August 7
Ezra 4:24-6:22 | PS 29:1-11 | Prov 20:26-27 | 1 Cor 3:5-23
God, the Father, sent Jesus, the Son, to earth to pay the price for our sins and offer the free gift of salvation to all who would humble themselves, repent of their sins and accept this priceless gift. Nothing and no one else gets elevated in this formula. We, God's children, simply lead others to the understanding of this truth. We must never forget this. We must avoid following or exalting others, even "good" people. We must avoid believing that any of our good works has anything at all to do with our salvation. In the musical, Les Miserables, we see the stark contrast of grace in the character of Jean Valjean and legalism in Javert. Valjean began his story in prison and escapes. As a fugitive on the run he encounters a bishop who has the ability to turn him back in but chooses to extend grace instead. Adopting a new identity Valjean becomes the mayor of a town when he realizes that another is about to be put in prison due to mistaken identity. He sings the song, "Who Am I" and clearly shows that he and his works are nothing outside the realm of God and God's grace. He goes on to live a life of grace touching others along the way. Javert can't see the change. He sees Valjean as a lawbreaker and cannot fathom the concept of grace. For him everything has to do with works. In the end, when this construct proves wrong after being extended grace by Valjean he chooses to take his own life.
Paul could just as well be singing "Who Am I" when we read 1 Corinthians 3:5-9, "After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building." In response to all that God has done for us we should move forward in service to Him, but this has nothing to do with our salvation, as we read in 3:12-15, "Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames."
So many years later we still have this all twisted. Even in the church we lift others up. Whether it be respected Christians of the past, current day pastors, ministry leaders, etc. It is true that what many have done in the name of Christ is noteworthy and should be respected. But we must all be careful and check ourselves daily lest our eyes become too strongly attached to one of God's messengers rather than to God Himself. As God's messenger we must also keep watchful eyes on ourselves to make sure that we are indeed drawing attention onto God and not to ourselves. Every gift that we have comes from God. Every message delivered from a godly individual comes from God. Every interaction, every opportunity to bring forth the gospel message comes from God. It is from Him and for Him that we who are called according to Him must move forward. All praise, All honor, All glory belongs to God, and God alone.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: