Living Adverts - Part 1
17th April 2009
The Bible has several ways of describing Christians but perhaps the two main ones are the ideas of children and servants. For example:
John 1v12-13
Yet to all who received him [Jesus], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become
children of God -
children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
1 Peter 2v16
Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.
So, as Christians, we're called by God to be both children and servants.
I expect you've met Christians who live like servants of God but have forgotten that they're children of God. They work hard for Jesus. They go to all the meetings. They pray for hours. They tithe. They work in Sunday School. But they have no joy. They see God as their Lord but not as the one who wants to fill them with good things.
And you probably know Christians who live like children of God but have forgotten that they're servants. They live for themselves. They go to church when they feel like it, and they go for what they can get out of it. They see God as a provider of their needs and wants, but not as their Lord.
We need to grasp both truths. We are both children and servants of God. We have amazing privileges as His children, and great responsibilities as His servants.
Since I set up this web site, I've tended to concentrate on the privileges, so this week and next I'm going to talk about responsibilities. First, let's get the principle clear. Paul told us:
Romans 12v1
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy
and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship.
As well as rejoicing in what God has done for us, and in what God will do for us in the future, as well as looking for Him to bless us, we are called to sacrifice ourselves for Him, day by day.
Jesus told us:
Matthew 5v14-16
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives
light to everyone in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your
Father in heaven.
We are called by God to live lives that cause others to praise God. Part of our responsibility is to let our light shine so our neighbours can see it. What do you think of this prayer: "Heavenly father, make me a good advert for the Kingdom of God"?
As Christians, we have access to the power, love, peace and joy of God. We can and should display these things to those around us. So the key to being effective servants is to enjoy being God's children. We let the love, peace and joy of God into our hearts, and then we let it out again.
As I say in church sometimes, when a Christian is shopping at Tesco's, he should be the nicest person the girl on the till has seen all day. We should be "nice" (that is, full of love, joy and peace) because we are in right Father-Child relationship with God, and we should let it show!
The habits formed earlier in life, and our innate selfishness and intolerance, can cause us to be grumpy when we should be smiling, to be sharp or dismissive with people when we should be loving, to think of ourselves when we should be thinking of others.
How Christian are you when you're made to wait in a queue behind someone who's not very good at packing their bags or finding their purse? When the assistant smiles at you, do you smile back? Or do you smile first? The way we behave at the supermarket is a good indication of how we behave elsewhere.
Or do you just put your smile on in the Sunday meeting?
As Jesus said,
Matthew 5v46-48
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
But I know some Christians who are even grumpy in church! How can this be? How can we gather together to worship our Redeemer and then be critical and negative about those whom He has redeemed?
Let God's love rule in your heart. Meditate on His love for you and His willingness to forgive your failures, and endeavour to treat others the way God treats you.