In class these last few weeks we have been discussing the
impact of the gospel on our relationships with others. One of the important
things that the gospel is meant to do is to free us from seeking the approval
of those around us by showing us that we are fully approved in Christ. When we
start looking to Christ as our only Savior, we can stop looking to others to
fill that role. This frees us from becoming frustrated and angry with others because
we do not expect them to fulfill us in a way that only God can.
The same is true for our circumstances. We often look at our
circumstances as a barometer of how we are doing. When things are not going
well, we assume that we are not doing well – that we are experiencing some
karmic reaction to our actions. Certainly God disciplines those He loves, and
we will not escape consequences for our wrongdoing, but what we consider to be
poor circumstances are not always a result of consequence. Stuff happens. We
tend to label everything that happens as ‘good’ or ‘bad’, but in fact we can’t
always clearly recognize good from bad. Persecution seems to us a bad thing,
and yet the bible promises that those who live Godly in Christ will suffer persecution.
Peter even goes so far as to say that we are blessed when we are persecuted.
Christ came to free us from every kind of ‘give and take’
arrangement that this world has established. Whether it’s in our relationships
- where he frees us to give without taking in return - or in our circumstances –
where he frees us to see life events not as good and evil, but as strictly events - we are redeemed to live as free people. Someone asked how we are to know if
what we are doing is God’s will or not. I don’t have a firm answer for that
because I don’t think the Bible really has a firm answer. Certainly there are
things which are clearly outside his will, and things which we are to be doing
as Christians. But for those things which are not clearly identified, Paul
gives us this:
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2 ESV)
What is the testing he is talking about? I think it is
living life with an awareness of the gospel. When we recognize our freedom from
seeking approval through others or our circumstances, we just live a full life
without ulterior motives. I think that this is what God considers good and
acceptable and perfect. Remember that Jesus stated very plainly “Therefore do
not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.
Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:34 ESV) We want to
attempt to manipulate those around us and our circumstances to reach some
predetermined outcome in our lives. Jesus says that we are to live for now, in
this moment, being satisfied that the perfect outcome is in his hands and not
ours.
That is freedom. That is the gospel truth.
