Glorify God using One Voice

In this section Paul emphasizes the importance of the stronger Christian helping the weaker Christians in their daily walk with Jesus. Scripture teaches us that we should always follow the teachings found in God’s word and Jesus’ ministry to guide our lives. Scripture teaches us that Jesus is the model for our Christian conduct. Jesus is the gold standard that we want to strive for in developing, maintaining and growing our relationship with others. The self-reflection we impose on ourselves should always include these types of questions: 1. how do I talk to people? 2. How do I treat people? 3. How do I interact with society and government? But the most important question is, am I representing God in a way that will point people towards Him or does it turn people away from Him? Remember we are citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20) and no longer represent the things in this world, but we represent the Triune God and the things in heaven.

God gave us His Son so we may achieve salvation through our relationship with Him. Jesus is the way, the truth, the light and no one will come to the Father least it through Him (John 14:6). If this is the case then we all should want to know Jesus, not only know Him but want to have a close personal relationship with Him.

Paul does not say as a Christian you should never find pleasure in life. The pleasures we seek will align with the biblical principles we are taught coupled with our desire to please Jesus. When we achieve this life, the life we choose to live for Christ, it will most assuredly strengthen our relationship with God and in turn strengthen the love we have for others. Paul is saying that we need to put God first, try to help as many people as we possibly can and then do the things we enjoy that are biblically principled. But your heart must be sincere when you are reaching out to help others. If you have ulterior motives you are not doing what God has asked you to do. These ulterior motives sound like the old phrase(s) “something for something” or ”you scratch my back and I’ll scratch your back” This is the wrong way of thinking and as the bible teaches, our behaviors come from God and the way we treat people are instructions from Jesus. These teachings are the standards set forth by God and these are the standards we should always live by.

We are all too often hyper focused on what the world defines as a strong relationship. This definition often disregards what the bibles deems as a close personal relationship with respect to love, relationships, desire, honesty, etc. The difference between the love Jesus teaches is unconditional, but the love from the world is usually attached to conditions. In today's environments if those conditions are not met then separation will ensue quickly. Just think if Jesus applied the same worldly standards to love someone as we do, what do you think the outcome would be? Would most people fail in the relationship with Jesus? To use a sports analogy, we approach relationships with the attitude of ‘one and done’.

It is through our love for Jesus and the continuous love He pours into us that we can love unconditionally. Without God in our lives it is very difficult to love yourself, each other, or let alone show love for those you disagree with. It is this unconditional love that we as the body of Christ can come forward with one voice to proclaim that Jesus is Lord. It is with one voice we can proclaim that God is the creator of all. It is with one voice that we can sing praises to the Lord and point people to the Triune God

My prayer is that we as the body of Christ we would speak with one voice. A Voice that clearly represents the Triune God as is written in His word. I pray that every ear will hear and every knee will bow and be ready for the return of the King to bring His church home. In the Name of Jesus I pray Amen! Amen!