In Praise of Workers
If you have a bible handy, turn to Romans 16:1-15. I’m almost certain you’ve never heard it preached on. You may even have skipped over it in order to get to 1 Corinthians. But hold on, it’s a part of scripture so it’s there for a reason. Paul, dictating the letter to Tertius, is signing off. Before he does, he takes time to individually mention and affirm some of the people he knows in Rome. What catches my attention is what it is about these people that he affirms most often.
What happens when the wine runs out?
Jesus chose a wedding feast to demonstrate his miraculous power for the first time. This was no co-incidence. Such a feast points to the perfect culmination of this age when all creation will be gathered to celebrate the wedding of Jesus to his bride, the church. But on this imperfect occasion, the wine runs out until Jesus, at Mary’s request, steps in and turns water into wine.
Freedom for excellence
Think for a moment of the glorious liberty won for us by Jesus. Free from guilt, free from fear, free from slavery to sin. Like the Passover lamb his shed blood saves us from death. And like Moses he leads us out of captivity towards our promised inheritance. We have been released from a debt we could never have paid. The more we let it sink in, the more we instinctively turn to praise. But if we are free, what do we do with this freedom?
If God’s going to love me whatever I do, why would I bother fasting?
When I talk with other Christians about spiritual disciplines, one question keeps coming up. But we’re saved by grace aren’t we? Isn’t this all a bit legalistic, isn’t it just an effort to earn God’s love? If God loves me whatever I do, why do I need to do any of this? But this sort of question is based on a fundamental misunderstanding. Let me explain.
Feeling worn down?
There’s more than one way to win a war. Sometimes when an all-out assault won’t work, a war of attrition might be more effective. Through persistent attacks over a period of time, little by little, an opponent’s morale as well as their strength can be worn away until eventually they capitulate. Instead of being defeated by direct overwhelming force, an opponent’s resources and will to win are steadily eroded until they can fight no longer.