Our mission – Moment to Moment (Bible blog)

When we look at this world, it’s easy to wonder if God is still in control.

In verse 1, Solomon writes,

The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases. (Proverbs 21:1)

Yet in recent years, especially as I look at the States, it’s hard to see sometimes.

In Hawaii, a gay marriage bill passed a few weeks ago. This despite the fact that in 1998, the people in Hawaii overwhelmingly voted on a constitutional amendment that supposedly banned it.

Now people have looked at the wording of the amendment and realized that it doesn’t say gay marriage is not allowed.

Rather, it simply gave legislature the power to ban it if they pleased, and at the time they did. Now the legislature has reversed itself and is allowing it.

Is God still in control? Are things slipping through his fingers? Not according to Solomon, who wrote,

There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD. (Proverbs 21:30)

Why then is all this happening? It’s happening because God is allowing our country free choice. The choice to follow him and his ways, and the choice not to.

God could force us all to be robots and to do things as he wants, but he doesn’t want robots. He wants people to choose him because they love him.

I think God may also be allowing this for another reason. We’ve been failing at our call as Christians.

Our call is not fight legal battles to force people to conform to the moral standards God has set up. To do so is a losing battle.

Why?

Because our legal system is run by people corrupted by sin. And if people corrupted by sin are running our legal system, they will eventually corrupt that system. That’s what we’re seeing now.

Our call is not to fight legal battles to force people to conform. Our call is to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations…starting with our own.

That’s how a nation changes. Not through legal machinations and maneuvering. But one person at a time as we bring the gospel to them and God changes them from the inside out.

Am I saying we shouldn’t fight for our rights? No. But I am saying that if that’s our primary fight, we’re missing out on God’s call for us as Christians. We’re called to fight Satan who is enslaving people to sin and destruction.

The church is already seeing persecution because of this gay issue. And despite the “protections” added to the Hawaii bill, I foresee more of it.

Jesus never promised no persecution for those who believe in him. In fact, he guaranteed we’d be persecuted.

But no matter what persecution we may face, always remember that God is still in control. And ultimately, when Jesus comes back, we and the whole world will see it.

But until then, let us yield ourselves to him daily, and carry out the mission that he has given us to do.

The mission of Messiah, and us

Here in this passage we see the mission of Messiah. What is it?

First, to display the splendor of God. To show Israel who God really was. (Isaiah 49:3)

That’s what Jesus did, for he was God in human flesh.

Colossians 1 puts it this way,

He is the image of the invisible God…God was pleased to to have all his fullness dwell in him. (Colossians 1:15, 19)

Second, he was to be a light to the Gentiles, and bring salvation not only to Israel, but to the ends of the earth. (6)

Third, he was to be a covenant for the people. Before Jesus died, he had dinner with his disciples, and after dinner, he took the wine, and said,

This cup is the new covenant in my blood poured out for you. (Luke 22:20)

And again,

[It] is poured out for the forgiveness of sins. (Mathew 26:28)

The first covenant under the law of Moses was dependent on the obedience of the people to God’s law.

But with the new covenant, our salvation comes by faith in Christ and his work on the cross for the forgiveness of sins.

Finally, Messiah would

say to the captives “Come out,” and to those in darkness, “Be free!” (9)

Jesus himself said of his mission,

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed. (Luke 4:18)

In other words, to those held captive to sin and to Satan’s kingdom, Jesus brings freedom.

But here’s the thing. While Jesus did the initial work on the cross, he now sends his Spirit into the hearts of all believers that they may bring his work to completion.

Namely, we are called to spread the gospel throughout our land and to the whole world.

As He dwells in us, he speaks through us and acts through us to touch the world around us. He calls us to go out with his message of salvation and freedom. To call out to the people, “Come out” and “Be free!”

Are you doing that?

Sometimes, we get discouraged, wondering if the work we do for God is bearing any fruit. Sometimes, our message seems to fall on deaf ears. Messiah said the same thing.

I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain, and for nothing. (Isaiah 49:4)

But then he said to himself, and to us,

Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand, and my reward is with my God. (4)

No work that you do for God will go unrewarded. Even if you can’t see the fruit immediately, God is working. So as Paul said,

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)

May you be salt and light to the people around you today.