In a world where we are constantly bombarded by our enemies with information designed to keep our attention on the temporal things of this world—job, material possessions, social, media, drama, politics, physical, fitness, food, etc.— we often forget that as born-again believers, we carry within this fragile body we try so hard to preserve, a soul and a spirit redeemed by Jesus Christ.
As such, we are carriers of the greatest treasure on earth—the Gospel of salvation.
It is only the Gospel that can reconcile a human to God and change their eternal destiny. It’s not earning another dollar, getting a million “likes” on social media, having more real estate, or being more admired or educated. The Bible says:
“For we do NOT preach OURSELVES, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to SHINE out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this TREASURE in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of GOD and NOT of us.”
2 Corinthians 4:5-7
After we are born again, we must be continually working to keep Jesus as our center. Every area of our life must demonstrate that HE is our greatest passion. He should be the center of how we work, how we dress, where we spend our money, how we spend our time, what we talk about, what we think about, and everything our life represents to others. The BE-attitudes of Jesus make it clear that if we are HIS kingdom citizens, and we represent the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, we will look, act, think, and talk differently—in great contrast to the darkness around us. We will NOT blend in.
We will walk into a room and light it up because the light of Christ is always greater than darkness.
When people meet us or hear us talk, they WILL know our love for Christ because the fruits of HIS Spirit are manifested in such stark contrast to the darkness around us. It does not take a genius to see the contrast between light and darkness; that is, between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit as described in Galatians:
The works of the flesh:
“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.“
The fruit of the Spirit:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”
Galatians 5:19-23
EVERY born-again believer has been set free from the chains of the enemy. We are inhabited by the greatest treasure in heaven or earth.
2 Responses
We must be an example of the goodness of God by being people of integrity.
Amen!