| Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “Fully alive” Our Bible verse for today: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 (CSB) Our thought for today: “You bring glory to God when you are fully alive” Irenaeus was one of the leaders in the early Christian church. He lived from 130 – 202 A.D. and he knew people who had known the Apostle John (the longest living of all the original apostles). Irenaeus was a church-planter, pastor, scholar, and trusted theologian. He is remembered for helping to define and defend orthodox Christian doctrine during a time when there were many divergent and false teachings being promoted in the Christian world. Irenaeus is often referred to as the father of Christian orthodoxy. The single statement he is best remembered for, and the one that is frequently quoted even in our day almost two thousand years later is, “The glory of God is a human fully alive.” I love that thought. We bring glory to God when we live a full, active, and productive life. This is the life Jesus proclaimed for us when He said in John 10:10, “I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.” It’s the life the Apostle Paul described in Galatians 5:22-23 when he wrote, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” It’s the life Jesus was calling us to when He said in John 15:16, “I have appointed you to go and produce fruit …” The fruit that Jesus wants to see in our lives is the fruit of the Spirit as described by Paul. It’s also the acts of service to others that He taught, modeled, and called for throughout the Gospels. And it’s our participation in the Great Commission as we help with His kingdom-building work on earth. Interestingly, Paul captures all of that and sums it up for us in 1 Corinthians 10:31 with the simple instruction to do everything for God’s glory. He doesn’t say that we necessarily have to build churches, start schools, establish hospitals, fill stadiums, or go as a missionary to serve Pygmies in the jungles of Papua New Guinea. He says “whatever you do”, and then he cites simple everyday things like eating and drinking, working and playing, coming and going. Do it all with the Lord in mind and for His honor and glory. It brings glory to God when His people are fully alive in Christ, living victorious lives of simple faith. I encourage you to embrace life with enthusiasm. Live it with vigor and gusto. Be fully alive in Christ. God Bless, Pastor Jim |
| Copyright © 2021 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved. |
-
Follow
Following
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
Oak Hill Baptist Church 