Welcome back! Ordinary time is still passing. Yes, we’re on the fourth focus today. If you’re inclined to use math, that means at this point we have ten weeks left before we reach Advent. All fairly guaranteed to move fast. The only way to slow time down is to spend time with God. And the only way to really spend any time with Him is in the present. Think of Him as the gift in the present.
We can have as much of Him as we have faith to receive, so practice your faith. Grow your faith.
Let’s pray:
Dear Lord Jesus, You are so very much needed for this focus. For it is far better to be with You than it is to be in this world. Lead us as we attempt to think on how to do this well, yet to realize all the time that we’re in your kingdom too. Teach us how to be truly Yours. In Your precious and holy name, I pray. Amen.
When I think about what Life in the World means, I hear John 15 and Matthew 6. Both Jesus talking.
We’ll start with John 15 because it’s the first one that I hear. I’m going to start this earlier than what I hear to hopefully let it make more sense than just the part I hear.
John 15:6, 17-21 NIV
6 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.”
The World Hates the Disciples
18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.”
Ephesians 1:4
4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight, in love
If you have faith, you’ve been chosen. If you’ve been chosen, you’ve been appointed to go and bear fruit. Because you were chosen before the creation of the world, yet also ‘out of the world’ to be holy and blameless. And what is your response to having been chosen? Thanks and Love. God is still in the business of growing the kingdom, and we’ve been chosen to reflect His light. We don’t belong to the world so it should come as no surprise when we feel no part of it.
Yet, life in the world means we’re still in it, till we’re called home. Yet every promise is yes in Christ, therefore we have been given …
2 Peter 1:3-4 NIV
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
Living faithfully and shining His light requires a lot of focus on Him.
Matthew 6:25-34 NIV
Do Not Worry
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
That’s how we should do life in the world. Know who you are; Whose you are. Seek Him and His kingdom and righteousness and there will be no reason to worry. You have been chosen. You have been appointed to go and bear fruit. To be holy and blameless children who shine like stars in the sky.
Philippians 2:12-16a
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.
The Word of life is the best way to live in the world today.
2 Thessalonians 2:13b-17 MSG
God picked you out as his from the very start. Think of it: included in God’s original plan of salvation by the bond of faith in the living truth. This is the life of the Spirit he invited you to through the Message we delivered, in which you get in on the glory of our Master, Jesus Christ.
So, friends, take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high. Keep a tight grip on what you were taught, whether in personal conversation or by our letter. May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech.
Hold onto your faith. Use your faith. Practice your faith.
And “May Jesus Himself invigorate your work and enliven your speech.” Amen.