Dignity and calling

God became human (Mark 15:39 “...Truly this man was the Son of God.”) and was born into a family, namely to Joseph and Mary. From His mother's side, Jesus had brothers (John 7:3-5) and thereby also shows us, today still, how valuable family and fellowship is. From the outset, this divine will was a focus point. In Genesis 1:26 we read: “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness...” God Himself was perfect in every aspect. HE sought fellowship in that He created and saved mankind. Through the heavenly Gospel (Galatians 1:11) God established His family. This He did in that, He Himself became human for the purpose of the forgiveness of sin (John 3:16). We Christians, were bought at a very deer price, by mercy and love, through the blood of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 6:20). Under these epic and mind-boggling conditions (according to Ephesians 1:4 believers were chosen before the foundation of the world), we should love each other in similar fellowship. And notwithstanding our different characteristics and personalities, tolerate each other and live worthy of our calling. We don't do this, when we behave in an unforgiving, indifferent and egotistic manner. Whoever lives under the motto: “I, myself, mine, me – LORD bless these four”, hardly understands anything of what God requires of us, and how Jesus Himself behaved, as an example to us. The devil wants to isolate Christians, because then it is easier for him to cause us to fail. Whoever suffers through their spiritual warfare alone too often, and has no support in intercessory prayer, exchange and relationship, does not live the faith life as imparted in the Bible. The pure knowledge of Biblical things alone, does not further our practical lives as Christians. Living in God is first and foremost a life in love and not only accumulated wisdom! We are transformed through our relationship in spirit and love and not through theology or books.

In 2 Corinthians 3:3-6, Paul writes: “Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” Genuine interest in our brothers and sisters in Christ enriches us. We help one another, because God (through practical love) increases in us. It doesn't always necessarily have anything to do with sympathy, which is also sometimes only superficial. True interest in others is a spiritual favour – so love! And so we shall tolerate and accept each other – in this spiritually true love. When we are overly fixated upon ourselves, we are unable to love in the way God intends for us to do. Whoever exalts himself, is often easily offended and then mostly busy nursing his own self-image or self-provoked wounds. Such a person is only sympathetic and meek towards himself, and not inclined to be so towards his brothers and sisters. And where we deal with other Christians in this problematic and critical way we will not be able to come into unity with God (Matthew 25:45: “Then shall He answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to Me.'') We should challenge ourselves to show neighbourly love. There are more than enough areas in which to practice this. We just need to be ready for it and rise to the occasion.

Jörg Bauer