8 November 2013 - bragging rightly

8 November 2013 - bragging rightly


For I will not dare to speak of anything
except what Christ has accomplished through me

What has Christ accomplished through us?  The "power of the Spirit of God" is at work within us!  "The LORD has made his salvation known" in each of our lives.  The first of the "signs and wonders" we see is the new life he freely gives us.  We experience a freedom and joy we are unable to achieve on our own.  We are made a part of an acceptable offering "sanctified by the Holy Spirit." 

It is not only OK to brag about what Jesus has done in us it is encouraged.  It isn't boasting about ourselves or what we have done.  It is the opposite.  Even though our lives come up as the specific case in point it is nevertheless boasting of the cross of Christ (cf. Gal. 6:14).  Paul reminds us that we are "full of goodness, filled with all knowledge" not to feed our pride but to help us understand what God does in us and encourage us to be even more open to the grace of God.

It is through the faithful testimony of his followers that the "Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power."  This is the new song we must sing.  But if we are to sing joyfully we must realize more and more the greatness his victory and the salvation he makes known.  We must realize how urgently it is needed.

The dishonest steward faces being "removed from the stewardship" he is given because he squanders his masters resources.  He knows what this means and responds with the ardor and urgency for which the situation calls.  If even a dishonest steward can understand a dire situation, why can't we?  Many in the world are squandering the gifts and graces of the master.  They take for granted the cross of Jesus by denial or by lukewarmness.  Losing this stewardship is the greatest danger anyone can face.  None of us can eek out survival by our own strength or by begging.  We all need the master's grace.  We need to respond with the appropriate urgency when we see graces wasted. Only if we do will God's salvation be seen by "[a]ll the ends of the earth". 

How do we respond to this urgency?  We open ourselves to be continually "sanctified by the Holy Spirit" and boast in "what Christ has accomplished through" us.  We open ourselves to the "signs and wonders" he wants to do in order that the Gospel of Christ may be proclaimed.

Those who have never been told of him shall see,
and those who have never heard of him shall understand.

We must come to grips with urgency of this situation so that everyone can see and understand.  We want to hear the words of the psalmist fulfilled:

Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.