“This very day in King David’s hometown a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. You will know who he is, because you will find him dressed in baby clothes and lying on a bed of hay.” Suddenly many other angels came down from heaven and joined in praising God. They said: “Praise God in heaven! Peace on earth to everyone who pleases God.”  Luke 2:11-14

Does the picture shatter your expectations of the words, King Size Bed?  Shattering expectations was what our Savior was all about!  From his appearance with us as a human to his shocking death, miraculous resurrection and return to the throne, he defies expectations and convention.  Why did he do it?  He did it for us!

All he asks of us in return is that we follow him and defy expectations and convention in his name.  I hope you enjoy the story as told in the lyrics from How Many Kings by Downhere.  Enjoy the song on YouTube as well!

Merry Christmas!

Follow the star to a place unexpected
Would you believe, after all we’ve projected, a child in a manger?
Lowly and small, the weakest of all unlikeliest hero,
Wrapped in his mother’s shawl – Just a child
Is this who we’ve waited for?

’cause…

How many kings step down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
And how many gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that is torn all apart
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?
Only one did that for me!

Bringing our gifts for the newborn Savior
All that we have, whether costly or meek because we believe.
Gold for his honor, and frankincense for his pleasure
And myrrh for the cross he will suffer
Do you believe?
Is this who we’ve waited for?

All for me…
All for you…

How many kings step down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
And how many gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that is torn all apart
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?
Only one did that for me!

When I began this series in April, I wrote about having an attitude of service and I promised to deal with the actual acts of service at the end of the series.  Here we are at the end of the Relationship Matters Series and I want to spend a few moments on Paul’s directions in Titus 3:4-8 concerning good works.

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.

This passage is very similar to the more familiar passage in Ephesians 2:8-10.  Take a moment to compare the two passages.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

In each passage, Paul wants to make sure we do not confuse the purpose of good works.  Good works are not for the purpose of earning favor with God or making up for our bad thoughts and actions.  Our spiritual life is not like a set of scales where we try to balance the side with negative behavior by loading good deeds on the opposite side.  Favor with God and reconciliation with Him comes through Jesus Christ and is freely offered to each of us with no strings attached. 

However, that does not mean God is neutral with regard to good works.  God is very passionate and purposeful about good works in our life.  Notice from the passage in Ephesians that He created us like a master craftsman fashions a fine watch with a specific purpose in mind according to a very detailed design.  My challenge is to discover that purpose in my life as I allow my choices to be influenced by the Spirit of God.

It is also very important that I know who powers my good works and who deserves credit for whatever accomplishments may flow from my life.  We are created in Jesus Christ specifically for good works.  Engaging in acts of service is simply following in the path He designed for me.  Walking in the path God designed for me with a spirit of obedience and submission to His will is a component of my salvation.  Read this passage from Philippians 2:12-15.

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.  Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.

At first blush this passage doesn’t sound like something Paul would write.  “Work out your own salvation” seems at odds with the other passages I’ve quoted in this article.  However, notice who is actually doing the work and who gets the credit.  Paul writes, “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”  This passage is actually in perfect harmony with the Paul’s theology about works.  My acts of service are simply in response to God’s will, God’s opportunity and God’s power.  Good works are about obedience and fidelity to my design and not about justification or reconciliation.  Justification and reconciliation through Jesus Christ comes first, good works follow as a natural response to and cooperation with my salvation.

Finally, Paul reminds me that good works “are excellent and profitable for people.”  These things are beneficial and necessary for the believer but they are also beneficial for those around us.  Obviously there is always a beneficiary of a helping hand offered to someone in need.  Our good works are even beneficial to folks who selfishly live for themselves – folks we might be tempted to write off as hopelessly twisted and crooked.  Your acts of service help you shine as lights in a dark world differentiating you clearly from the darkness.  In this respect, you stand as an example of God’s design for this life and you personally bring the presence of Jesus Christ into the lives of those who need to feel His touch the most.  I believe this elevates doing good works as the greatest privilege we can have in this life.  Through acts of service we get to be the actual hands and feet of Jesus, working for Him in the lives of those we come across every day.

In this life, relationship really matters and nothing communicates love within a relationship as effectively as Godly acts of service!

Until next week,

Meet me at the intersection!

Previous Intersections Articles

Relationship Matters (Courtesy)	Three Birthdays	Doomsday Preparedness 101

Copyright © 2011 Michael Willoughby. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to author and/or owner with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

This Intersections topic is about one of my pet peeves.  I don’t have many pet peeves but the increasing lack of common courtesy in everyday life is one of them.  I don’t have to look beyond Central Expressway on my daily commute to see a plethora of examples of discourtesy.  It’s not just on the highway where courtesy is lacking.  Courtesy seems to be an endangered species in America in almost every sphere of life.

Paul writes in our Relationship Matters source passage in Titus 3:2 “to show perfect courtesy toward all people.”  There are many reasons for Paul’s encouragement to Christians to show courtesy to all people including maintaining a good reputation in the community, keeping lines of communication open for sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, avoiding unnecessary conflict and maintaining good will within all relationships.  However, I think the main reason for showing courtesy to those with which we cross paths is that it is simply the loving thing to do.

The primary outward sign of a faithful Christian is the love that we show for our fellow human beings (John 13:35).  When we are rude and discourteous, we are not demonstrating love for those around us.  So why is discourtesy so rampant even among Christians?  I think one of the main reasons is the pace of modern life.  Going back to my highway example, why are we competing with the other drivers on the road as if our commute was a NASCAR race?  Will my blocking move to keep that pickup from merging in front of me really get me to my destination any sooner?  Honking horns, blocking moves, sign language and single-rider HOV violations while the rest of us sit in traffic are all symptoms of the disappearance of common courtesy.  The problem extends beyond the roadway.

The incredible pace of life has extended to every area of life.  We are in such a rush to move from one event to another even within our personal lives that we just don’t seem to have time to be courteous to those around us.  For a good illustration of this problem and the increasing rarity of simple courtesy, check out the TV commercials from the Pass it On folks at Values.com.  The Let ‘em in spot is a good place to start.

This next week, let’s try slowing down and giving courtesy a try.  Open a door, make a hole in traffic, drop a few pennies in the “need a penny” tray by the register and say “yes sir,” “yes ma’am,” “please” and “thank you.”  Courtesy is good for you and good for those around you.  Good advice when relationship matters!

Until next week,

Meet me at the intersection!

Previous Intersections Articles

Why Me?	Three Birthdays	Doomsday Preparedness 101

Copyright © 2011 Michael Willoughby. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to author and/or owner with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.