2010-01-06 - Be the Blessing

1 John 2:15, “Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If any one loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

We live in the world, but we do not belong to it. We are likely to have a troublesome time being in the world when we don’t really belong here. It is not an easy thing. There is stuff here. It is the kind of stuff that we easily set our affections on, and then we are acting like we are part of the world – the world to which we are aliens and strangers. It is a most difficult thing, to live among the ungodly and still be godly. It takes work to keep our perspective. We mix with those who do not think like us. We mix with those that we are not supposed to think like. Keeping an eye on Christ, eternity, salvation, eternal life, sanctification, the living God we serve, and our true mission here (2 Cor. 5:20), is not an easy task. It is not about forsaking blue jeans or running shoes. Our separation is more than outward appearances. We are separate in our hearts, morals, and faith more than in appearances. The Christian seeks a truer life – a life lived in the presence of the Lord – and part of that is our duty, “Do not love the world, nor the things in the world.”

A separated life – do you have it? Do you keep to the narrow way? It is the blessing of God that brings us there, and it is also His blessing to be kept there. Each of us has cares and trials, but they are, to the believer, blessed cares and blessed trials, because we live our lives unto the Lord. The world is not our home. No one finds it easy to trust God in the hard times. We believe His promises, and we trust His sovereignty. When we put off anxiety, fears, and worry, what does the believer replace them with? We replace these with contentment, a quiet heart, happiness in the things God has given - rather than fear in what He has not, or has taken away. Our life is a blessing from God. It is His gift. May I suggest one way we can make this gift useful? God has certainly blessed us – every one of us - and I would like to suggest that part of loving the Lord more than the world is our call to be a blessing to others.

Wherever you go, seek to be a blessing. The follower of Christ is light in the darkness, wherever he/she is placed. Are you in a tough environment? Do not seek easier ground. Stay right where you are, and be a light right where God has placed you. There is no better place for a child of God, than where light is needed. Count yourself rich, if God has given you opportunities to serve Him where there are hard ground, little prospects, and much that might make someone with weaker faith flee. What am I saying? I am saying this: Be a blessing. Be a blessing right where you are. First find the blessing that is given to you in Christ, and then share that blessing with those who, as yet, don’t know or can’t understand the joy and peace that Christ brings. Bring it to them. You might say, “This is hard. It will mean rejection. It likely means failure and heartache.” Yes, this is true, but this is exactly what living by faith looks like. Living by faith is seeking to be the blessing where no blessing is present or sought. It is a high calling. There are many who love the world too much to attain here. I encourage you to go all out in this very area. Give your life to it: Be a blessing where blessings are rare things.

Soli Deo Gloria,
T-

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