In our Magnificent Move series (thanks for the title, Jude), we have sought to prepare our hearts for moving into our new building. This new chapter will be so exciting, Highland! I am so happy for us! This series has been based upon Romans 15:1-7 and chapter three of Colossians. In this post, I hope to summarize this series and to weave it altogether.
Stewarding our relationship with the Community
Romans 15:1 & Romans 15:4: “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of weak, and not to please ourselves.” Verse 4: “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
We correlated these passages with Isaiah 58:6–12, in which God expresses to us His form of fasting and worship. Paul refers to the Scriptures and to what was written in former days. He does not mention Isaiah 58. However, this serves a potential example of what he could mean. In Isaiah 58, God directs us as His people to promote the good of our neighbor, which thereby results in strengthening our relationship with our Lord. It also serves as a means of our joy and lifts our weary heads! I grip this passage for dear life and it always proves true, Highland.
Romans 15:2: “Let each of us please our neighbor, to build him up; for as it is written, ‘ the reproaches that fell on you, fell on me.’
We first looked at Psalm 69:9, where Paul’s quoting comes from in the Old Testament. Its meaning points to the fact that Jesus loves us in a way in which He absorbs our disapproval and bears it for us, in His body, and, though He was sinless, makes us right with God. He affords us forgiveness and kinship in His name. This plays out in relationship with the Lord by us loving and caring for our enemies, that we might build them up, as our neighbors.
Stewarding our relationship with our church (Highland)
Romans 15:5: “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
This passage, as we’ve seen, toggles back and forth with Colossians 3, the entire chapter really, but we’ve honed in on verses 3:12–16. We’ve looked at evidence being renewed: being holy and beloved – this is our identity in Christ. Our new nature’s then demonstrated in the fact that we, before repentance, are critical in nature. After repentance, we then, by way of the Holy Ghost, become compassionate in nature, like Jesus (Matthew 9:36). The fruits of the Holy Spirit are then able to pour forth from our lives, as we remain submissive to the holiness of God’s Spirit.
Then, we’ve also honed in on the word bear – how we must endure with those in our lives – in a way that, through our relationship with the Lord, we can navigate the exhaustion and endure, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Understanding this, Highland, as the Lord is placing us within this new position of strength, let us be grateful for the Lord’s provision but also understand the proper posture we must maintain as His people.
Stewarding Our Hearts in Relationship to Jesus
(This, above all else)
In Romans 15, we then looked at an insertion that is the spine of the entire passage (of the series, really):.. ‘in accord with Christ Jesus.’ Not, in accord with social or political views; in accord with doctrinal positions. It’s not even written as in accord with the teachings of Jesus, but in accord with the person, the one and only Son of God is, Himself, holiness and righteousness.
When one repents, submitting to the Lordship of Jesus, then the Holy Spirit indwells us and we share in the very nature of His holiness. This means that, as we mature, we are not striving to become better people, better Christians, instead, we actually spend time getting to know Jesus and we become more like Him.
Weaving Heart, Home, Highland, North Highland Altogether
This segways us into our study of Colossians 3, where we are instructed to fix the gaze of our hearts upon Jesus, Who is holy! To steward our hearts, we are then instructed as to what to “put to death” and what to “put on” as we rest our hearts in submission to the Lordship of Jesus.
As our hearts are being renewed, we are told how to steward our relationships with people from all walks of life, in Christ; thereby stewarding our relationship with those from various backgrounds and walks of life (stewarding our relationship with those in our community). Furthermore, in stewarding our relationship within the community, Paul tells us how to conduct ourselves as we work - to do so all for the honor of Almighty God.
In stewarding our relationship with our church (Highland), we are told to bear with one another, forgiving one another and to pursue unity with one another, which binds us together in love, resulting in perfect harmony.
Finally, we are instructed as to how to conduct ourselves in our homes. In submission to Christ, the husband fosters refuge in the home, that his wife and children may flourish, as they submit to his gentle authority, as head of the home.
In Closing & On a Personal Note
Highland, this is a summation of our series thus far. I have had the chance to really just share my heart with you in this series. It has certainly been challenging for me, but in a good way. It has been challenging because I have had to really open up my heart and search deeply about what I believe, seeking God’s Word for assurance and clarity. My heart’s grip on God’s Word on these matters is firmer and surer than ever before, Highland. I rejoice in what the Lord’s doing in me.
I also see these Four Strands of Stewardship as a means for charting out how we go deeper, Highland. I continue to see how these strands offer us all a way to strengthen the fibers of our lives in relationship to God’s Word.
As we enter the last lap of our series this month, we are going to focus on the administration of the church (stewarding the church). We will be calling the church the prayer and presenting the board’s plan for transitioning into and stewarding the new building. The Lord has entrusted us with much; let us steward all that He has placed within our hands pursuing His honor.
I love you, Highland,
Rob