09 August 2023
I can't say whether it will be a regular feature, but Fun_and_Prophet offered another poem that matched the tone for today's post. It refers to Romans 15:2 --
EDIFY
Each of us
can be agreeable,
serve those near us,
town or table.The purpose is
to build them up,
be the highway,
not a speed-bump.
I realize that the world is full of people who can ruin your day just by their presence in the vicinity. The burden is upon us to be patient with the all the broken and damaged people out there. All the more so is this true when they give any evidence of faith in Christ.
I've already explained adequately that in our Father's household are family members, allies and servants, and slaves who are ostensible enemies. There is also justifiably a category of people for whom you simply have no time and resources to treat them as anything more than scenery. While we should always remain ready to bring any human into focus, should the Lord move in that way, you are still only human. You cannot actively go out and love every human in the vicinity. Even Jesus had limits in meeting human needs.
It is your duty to decide for yourself what role each person plays in your God-granted domain. Some folks are covenant family, some are useful allies, a few will be enemies of some kind or another, and most of the world is just scenery.
Further, your consideration is dynamic. Today's ally could easily become tomorrow's enemy or family member. An annoyance can become a real enemy just by crossing some line that maybe only you can see.
But once we've established for the moment who these people are to us, we have a duty to cultivate our allies and build up our covenant family. Enemies are more complicated. That's not what today's post is about. The main point is to understand the whole mission of those who follow Jesus is to help draw everyone closer to the Lord by whatever means He grants us. For the vast majority of us, that does not mean confronting random people. It means engaging the Covenant in our daily routine and seeing who responds to that witness.
You have been granted the power to heal. Maybe not so much the dramatic miracle kind, but He has called and equipped us in some way or another to bless others and make their faith stronger. Don't get the impression you have to drag them all the way into full covenant compliance right away. Most of it will be small increments over a long period of time.
The mission of the church is to edify itself.
Note to readers: There will be no blog post tomorrow.
This document is public domain (except for the bit of poetry); spread the message.