Matthew 13:45-46 part 2

For me, I really want to desire to see people through the eyes of Jesus and how he made them and what he is doing in their life.  Seeing people through my eyes and from my flesh, will and motives are not what God desires. Even though I struggle with this, I know it is all found in Jesus. A great example of this in the bible is the apostle Paul; he was very knowledgeable in God’s word and trained but didn’t know Jesus or understand God’s heart.

 After Paul’s conversion and having a relationship with Jesus he became a completely different person. It’s not just that he was saved and didn’t persecute the church it’s how he became one with Jesus and loved the church. It’s not that he became a better person and wrote most of the New Testament in the bible and the amount of great works he did. It’s the way he understood God’s heart and how he loved others and laid down his life for the church.  This all happened in Paul’s life because of his relationship with Jesus. Paul quoted a scripture in 1 Corinthians 10:33-11:1 ‘I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved. And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.’  Some think this is a very arrogant statement from Paul, but I don’t think so.   He was able to quote this because he became one with Jesus and understood who he was in Christ and his mission. After Paul’s conversion he received a calling from the Lord to take the good news about Jesus to the Gentiles and Jews and he went to spend time with Jesus to understand this mission and calling. Acts 9:15 But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. 1 Corinthians 15:8, ‘Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.’ Galatians 1:15-17, ‘But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being. Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus.’

Paul was like Jesus because he knew the truth, God’s word, God’s heart, God’s love and laid down his life for others like Jesus. Paul was able to say imitate me as I imitate Christ not because he was Jesus all powerful and creator of the universe but because he took on the same characteristics of Jesus and understood his mission and God’s heart. Another great verse from Paul I think that shows the heart of God for the lost and His church is a part of 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.

2 Corinthians 12:14-15, ‘Here for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I do not seek what is yours, but you; for children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?’  Paul was making a trip to the church of Corinth and had needs and expenses but he obeyed God and went with the right motives and with the Heart of God. Paul says, I’m coming for you not what you have and even if you don’t love me I love you and will lay my life down for you. That sounds a lot like Jesus to me. Paul was a pretty humble, intense, and passionate dude about his calling and Jesus.

I think what made Paul and some other people in the bible great examples for us was they all struggled with life and things just like we do. But they understood God’s heart and were able to see others from his perspective. I think we can easily fall into a snare or trap. We can take our needs, our calling or mission from Jesus and put it before Jesus. It’s hard, but I have to keep this perspective of how God sees us, try to understand His heart, and how he sees others. I think people, the church, the Body of Christ is so precious and valuable to God it is hard for us to understand completely. We the church or Body of Christ may have different gifting, callings or purpose in the kingdom but it is all for the Lord the one true God. We the church are all united by the same Holy Spirit and we need to understand God’s heart and purpose for His church (Ephesians 4:1-16).  It is never about how wise or strong or successful we are, it is always about God and His heart and what he wants. God saved us, set us free and filled us with his perfect love and resurrection power of the Holy Spirit.  He equipped us to serve Him, build up His church the body of Christ and glorify Him.  We are to deny ourselves and He lives through us. Galatians 2:20, ‘My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.’ For all of us when this happens in our life God can do some pretty special and wonderful things.

God touches all of us in a different way and we all have a special story and testimony from God. This is a beautiful thing that happens only through our relationship with Jesus. I read a book called, The Place of Immunity, that had this quote and thought was pretty interesting. ‘Perhaps Elijah's greatest virtue was his zeal. Indeed, we shall see that twice in his communication with God, Elijah speaks of having been "very zealous" for the Lord. But zeal, unattended eventually becomes its own God; it compels us toward expectations, which are unrealistic, and outside the timing and anointing of God. To remain balanced, zeal must be reined in and harnessed by strategic encounters with the living God. We otherwise become frustrated with people and discouraged with delays. We step outside our place of strength and spiritual protection. Many of us become so consumed with our battles that we are no longer aware of the presence of Jesus. We have been traveling in our own strength. Pray that Jesus will teach us that intimacy with Him is the greatest measure of success. Lord, guide us to the mountain of Your presence.’ [Francis Frangipane, Place of Immunity (Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Arrow Publications, 1994), 5.] I think this is a scary place for the church, if we are not in the presence of Jesus and clothed with Him I think we can become clothed in self righteousness and a good works mentality and a competitive spirit. Paul writes in Galatians 5:1&15 ‘For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.’ Philippians 1:10-11, ‘For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ's return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation--the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ--for this will bring much glory and praise to God.’