Being ‘in Christ’ is the best place to be!

There is part of me that considers the sacrifices involved in following Jesus as negative in the sense that everyone else gets blessed but me. Loving others is always a sacrifice. It might be sleep when I got up in the night to care for a sick child. It might be that good book I wanted to read when someone called to talk over their problems. It might be time, money, patience, hard work or other variations of giving up what I had planned to do something for someone else.

The word ‘martyrdom’ comes to mind, yet I’ve never thought of Jesus as a martyr. His death had purpose. He died for my sin, for the sin of the world that we might be forgiven and offered eternal life. Martyrs are defined as those killed for ‘religious beliefs’ rather than for the higher purpose of salvation for a lost world or any other purpose for that matter.

Following Jesus could mean dying for my faith, but that is not the same thing as following Jesus by dying to self. Martyrdom is others slaying me; serving Jesus is me dying to selfishness, letting the life of Jesus put my old life to death.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

That brings me to today’s reading, verses that describe what this looks like in several ways. The last one is a surprise:

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. (2 Timothy 2:1–7)

Putting this in my words, it says that when I walk in the Spirit or in the power of Christ, I will be teaching others (“men” = both genders) in such a way that they thoroughly learn it and pass what I taught them on to others. That is one mark of a Spirit-filled, sacrificial Christian.

The second image is that of a soldier whose sole priority is doing the will of his enlisting officer. Soldiers don’t start a business on the side or go shopping when they are on duty. The person who serves Christ in His strength is focused. This is not to impress people or win medals. Nothing else is as important as pleasing Jesus. This also marks a Spirit-filled, sacrificial Christian.

Another image is that of an athlete. Every sport has its rules and every player, team or solo, must follow those rules or they are disqualified. Being a Spirit-filled Christian isn’t about following rules though, it is about what happens when the Spirit of God is in control — I will be doing the things that the Law of God says and doing them in the way that God describes how they should be done. Another quality of being filled with His Spirit.

This passage also points to a hard-working farmer. I think of my dad who fits that description. The Lord says that the farmer has first share of the crops. That means that the results of his labor are not just for others. He too shares in what has been produced!

The Bible says the Spirit-filled person produces: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23) and this image of the farmer says I share in that, not just share but my share is first. This particularly applies to joy and peace for they are within. Love and the other parts of the crop are benefits for others and self-control goes both ways.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, I’m glad that serving You is rewarding. Sometimes that old “what’s in it for me” can ruin it, but You make sure that I’m given ALL I need to make any sacrifices You want me to make. Being at peace and joyful in You takes away all sense of ‘poor me’ and changes everything!

Today’s thankful list . . .

That I am crucified with Christ.

That He will never leave me alone or without meeting my needs.

A day to think about the wonder of God’s love.

The smell of chicken soup.

A million blessings, both inside my heart and what can be seen and touched.

Loving others is not about me

The Christians in Galatia had entangled themselves in a pattern of trying to establish their righteousness by keeping the Law of God. They didn’t say ‘We are saved by our own works’ because Satan knows how to put a lie into our hearts without being so easily detected. Only when Paul wrote to them was that lie exposed.

At least two major denominations teach that we are saved by grace, but only if we keep the law. Others put variations on this such as, ‘We are justified by grace alone, but sanctification comes by keeping the commandments.’ However it is phrased, both are trying to mix law and grace. In doing so, they deny the Gospel of salvation by grace alone.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9)  

As I think about this, Satan can be even more subtle. He tells me that I am saved and being sanctified, but constantly is at me with stuff like “you are not good enough” or “try harder” pressuring me with the idea that pleasing God is about my performance.

Many people grow up with that idea. We want to please our parents and are praised when we behave. We want to please our peers and are accepted by them as long as we fit in. For me, it was pleasing my teachers by good grades and pleasing myself by accomplishments.

While obedience to God is the way to go, I need to be aware of my motivations. Who am I really trying to please? Who will get the glory in the end? Am I doing this for me because ‘me’ always likes to pat myself on the back?

Jesus came in perfect humanity not only to die for sin, but to show sinners what God intended when He created us. For Jesus, it was all about others. He fulfilled every law, every commandment, every ideal that God describes. This is how we express love to God by loving one another.

One of the ways to love others is this: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2) This verse speaks of the law of Christ, but that law and that love is never about me or my performance. In other words, the love of Christ is not measured in how many pies I bake for the neighbors or how many orphans I support. It is measured by releasing all my I-wants to God and letting Him live out His live through me. It is living in the power of the Holy Spirit and doing what He says. It isn’t about what I want or my needs, but about caring for the needs of others because Christ takes care of me . . .

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus . . . .” (Philippians 2:1–5)

Just as the traits of others rub off on me when I hang around them, the mind of Christ becomes more and more evident as I hang around Him. I learn how to love by observing His lack of selfish ambition and conceit. He considers others more important than Himself. He listens to their hearts and meets all their needs. He loves and serves people, an expression of His perfection, not a way to gain it or prove it.

Bearing the burdens of others is not about worrying, or removing their responsibilities. It is sharing their load in whatever ways God has gifted me and blessed me with the resources to do so. By looking at Christ as the example, I see that love expressed in burden-bearing is also sacrificial. If I am in this for Jesus, it will cost me something rather than building up me or gratifying my pride. Just as He gives the description, the glory of love also always goes to its source — the Lord Jesus Christ.

****************

Jesus, Your Word is plain; we are to love one another. Because I have been born of God, You live in my heart and make possible that kind of burden-bearing love. This is how the world knows that God sent You. This also gives me confidence as I walk with You because this kind of love casts out all fear. This seems an odd prescription but I am thankful that Your remedies always bless Your people and glorify Your name!

Today’s Royal Priesthood

This week I chatted with a man from Oklahoma. Three years ago on a whim, he took disaster relief training. Not long ago, the Lord urged him to join a team and come to Alberta. He is spending most of his time in Fort McMurray sifting ashes.

This task involves putting on a hazmat suit and going to each burned home with sieves and shovels. He said the heat from the fire was so intense that there is only ashes left of most burned homes. However, they are finding things untouched, like jewelry and small items precious to the owners. He also said that many of the people who lost everything are expressing hopelessness. Those who sift the ashes are a small encouragement to very discouraged families.

Chambers talks today about our right to be called priests of God who do the priestly work of prayer . . .

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9)

I’m thinking less of the right to do it — which is given to me by the atoning work of Jesus Christ — and more about the job description. How does one perform as a priest in modern times?

Chambers is right in putting intercessory prayer at the top of that list. Jesus is our great high priest and He “lives forever to make intercession for us.” We are to be like Jesus and intercede for others.

But there is more. One duty of OT priests was to discern what was leprosy and what was not. Leprosy seems to be a symbol for sin, so today’s ‘priests’ must be able to discern the spiritual state of others (without judging them) so they know how to pray. Another point is that those priests wore an ephod and burned incense, two more indications of discernment and prayer.

Priests led worship, offered sacrifices for the sins of the people, encouraged them to confess their sins, and acted as mediators between the people and God. They themselves were to live in spiritual wholeness and holiness of heart. The rules for family life showed consecration to God. Their clothing symbolized spiritual integrity and righteousness, and their vigorous life and service. They kept the lights burning, taught the law to the people, and told them how to distinguish between holy and unholy, clean and unclean. They were responsible to seek and know the will of God.

While all of this was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, and His sacrifice now bears all sin, this priesthood continues in the church. The verse from 1 Peter says “you are . . . a royal priesthood” with “you” being plural. This is not merely a role God gives to individuals, but all Christians are called to fulfill it. We do this, not because of privilege or special skills, but because of the atoning mercy of Jesus. We do it because we belong to God . . .

Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:10)

The humble man from Oklahoma traveled more than 3300 km to do a dangerous and difficult act of mercy for people he does not even know. He expressed deep concern for their hopelessness. I’d say he is doing the work of a priest. He and others like him need the prayer support of me and others like me who are not physically able to get into the mess in such a self-sacrificing labor.

And his humility is important. In the Old Testament, priests must realize they are mere servants of the living God and do their tasks with humility. If not, they fell under judgment. King Uzziah was proud and presumed he could do what priests do. His judgment became perverted as he usurped this role and was reproved by the temple guardians for violating God’s law. He was struck down with leprosy, put out of the temple, separated from society, and died a leper.

No one earns the right to enter the holy place and offer sacred incense. We do it because Jesus did it for us — and now His humble, sacrificial heart beats in our breasts.

A living sacrifice?

Under the old sacrificial system, lambs were slain then presented on an altar with fire as an offering for sin. This happened with great frequency. Under the new covenant, Jesus came to do the will of God and “did away with the first in order to establish the second.”

Further, the Bible says that “we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” This is contrasted with the old where “every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:9–14)

Perhaps the saints of old felt compassion for the lambs and great dismay at their daily need for atonement, but it did not change their lives. They still sinned and the sacrifices continually needed to be repeated.

Under the new covenant, one sacrifice covered all sin for all time. I’ve been a Christian for more than forty years and still find this both amazing and difficult to grasp, even fully accept. When I sin, I feel badly and want to make up for it, to do something. Jesus says no, He has it covered.

What then do I do? How am I supposed to respond to this incredible reality? For those of us who need a Bible answer, this is it . . .

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. (Romans 12:1)

I’ve read that verse many times, but never heard a plain explanation of what this actually looks like. Offering myself to God to serve Him seems straightforward, yet there is a unique praise that changes the simplicity of serving God into a deeper challenge. It calls for a “living sacrifice.”

What the Jews presented was a dead lamb, an unclean thing (for anything dead was said to be unclean) and it needed a fire in the presentation and for burning the body of the entire lamb. For the Christian, the sacrifice is alive and it is ourselves, our bodies. This sacrifice needs no wood, no fire because our fire “lives of itself” and makes us alive. It is the fire of the Holy Spirit.

But then what is sacrificed? It is the life that God has given me in this body. I sacrifice all of it. Sin must go, that is, when I refuse to let my eyes look on evil, then they become a sacrifice. When I stop my tongue from speaking unwholesome words, gossip, or that which does not build up others, then it has become an offering. When I forbid my hands from lawless deeds or idle time wasting, it becomes a burnt offering.

But saying no to sin is not all of it. I’m to do good also. My hands give gifts for the poor, my mouth blesses them that curse me, my hearing listens to the Spirit, my time is spent seeking His kingdom and His righteousness. My life, decisions, time and energy no longer belong to me.

That is, a living sacrifice yields all to God in absolute surrender. It does not crawl off the altar but lets the fire of God do its work to purify it, but also to present the life of Christ that is in me to the work of Christ that has no focus on me at all. To offer my life is far more demanding than anything I could ever do. It cannot happen apart from being on that altar.

Is this delightful? Irrelevant question. This living sacrifice thing isn’t about me or how I feel. While serving the Lord promises great blessing, it first asks for great sacrifice, whether I am blessed or not.