10/22/13:

TFTD: “The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man?” –Ecclesiastes 6:11

I had a recent run in with a few people about our approach to ministry. We were debating a subject from three different perspectives. Each of us were coming from our personal experiences and ideas and no one really took the time to think about or take into consideration any other perspective other than their own. And I was no different. I was pushing and wanting to see my idea get approved because I wanted to do it my way and was blinded by my selfish desire. Now I can’t speak for everyone that was there but my guess is that would be the case for all, and on top of all of that we were just using our words to create tension and discord between us. Or as the author of Ecclesiastes put it: Vanity upon vanity. It was all a mess and it was because our selfish perspectives and words were getting in the way of the real point. What is best for our ministry?

            This isn’t the only time that our perspectives and our words get in the way of things. We see things from our personal backgrounds and from our understanding of what works the best. As sinners this is by far our greatest fault because we have our perspective that our way is the best and that everything should work that way. But that is just not the case. There is only one perspective that matters in the end, and only three words that matter throughout all of eternity. Those three words are this: “It is finished”. Those three words give God the only perspective He has for us. Forgiven and redeemed, washed clean by the blood of Christ. With those three words He changes the perspective of sinners for all time. He gives us a unified identity of sinless and perfect. None of our words, ideas, selfishness, or sins can screw that up no matter how bad or often they happen unless we are unrepentant of them. But if we ask for forgiveness there is nothing, and I repeat NOTHING that can separate us from the love and perfect perspective of Christ.

“Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.” -Benjamin Franklin