Adorning the Gospel

“Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.” Titus 2:9-10

“Do not let your adornment be merely outward--arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel  rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” 1 Peter 3:3-4

Jews and Romans in Bible times enjoyed dressing themselves in elaborate ornaments and jewelry, and we continue this tradition to today.  Many times in the scriptures it refers to adorning oneself with ornaments, as a way to signify preparation.  In context of Titus above, servants would often have been called on to dress their masters, and even adorn them with these ornaments.  The servants would have well known the beauty of the ornaments.  In the verse above, Paul writes that servants, and also us, should adorn the gospel with their lives.

What does it mean to “adorn” the gospel? Paul mentions abandoning a sinful life and living a life that is self -controlled, righteous, and godly in verse 12.  Peter also addresses adornment (above) while addressing women.  We read that Jews often had dressed themselves with scriptures hanging from and written on their robes.  Pharisees then took that and turned it into having a helper travel with them yelling “holy” or “righteous” drawing all attention of those traveling around them to the Pharisee; so that everyone would know these “special” men.  Peter tells the women (and many men) that it is not only outward ornaments of jewelry and fine clothes, but our conduct and spirit should also show the message of the gospel.

If we listen to Peter & Paul’s messages our lives will exhibit the fruits of the spirit (mercy, kindness, gentleness, patience, etc) and this will be beautiful to God.  But moreover than that, lives obsessed with showing these fruits will also draw attention from the world.  Others will wonder why our lives are more in control, joyous, and content.  This attention then gives us opportunity to transfer the inquirer to Jesus and the Gospel.  There are still Pharisees today trying to proclaim their holiness  through pious living, flashy clothes, or extravagant use of their talents.  These people are like a piece of gaudy jewelry, detracting from the true beauty of the gospel.  We are not Pharisees looking to gain attention for self, but focused on showing the world a picture of the gospel.  Like a piece of fine jewelry draws attention to the wearer, our lives will draw attention to the gospel. What do we show?

Priority in Life

“I loathe my life; I would not live forever. Let me alone, For my days are but a breath” Job 7:16

“Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah” Psalms 39:5 (read all)

“Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” James 4:13-14

We have been given a gift called the “present,” this is all we can consider guaranteed considering the future length of our life.  God does not promise tomorrow.  We sometimes sing the song “Jesus is Coming Soon,” yet it is hard for us to really grasp that he could come back tomorrow or even two minutes, or seconds from now.  The time is scheduled and Jesus is ready; we must treat each day as though it could be the last.  Only God knows when Jesus is returning.

The Bible often teaches us to live with urgency.  When Jesus left this world, the angel said, “why are you standing around, he is coming back!” (Acts 1:11, paraphrased)   Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 8 about the urgency of the churches in Macedonia, giving beyond their ability.  These believers acted with urgency because they knew the deep need to reach others.  This is the aim of teaching urgency, that believers would practice sacrificial living for the gospel. 

Our natural desires will always fight against our pursuit sacrificial living.  We desire comfort and security, often at unhealthy costs (think gluttony and hoarding.)  Our yearnings cause us to seek the best for ourselves, attempting to gain everything we need/want by ourselves.  We have a misconception that we can be self-sufficient to meet our own needs, but we need God, and his grace is sufficient for us.

An urgent life-Christian will choose sacrifice in this world, for the benefit of the next.  This could mean foregone financial gain for increase in the kingdom.  Time will be found to study, witness, and pray rather than indulgence in recreation, because the end could be tomorrow.  A goal for this type of living would be taking each choice we have and asking, “Which choice in this situation will bring glory to God, or benefit to His kingdom?”

Though we may have wasted many days in our life to this point, we still have opportunity to work for Christ, because we still have breath in our bodies.  Each day must be a new pursuit to seek the glory of God.

The Risk of Death

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” Proverbs 14:12 (Job 30:23, 34:18-22, Psalms 18, 37)

 “I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.” 1 Corinthians 15:31

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21

Death is an enigma that has boggled man since the fall of Adam.  We seek anti-aging medicines, the best health care, cure-all elixirs, “the fountain of youth,” etc. to steal a little time back before death calls our name.    We try to avoid it as much as possible, but given enough time everyone tastes death.  Only three individuals have left this world outside of death (Enoch, Elijah, and Jesus;) for the rest of us, statistics say that one out of one die.

Our avoidance of death, causes us to worry and fret, avoiding risks; often paralyzing us in the process from advancing the cause of the Lord.  (We should use judgment and not be frivolous with our life, engaging in unnecessary risky behavior like wrestling crocodiles for fun.) Though it is when we take the risks of life that we gain the greatest rewards.  Think of walking to the mail box.  Not much risk here, but not much to gain either (just a few bills.)  Now taking the same action, walking into a witnessing opportunity, involves much more risk and reward. 

Jesus often reminded his disciples to let go of this life and to truly embrace their mission.  The disciples constantly sought worldly things that seemed right to our minds; riches, power, and a kingdom to name a few.  We are little different seeking comfortable retirements, estates, fame, and the “American Dream.” Look at these teachings from Jesus:

“seek first the kingdom of God” (Math 6:33), “if they persecuted me, they will persecute you” (John 15:20), “whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it” (Mark 8:35), “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?” (Luke 9:25)

Jesus shows us that the “safety” of this world is not worth losing the rewards of the next.  As John Piper put it “safety is an illusion”, there are an infinite amount of risks in anything we do (a car could veer off the road when you walk to the mail box).  God is able to protect us from all these things; so the greatest risk is living life outside of the will of God.  God promises (i.e. not risky) to bless the ministry of His Word, (Isaiah 55:11) so take and spread His Word with you wherever you go and God will bless the fruits of your hands.

Transformational God

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” Genesis 1:1-2

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; ”Philippians 1:6
A new year is here again, time for resolutions/promises to make changes in our lives.  Many of these may not have lasted the week, and some we will not go back to again.  Intents to lose weight, kick a bad habit, start a good habit/hobby, etc. . . We try to use the change of a calendar to expedite change in our life.

As sinful human beings by nature we must go through a process of change to come into the presence of a holy God.  This process is called sanctification.  Sanctification is a long term change that God initiates in us at salvation, and continues until glorification (in heaven.)  While we abandon our resolutions, God will not abandon those who do not succeed at first.  God takes our filth and weakness and transforms us into vessels of use and honor.  He continues with us, and will see us through to the finish.

God has transformed our world multiple times.  In Genesis, he created the earth from a blank pallet.  Through much of the Old Testament he transformed the Promised Land from a land of pagans to the blessed land of milk and honey for His chosen people.  Jesus came to transform the effects of sin in the world.  To do so He took 12 ordinary men.  They were uneducated nobodies by anyone’s measure, except for God.  He also took the greatest persecutor of Christians, and made him its greatest evangelist and church planter.  With these 13 men (and a few of their associates) God gave us the New Testament, and extended his church over the world.  Yet God’s favorite transformation is still the change of a sinful heart of stone, to a living heart of flesh. 

Since we are still here on this Earth, God still has work to do on us.  What is it that you need Him to transform in your life?  Are you still seeking his guidance, and trying to be pliable in his hands?  The same God that created the huge universe, also fashioned our hearts like an artist.  He can take anything in your life, or your whole life, and change it to honor him.  Let us all seek to allow the Holy Spirit to do his work in our lives this year, and see how God transforms it!