Only a glove. . . .

 

While Christians cannot ‘save’ others, nor can unsaved people all by themselves make a decision to believe in Jesus, the Holy Spirit works with God’s people to make things happen. Like a hand in a glove (we are the glove) He moves and reveals Himself through our obedience and our lives. Consider what the Bible says about the effect our actions can have:

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14–16)
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)
Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:12)

My obedience to God can cause others to glorify Him. Loving other Christians tells unbelievers that I follow Jesus. Obedience and a godly life may get me persecuted but when the Holy Spirit visits them, they will be receptive and glorify God because of what they saw.

I’ve heard said that as a forgiven child of God, I am free to live this new life, but that freedom is not about doing as I please. Gloves cannot move about or do anything without that almighty Hand that is in them.

Piper’s devotional points out that this is not just about spiritual activities. He talks about “all things” including business, industry, education, media, sports, arts, leisure, government, and all else. I’m aware that I’m not to be a mere ‘Sunday’ Christian, but to recognize Him and trust Him 24/7. Learning and doing this may take a lifetime, but His goal for me is transformation into the image of Christ. He exemplifies a perfect ‘glove’ in His yielded life.
Piper points out that there will never be a time before the return of Christ when all people will honor him as supreme. This emphasizes the importance of doing what He says now:

Since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. (2 Thessalonians 1:6–10)

I’ve no idea whose lives will change because Jesus used me to show love to others, to behave as He obeyed in all areas of my life, to be motivated by the Spirit instead of following my “I-wants” instead of doing His will. But I’m finally learning that from the moment I rise up each day, to turn immediately to Him in worship and in an attitude of yielded listening. I’m only a glove so have no idea what He can do with that except that He says He can use it to change the lives of others.

PRAY: Jesus, You have a way of hugging me and making me feel very small at the same time.  I’ve no idea what this day will bring. I just want Your Spirit to keep my attention so that Your thoughts and Your will takes priority in whatever comes along.

Christ makes the difference…

Today’s reading says we need to know who we really are in order to know how we ought to live. In Christ, we are God’s children, His heirs, and His friends. But there are more ID markers.

He also calls us His sheep. I’ve had sheep. They are easily frightened, follow each other and need a shepherd to keep them in green pastures! Yes, I often behave as a sheep, but am glad that He enables me to hear His voice and follow Him, my Good Shepherd.

Jesus also says of me that I will be hated by all for His name’s sake and must endure to the end.(Matthew 10:22) This means behaving with endurance, not giving up when life includes persecution.
Lest I complain or fear that possibility, Jesus suggests in a parable that He is to be “allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me.” (Matthew 20:15) I am His child and His friend, but I am also His possession. I belong to Him. Not only that, when I feel weak, useless, unable to do as He desires, He says:

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Being His child, heir, and friend sounds like good news, yet Jesus is not ‘my buddy’ for He is my Lord and Teacher, and also His disciple who must live obediently to what He teaches me:

So Jesus said to those who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, (John 8:31)

What does that look like? Abiding in Him shows up in the way I live and treat others...

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love…. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. (John 15:9-10; 14-15)

These things are possible because Jesus lives in me. “In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.” (John 14:20) He changes my life because of the Holy Spirit who enables me to witness to the love and power of God…

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

And He enables the way I ought to live. While knowing who I really am is helpful, it is His life in me that enables the actions that I ought to have…

I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. (Romans 15:14)

None of the “ought to” behaviors are up to me alone, but are the wonder of Christ using me to do His will, like a hand in a glove.

PRAY: Jesus, while the Bible does not use this metaphor, You are the hand in this glove and living as You desire me to live is all about You and Your amazing grace and power. I am so thankful that striving for excellence comes to even lazy and helpless people like me. You make the difference.