By David Phillips
More Essentials
Last Monday, we started out the week by noting some Essentials for Christ. Though I didn’t do so on purpose, I started with the letter “F” and proceeded in alphabetical fashion to “J”, discussing 5 essential elements to serving the Lord. Today, we’ll follow that pattern again, except we’ll back up to the beginning and fill in the gap we left last week. Then each Monday, as long as this ordeal continues, we’ll follow the alphabetical pattern to the end.
We’ll begin with a really short term that must reach out a long way if we are serious about serving the Lord. Aim. No, nothing to do with firing a weapon, but everything to do with our intentions. The word literally means “to be fond of honor” as in desiring reach the goal. Three times in the NT text we find it used to mean “to strive to bring something to pass.” In 2 Cor.5:9, Paul says So whether at home or away, we make it our aim to please Him. Also check out Romans 15:20 and 1 Thess.5:11 where the same word is rendered ambition and aspire respectively.
Brotherly love. It cannot be denied that there must be a special bond among those who are of like precious faith (2 Pet.1:1), and a regard that we do not give to those outside of Christ. It should not be seen as discriminatory, but rather as complimentary, and the NT urges us to apply it. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another, Romans 12:10. Note also 1 Peter 3:8, Heb.13:1.
Confidence. In the Hebrew letter, we find confidence appearing many times, and logically so, when we consider that one of the purposes of the letter was to remind the reader of the validity of the Law of Christ. In Hebrews 3:14 we read For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end… Then in 10:35, Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.
Dead. Yes, you are reading that correctly. Colossians 3:5-11 urges us to Put to death therefore what is earthly in you… In that paragraph, Paul goes on to list some of the most powerful traits of worldliness: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness which is idolatry… On this point, I am reminded of the chorus to a song we sometimes sing in worship: Dead to the world, to voices that call me; living anew, obedient but free; dead to the joys that once did enthrall me, yet tis not I, Christ liveth in me. (A New Creature)
Edification. This is the process of strengthening, encouraging, building up. We accomplish it through many avenues and Romans 14:19 urges us to …follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. My favorite passage on the subject is Ephesians 4:15-16 which urges us to combine the speaking of the truth in love with intense efforts of working together, pooling our abilities and resources to help the church grow in love.
Out there in terms of every-day life, we now know more about what is essential than we did a week ago. I sure hope the Governor isn’t getting her hair done every few days while my barber is declared to be non-essential. But shaggy-headed or not, it’s the inside stuff that really counts, those Essentials for Christ.