THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS (Part IV)

THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS  (Part IV)

Our prior devotional posting raises a practical question: ‘What’s in all of this for us?’  That is, in light of David’s praise admonition (Psalm 103:2), what are the SPECIFIC BENEFITS that KINGDOM PARTICIPANTS enjoy while walking in covenant with the Living Word of God?  We highlighted an awesome benefit in Kingdom Principle Number One.  “AS KINGDOM STEWARDS, WE ARE IN DIRECT PARTNERSHIP WITH GOD.”  This benefit is strategic (and somewhat ironic) since it relates to the fulfilling privilege of SERVICE which takes place at the intersection of HUMAN BROKENNESS and DIVINE GRACE.  As such, we are naturally flawed (but supernaturally redeemed) participants in God’s CONSTRUCTION PROCESS, with the primary objective of glorifying God and building His Kingdom.

Kingdom Principle Number Two: GOD PROVIDES A POWERFUL AND REDEMPTIVE ILLUSTRATION OF HIS GRACE WHENEVER DISCIPLES EMBODY AND TESTIFY TO THE AMAZING CONTRAST BETWEEN OUR FORMER LIFESTYLES AND OUR NEW LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS.  Admittedly, this presents a serious challenge for some believers because of the corporate culture of the church.  In a word, we are institutionally conditioned, not only to BE RIGHT, but to always APPEAR RIGHT in the eyes of both believers and unbelievers.  Although the underlying motive for this could be positive, this constant pressure to “appear right” provides a subtle push towards dishonesty and hypocrisy.  The net result is that many redeemed believers give off the impression that their lives are completely pleasing to God, and always have been since their initial submission at Calvary’s cross.  This obvious falsehood is easily discernible by all, both within and without the church.

This unfortunate situation leads to an important insight on how we can be used more effectively by God.  Our understandings of grace must be amplified to include both a private and public recognition of the sinful nature and the ongoing conflict (spiritual warfare) that is aggressively waged within us.  Although the Bible declares that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), we ‘act’ as if this only applies to distant or remote encounters with the sin issue.  The truth (the real deal) is this: SINCE we first knelt at the cross of Calvary, ALL of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s perfect Word and will.  God will be able to get much more mileage out of our lives, that is, to showcase the spiritual development HE has achieved and the ‘real contrast’ between where we once were and now are, if (and only IF) we are willing to own up to our failures, foibles, fiascoes and flaws.  In truth, some of our spiritual tests have resulted in less than passing grades.

Albeit, this does not suggest that we should casually CONTINUE IN SIN once we have been saved by grace, with no real recognition of the blood covenant that CHRIST sacrificially established or acknowledgment of the ongoing process of sanctification through His Word. (Romans 6:1 and Ephesians 5:26)  We must never diminish the effectual power of our new birth by succumbing to a notion of what Dietrich Bonhoeffer called “cheap grace.”  We are saved “by grace through faith” as the loving “gift of God.”  And, we steadfastly refuse to diminish this precious gift by a haphazard response to His Word. (Ephesians 2:8)  Through HIS power, WE CAN AND SHALL OVERCOME both the penalty and the practice of sin, since we carry THE SEED of the Living Word within us. (I John 3:9)  However, our honesty, transparency and integrity must be safeguarded in this redemptive process.  Indeed, it is a PROCESS, and we have not yet attained or arrived at the perfect will of God.  If the world is to be won through our testimonies, we must press beyond any sanitized, pasteurized, or homogenized version of what God has wrought in us and we must dare to tell others ‘the real deal’ about WHO CHRIST IS and WHAT CHRIST HAS CHANGED in and around our lives.

Paul’s teachings on this matter are so powerful. “We have this treasure in EARTHEN VESSELS, that the excellency of the power may be of GOD, and not of us.” (II Corinthians 4:7)  At times, the institutional church encourages us to be careful and conservative about sharing our ‘real’ testimonies, and I fully understand their reasons and rationale.  In truth, there is a definite element of RISK when we publicly engage our past, that is we risk strong condemnation by close-minded Christians or unbelieving detractors.  However, I hear a deeper and more authoritative voice resonating within my spirit.  It is the clear voice of THE GREAT COMMISSIONER (Matthew 28:19-20), along with His blessed assurance that regardless of any allegations or accusations, “there is therefore now NO CONDEMNATION to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1)

As God’s privileged partners, as faithful stewards, as joint-heirs with Christ, we choose to be courageous enough to passionately share our PERSONAL CONSTRUCTION PROCESS with others who stand in need of the practical and powerful Words of life.  I am aware that some might be ‘put off’ by such transparency, but multitudes will discover hope, forgiveness, acceptance and the road that leads to eternal life.  After all, this is the precise reason HE has called us out of darkness: not only to be saved ourselves, but to bring ETERNAL LIFE AND LIGHT to others.  Therefore, all of us are challenged to prayerfully actualize the Word of God, i.e. to go forth sharing our personal testimonies with a holy boldness and spiritual authority that will literally turn the world upside down! (Acts 17:6)

II Corinthians 4:6
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give THE LIGHT OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GLORY OF GOD IN THE FACE OF JESUS CHRIST.

I Peter 2:9
You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should SHOW FORTH THE PRAISES OF HIM who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Acts 4:13
Now when they saw the BOLDNESS of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS.

Let your divinely appointed CONSTRUCTION PROCESS allow Christ-in-you, “the hope of glory” to shine. (Colossians 1:27)  SHINE, BELIEVER…SHINE!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!