As I write this week I'm aware that a national debate is taking place concerning the appointment of Judge Kavanaugh to be a Supreme Court Justice. I am genuinely grieved by the character of that debate, and for a number reasons.
Last week I taught from Philippians 1:27, where Paul says:
"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ..."
Conduct is an interesting word. Paul uses a particular Greek word, politeuma, which as you can see contains two of our English words: Polite and Politics. Together it seems oxymoronic doesn't it? Who has ever heard of polite politics? The Greeks used the word to describe conduct that was civil, discourse that was listening as much as speaking; a desire to reach a consensus through understanding.
One could only wish couldn't we?
Conduct...worthy of the Gospel.
The Gospel is a message of salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus, our Savior.
The Gospel is a reminder that we are all unredeemed at one point of time in life and to be redeemed we had to be regenerated by God's Spirit, repent of our selfish sinfulness, turn to Christ for the necessary forgiveness, mercy and grace that God lavished upon unredeemed sinners.
The Gospel is a fresh start...everyone in Christ is a new creation, the old is passed away and now everything is become new (2 Cor. 5:17).
Conduct worthy of the Gospel is a standard for all of us who claim Christ as our Savior... it is a reminder that the standards of the world, the judgements that often ring with hypocrisy and the "log in your eye while trying to deal with the sliver in the others".
Let us demonstrate conduct worthy of the Gospel...ok?
Coram Deo
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