My Utmost For His Highest Nov 9
I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ… Colossians 1:24
Do I fully understand that my only assignment as a Christian worker is to be a sacred “go-between.” We must be absolutely so closely identified with our Lord and the reality of His redemption, that Christ can continually transmit His creative relationships through us.
I am not merely referring to the superficial strength of one individual’s personality being superimposed on another, but the strategic presence of Christ coming through every subconscious aspect of my life. Do I understand when I live-out the invitational historical facts of the life and death of our Lord Jesus Christ as they are conveyed in the New Testament, that my words/witness are made sacred? Therefore, as God uses my testimony as His ambassador, connected to the basis of His redemption, He creates foundations for future holiness / righteousness linkages with those who listen, which may have otherwise, never have been created.
However, if we were to simply preach the effects of redemption in human lives, rather than the revealed divine truth regarding Jesus Himself, the end result is not new birth in those who listen. Instead, the result is a refined religious lifestyle (perhaps, a culture of legalism?), and the Spirit of God cannot witness to it because such preaching is in direct opposition to His. Therefore, we must make sure that we are living in such harmony with God that as we proclaim His truth, He can create in others those redemptive qualities which He alone can impart, such as justification, the pathway to sanctification.
BOTTOM LINE:
When we applaud mere man by saying, “What a wonderful personality, what a fascinating person, or, what wonderful insight,” then what opportunity does the gospel of God have through all of that? It cannot get through, because the attraction is for the messenger, and not the message. If a person attracts through his personality, that becomes his appeal. If, however, he is identified with and motivated by, the Lord Himself; then the appeal becomes what Jesus Christ can do. Our danger is to glory in men, yet Jesus says we are to lift up only Him (see John 12:32).
NEXT UP:
How To Differentiate Your Voice and God’s Voice.