If we are to measure success today it
would probably be measured by our accomplishments, our wealth, our position in
society or our caste. People who fit these categories are usually emulated
because of those accomplishments. Now however it is the sports figure or the
actor/actress who are the ones we hold up as our role models because we
perceive them to have achieved ‘it’. No longer are the role models teachers, or
doctors or police who do all the hard stuff. It is the ones we have catapulted
to the top by visiting their movies or buying their music. We have definitely
got it backwards.
If you look to the Gospel of Christ, you will see that it is very much different when it comes to God’s judgment. When we all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, our success will not be measured by how much money we have or how popular we are with humanity. Actually it will be based on where we stand in relation to Ephesians 4:13; “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” we shall be judged by the standard of whether in life we reached “to the very height of Christ’s full stature.”
I would think this would be a sobering thought that would inspire us to be concerned about the kind of person we are. It will be the best among us that set the standard of judgment and if we call ourselves followers of Christ then the incentive is already in place to live right.
Jesus exemplified through every moment of his life the way each of us should act—with great kindness, gentleness, and thoughtfulness. The Gospel witnesses his compassion to the sick; when the leper exclaimed that Jesus could make him well if he wanted to, Jesus answered “I do want to” and the man was made clean. Mark. 1:40-42. It tells us of his gentleness toward the spiritually needy through his words to us. “Come to me all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads and I will give you rest.” Matthew. 11:28; and of his kindness toward children, “He took the children in his arms, placed his hands on each of them, and blessed them.” Mark. 10:13-16; The Gospel speaks to each of Christ’s self-sacrifice to the lost “the Son of Man did not come to be served; he came to serve others and to give his life to redeem many people.” Mark. 10:45;
If you look to the Gospel of Christ, you will see that it is very much different when it comes to God’s judgment. When we all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, our success will not be measured by how much money we have or how popular we are with humanity. Actually it will be based on where we stand in relation to Ephesians 4:13; “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” we shall be judged by the standard of whether in life we reached “to the very height of Christ’s full stature.”
I would think this would be a sobering thought that would inspire us to be concerned about the kind of person we are. It will be the best among us that set the standard of judgment and if we call ourselves followers of Christ then the incentive is already in place to live right.
Jesus exemplified through every moment of his life the way each of us should act—with great kindness, gentleness, and thoughtfulness. The Gospel witnesses his compassion to the sick; when the leper exclaimed that Jesus could make him well if he wanted to, Jesus answered “I do want to” and the man was made clean. Mark. 1:40-42. It tells us of his gentleness toward the spiritually needy through his words to us. “Come to me all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads and I will give you rest.” Matthew. 11:28; and of his kindness toward children, “He took the children in his arms, placed his hands on each of them, and blessed them.” Mark. 10:13-16; The Gospel speaks to each of Christ’s self-sacrifice to the lost “the Son of Man did not come to be served; he came to serve others and to give his life to redeem many people.” Mark. 10:45;
This glorious example led St. Paul to
exhort us. “O man of God … pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience,
gentleness.” I Timothy 6:11;
Measured against these standards, how successful have we been?
Pastor
Coutts
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Lord Bless You.
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