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As many people do know, I love talking about Jesus. I enjoy telling people about the finer points of theology and am always excited to read the latest theological book and compare everything to God’s revealed word (that is, the Bible).

Though God in his grace has shown me something this past week. Namely, I will always default to trying to please people. I will default to trying to gain their approval of my actions. I will desire their adoration. This is a horrible thing! I constantly place myself in the position of God without even realising it. I don’t respect people as they should be respected and only respect them when I deem them ‘respectable’. If you read my previous post you will see what I’m getting at. Today, I did much the same thing. Without any consideration for the talker being an image bearer of God I openly joked about the material being presented with my friends. In God’s grace even they thought I was rather harsh with that.

So again, I repent for the exact reasons as in my previous post. Ohh how I strugle with sin. I wrestle with it each day and there seems to be no end to it. Though I do know there is an end to sin and it will be when Jesus returns. This is expressed with great detail by the apostle Paul in his epistle to the Romans:

Romans 7:14-25 Listen

14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. (ESV)

We see that man, because of sin, does the things that he shouldn’t and further because of sin though he knows what is right he is incapable of doing that. Does this mean we are just to keep on sinning? By no means! It is only through the death and resurrection of Jesus that we are freed from sin. Continue reading what Paul sais and this is evident:

Romans 8:1-8 Listen

8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (ESV)

Praise God! My actions, wretched as they are and that of menstral rags, aren’t counted against me! Because of Jesus I’m set free!

Though, I still sin. What exactly does this mean? Does it mean I’m not saved? By no means. Does Jesus need to be crucified again and again each time I sin? By no means.

What I must remember and take comfort in is that I desire to do what is right and it is God working through me that produces good acts that are fruits of the spirit being love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Getting back on topic, this relates in great depth to Evangelism. If I’m to please man whenever I am to talk to them, even if it isn’t about Jesus, then I’m placing myself first above God and that is a despicable thing. Rather I should humble myself and be a servant in every conversation and circumstance. It is by being a servant that opportunities to talk about Jesus will be opened.

Now I must make a disclaimer here. There are times to be outspoken, there are times to correct and rebuke and there are especially times when being a servant to someone is the wrong thing to do. I’m not going to set out a list of when to do one and when to do the other, that would be legalism and more specifically adding to the Gospel. If I were, I should be considered a heratic and not be listened to.

So I ask for chances to serve. First and formost I will do the work that is required and then some. I will work towards the good of the city and the renewal of it. By doing so, I hope to show as well as proclaim Christianity to people. Our deeds give credance to our words and this is pivotal in evangelism.

If you see me acting like a fool, feel free to let me know. Please also realise that this isn’t an open invetation to treat people like crap. In no way do I endorse or encourage being a slave to other people. Serve people, don’t be a slave to them. I apologise for the subjective use of slave and servant. By God’s grace when each verb is applicable will be self evident.

I will always encourage and pray for those I know that they humbly serve, and to my Christian brothers and sisters I ask for the same and twice the patience as I often show towards others. By God’s grace I may one day not be as skeptical or as cynical as I currently am, though until then I will humble myself and serve others in there work and ministry.

God bless and go serve your King,

Matthew Delves