Friday: Further Thought – The Role of Stewardship
Further Thought: At times chariot wheels had to have the band of iron reset because of stretching caused by the metal’s striking against the road. This resetting took a lot of hard banging and hammering on the iron band itself. This resetting of the band of iron represents stewardship as practical sanctification.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
It is having the mind of Christ when responding to every large or small aspect of life, even when the process can be hard and painful. Whether this process pertains to our use of money, family relations, or employment, to name a few, all are to be responded to in the will of Christ. Sometimes, as we all know too well, we can learn this lesson only through some hard knocks.
It’s not easy to reset iron. Nor is it easy to reset human character. Think of the experience of Peter. He had been everywhere with Jesus, but he didn’t expect these words from Jesus’ lips: “I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:32). Not too much later, after denying Jesus, Peter had a change in his life, but only after a very painful and difficult experience. In a sense, his stewardship was reset. Peter was converted anew, and his life was going to head in a new direction, but only after some real pounding.
Discussion Questions:
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It is difficult sometimes to have very close people, who once knew the truth, believing otherwise. I do focus in the love I feel for them. May Christ have mercy on us, because how can He save someone who does not believe He is the Son of God?
SSQ: "What does practical sanctification have to do with Jesus’ instruction to “let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily”?"
Jesus came to save sinners, and His teachings will accomplish this in all who follow them. Without first "denying ungodliness and worldly lust" we will never advance to living "soberly, righteously and Godly in this present world". What are we to deny/crucify? Our natural sinfulness which is by nature, heredity and environment, in conflict with the law/will of God and is not subject to it, and cannot be. We are as leopards with spots we cannot change, having hearts/minds that are deceitful and desperately wicked, and without the Light of Truth, cannot even know it. God's Holy Law reveals sin(much like a smoke alarm reveals fire) and if allowed, will lead us to the Remedy in Christ, who will implant this Holy Law into our very consciousness. By this process of sanctification, He is able to keep us from falling, and present us faultless before "the presence of His glory with exceed joy".
This is the work and purpose of the Gospel, which is "the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes". Yet this Sanctification/holiness can only proceed by our self-denial at every temptation, which we cannot accomplish without putting on the whole armor of God. As Jesus taught; "without Me you can do nothing".
A small stone hits my car windshield and I ignore it. Six months later it has become huge now, I have to replace the windshield.
God is author and finisher of our faith, if I am not constantly connected with Him, the world's affliction may seem small untreated will build a gorge in my relationship that will be difficult and painful to bridge back to Him.
If we but surrender to Him, nothing is impossible with God.