"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)

    

    

     

    

"Every Opportunity" Part 2

"Every Opportunity" 

Part 2 

     I recall two ministers who retired during the same period of time a number of years ago.  Both were asked how they wanted to be remembered.  One, a prominent pastor, responded that he hoped that people would recall him "as a man faithful to the end and above reproach."  The other man, a seminary professor and author, voiced a different possibility.  "If remembered, I want people to think of me as a man who had a very gracious, merciful, and patient Savior."

    You see the difference.  Both men were given opportunities to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ.  One chose to direct attention to himself and his own faithfulness.  The other shined the spotlight on his "gracious, merciful, and patient Savior."  I happen to know both of these gentlemen, one personally, and the other through correspondence.  I would be less than honest if I didn't confess that their responses were not far from what I might have expected.  It is not easy, especially for well known figures, to overcome the temptation of personal promotion.  The Satan who originated distraction from God's glory incessantly tempts communicators of God's Word to think too much and too highly of themselves.  No less than the Apostle Paul was given a thorn in the flesh "lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations" (II Corinthians 12:7).  One must aggressively seek to magnify only the Lord if the temptation is to be overcome.  The professor I reference realized this throughout his life and ministry, and acted accordingly and proactively.  He determined to use every opportunity to direct his spotlight toward the person and work of the Lord Jesus.

   The prophet Isaiah references a time when God will have culminated His earthly purposes and "the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day" (Isaiah 2:11).  This ultimate intention of God must become our immediate focus.  We cannot hasten the coming day mentioned by Isaiah.  We can, however, be sure that in our lives, the Lord alone is exalted in this day.  This especially relates to those called to communicate His truth.  We must not waste opportunities to shine our spotlight on the only Subject worthy of the preacher's voice, the teacher's lesson, and the author's pen.  We must bear witness to the "gracious, merciful, and patient Savior" every time we attempt communication of God's Christ-centered, Christ-circumferenced, Christ-focused, and Christ-honoring eternal purpose.  Moreover, as mentioned yesterday, we must pray for those called to preach, teach, and write that they will not waste their time or ours with anything less than the theme of Christ now, Christ always, Christ forever.  I would greatly appreciate prayers in that regard, and I thank you for those already offered, and those to come.

"Not unto us, o Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory for Thy mercy and Thy truth's sake!"

(Psalm 115:1)

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)

    

    

     

  

“Every Opportunity"

"Every Opportunity"  

     When praying for those called to communicate the Word of God, one request most addresses the greatest need and challenge.

     "He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence" (Colossians 1:18).

       We must pray that the preacher, teacher, and writer will seize the opportunity to ensure that the person and work of the Lord Jesus stands front and center on every occasion offered to proclaim the truth.  I thought of this recently when attending a Christian observance wherein several ministers chose to shine the spotlight away from the Savior.  They rather focused on human personalities, directing primary attention to people rather than the One who died to redeem people.  I do not mean to be critical, especially since I have doubtless too often failed to exalt and emphasize the Savior when provided similar opportunities.  Distraction tempts every communicator of the Gospel, but the diversion must be overcome.  The prayers of believers provide much aid in this most vital of matters.  Thus, before praying about anything else, we do well to ask that preachers, teachers, and writers will ensure in their messages that "He might have the preeminence."

    The Lord Jesus must be served as the meat of every message.  We sprinkle, as it were, the seasoning of illustration, anecdote, testimony, analogy, history, and perspective on our Lord's person and work.  However, who He is and what He does must always provide the sustenance we seek to serve.  Failure involves missed opportunity to honor our Savior and minister to the truest need of human hearts.   "To live is Christ" declared the Apostle Paul of a truth that so filled his heart that he also affirmed, "I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified" (I Corinthians 2:2).  So then, let us pray for preachers, teachers, and authors that every opportunity to speak or write finds them devoted to the centrality of the Lord Jesus.  We must waste no opportunity to bear witness and testimony to the only hope of human hearts, and the only Subject worthy of rapt focus and attention.  This is God the Father's and God the Holy Spirit's eternal purpose, and we must flow with their Divine, Christ-centered current…

"God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

(Philippians 2:9-11)

"Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come.  He shall glorify Me."

(John 16:13-14)

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)