According to the Bible, judgment is not our job. There is a judge and He (Jesus) will judge the world with grace and truth. But if judgment is not our job, then what is?
In James 5 we learn that we are called to patience (to wait on God) and to prayer (seek God - praise Him, thank Him, confess to Him, and ask Him for good things). In prayer we are called to offer "requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving" for everyone so that all men will come to know "the truth that there is one God and one mediator between God and men the man Christ Jesus ..." (see I Timothy 2:1-6)
This is our testimony (there is one God and one mediator between God and men ...) and it is our calling to pray that more people will come to know the truth, even as we wait for Jesus to return!
In light of this, let us consider Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 2:1-16.
(Read I Corinthians 2:1-16)
Paul says he "resolved to know nothing ... except Jesus Christ and him crucified." (2:2) This was the content of his message and it was mediated by the Holy Spirit. (2:13) So what about us? What is our message, and how do we trust it is mediated?
I am learning that one of the hardest things for us to give up is control. We like to control everything: conversations, outcomes, people, and in our worst moments (if we are honest) we even like to control God. We are not comfortable with God operating outside of the boundaries we have set for Him (and we tend to justify the boundaries by saying they are boundaries God Himself has set). But if we think about it that is not the case. God is free. He is unbounded, and He operates in ways we don't always expect. So are we willing to let go of our need for control? Are we willing to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified? Are we willing to rest in that testimony and let the Spirit do the work?
These are questions with which we as the church must wrestle if we are to embrace a "missional" identity in the world in which we live. So what do you think? Do you agree or disagree? Why?
I invite you to share your thoughts. Let's discuss as we seek to go deeper into God's word together.
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