ListenDaily – 30 November 2010: Osama bin Laden?
This Sunday, Lord willing, I will be presenting a message at my church, based partially on Romans 15:4-13 (entire passage below). Each day this week we will look at a portion of that passage, today, verses 5-6:
"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
As I said yesterday, the Scriptures are a gift from God. In this season we think often about gifts, as we celebrate the greatest Gift ever given, may we remember that God has a storehouse of gifts for us! Paul hoped here that those reading his letter would receive this other gift, this "same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had".
Can you imagine?
God has this gift for us -- do we want it? Do we want to see others as Christ sees them? It sounds great in theory, looks great on paper, but are we anxious to see others that way? Are we ready to look at Billy Graham as a worthless sinner only worthy through the precious blood of Christ? Are we ready to see Osama bin Laden as just as worthy as Billy to receive grace?
Or a bit closer to home; are we ready to see the lady who knocked us out of the way to grab the last sale item at Wal Mart as Jesus sees her? How about the guy that just cut us off on the highway?
I don't see these people the way Christ does, but I think I want to. Because, beyond all that stuff, I want them to join me, join you, so that together we may "glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
INTERESTING THOUGHT
"The Bible is either absolute, or it's obsolete." Leonard Ravenhill
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.
As it is written:
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name.”
Again, it says,
“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”
And again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him.”
And again, Isaiah says,
“The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.”
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
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