What Do You Think? Wednesday
—To whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48). Selah.
Yes, that is one of those ‘think on this’ verses for me. I think about why this verse is there and why the more I get the more I have to give. Sometimes it just doesn’t seem right, at least in my human mind where I make up the rules and conjure my own strength. But this verse is biblical, supernatural, beyond our expectation and reach. But whatever God expects us to give we have the ability to give. He makes sure of that (Ephesians 4:11-13; 2 Corinthians 9:7; Philippians 2:13). This is true in all things, including exhibiting biblical strength.
In parts one and two of Help for the Weak I share what biblical strength is and why we are to exhibit biblical strength. This, the third and final part of this series, I explore how we should display biblical strength. First, those of us who are spiritually mature have the capacity to control our desires and allow God to bring the weak into a mature faith. Our faith keeps us centered on the macro of life (the Kingdom of God) and not the micro of life (what someone eats, drinks and other self-imposed standards that don’t go contrary to God’s word). This is important because there is a lot of work that goes into focusing on the Kingdom of God. Focusing right doesn’t leave us time to focus wrong.
So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men (Rom 14:16-18—ESV).
To help us focus on the Kingdom of God, we must pursue righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Righteousness is correctness in thinking, feeling and acting; peace is tranquility between individuals; and joy is gladness that is caused by the Holy Spirit. We are called to renew our minds so we walk in the new life we have in Christ. This is the pursuit of righteousness; this is seeking to get our thinking, feelings and actions right according to the Bible. That alone takes diligence, but we are also called to live at peace with all people as best we can (Romans 12:18) and to focus on the joy of our salvation. Seeking the Kingdom of God is a full-time agenda. It is the macro of life. It is the best life.
We are able to pursue righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost because our faith is 1) in our convictions that don’t go contrary to God’s word; 2) solid enough to allow us to suspend our convictions so we don’t offend someone who doesn’t share our convictions; and 3) rooted in our confidence that righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost are superior to all else.
Those who have biblical strength are those who know how to seek righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Our firm conviction of our freedoms in Christ and our trust that Jesus Christ is Lord and that we have eternal salvation through Him should make focusing on the Kingdom of God natural to us. Asserting our rights to our freedoms in Christ is what those walking in human strength do. Righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost are where we must focus. These are the crux of our faith.
What do you think about this post?