ helps us to take every opportunity to direct all glory and honor to Him.

   "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God… His blood is the propitiation not for our sins only, but for the sins of the whole world" (Romans 3:23; I John 2:2).

    We must exalt no one whose sins made necessary the cross of Calvary.  This includes us all.  We therefore seek to direct all attention to the Lamb that was slain, and away from those whose crimes caused His sorrows.  This does not mean that we fail to appreciate our brothers and sisters in Christ, nor that we cannot affirm the blessing they are to us.  Frequently in the Apostle Paul's writings, he mentions believers who shined with the light and glory of Christ.  We do well to let fellow Christians know if their example and exhortation help us in our walk with the Lord, including those called to preach, teach, and write God's truth.  "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the Word and doctrine" (I Timothy 5:17).  However, we must prayerfully and carefully exercise caution regarding how we encourage communicators of Truth.    Satan ever seeks opportunity to tempt believers to pride, especially those engaged in "the Word and doctrine."  Remembering that all our sins led to the Lord's suffering helps to wisely encourage rather than wickedly exalt.

    The more we know the Lord and His Word, the more our own sins should loom large when compared to those of others.  This sensibility should especially characterize preachers, teachers, and authors who should spend much time in the Scriptures.  The Bible is ruthless in directing focus to our own failures, along the lines of Nathan's laser beam of light that pierced David's guilty soul after his sin with Bathsheba: "Thou art the man!" (II Samuel 12:7).  We want to read and listen to those who clearly give evidence of such realization, and who thus seek to honor only the Lord they communicate.  Remembering that the sins of all led to the suffering of One goes far in motivating our determination to take every opportunity to magnify only person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

"All men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father."

(John 5:23)

Weekly Memory Verse 

    Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God.

(Psalm 90:2)