Allow God to Display His Gospel Through Your Life (Gal. 5; 1 Cor. 2)
Too often we try to make things too complicated. We overthink, overanalyze, and are overly concerned with successful outcomes. But the Christian life does not (no, should not) be so complicated.
Jerry Haag reveals two passages of Scripture that underpin everything he and his team at One More Child are trying to accomplish.
The first comes from Paul’s letter to the churches of Galatia, a Roman province in Asia Minor located in modern-day Turkey. There was growing dissent about what this new community gathering around the risen Christ should look like. Because Jesus was the fulfillment of God’s covenant begun through the Jewish people and the Law God gave to Moses, shouldn’t followers of Christ first become Jews in order to partake in the full redemption of the Messiah? Others, including Paul, believed that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus broke humanity free from the Laws which bound a relationship with God to the old covenant of Moses. Now everyone had the chance to have a relationship with God by the pathway Jesus made when He died on the cross.
The second passage of Scripture that helps to shape the direction and calling of One More Child comes from Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth, a wealthy, Greek city known for its schools of philosophy.
Let’s take a look at these two passages.
“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”
As I read these words today, I realize most people are not mulling over the same controversies being discussed in Paul’s day. But this passage does speak to my own perceived need to be seen as ultra-Christian; dotting every i and crossing every t in my life in order to be in good standing with God.
This passage reminds me that none of my efforts to make myself holy in the eyes of God amount to a hill of beans. My relationship with God is solely due to the fact that Christ died on the cross for my sins, and through His sacrifice I am redeemed.
Realizing this frees my spirit from a constant desire to control and dictate and allows for the Holy Spirit to open up new opportunities of service that I would have never seen otherwise.
One More Child is a prime example of an organization that has opened itself up to God’s calling. They have opened their hands to the children of the world and each child they help is just “one more” who has received the blessings of the Holy Spirit’s work through human hands and open hearts.
“For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”
Though Paul was schooled in the methods of philosophical teaching, he made a point not to present the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Corinth in that same way. Paul didn’t want those who heard his message to lump it in with all the other wisdom teachings of the day. This message was something different and it did not depend on fancy speeches or witty conversation. The power of the gospel is within the message itself and in the transformed lives it leaves in its wake.
Jerry Haag knows that true belief in the gospel of Jesus Christ leaves a person changed for good. As a believer allows the message of Jesus to settle into their heart, they begin to view the world with the same compassion He has for it. This outpouring of compassion into holy action is the best way to demonstrate the true message of the gospel. The words of one hymn put it this way, “They will know we are Christians by our love.”
One More Child reveals the gospel of Jesus Christ by caring for children and their families all over the world. How have you allowed God to simply display His gospel through your life? Don’t get caught up in all the distractions like I often do. Let me encourage you to live each moment simply asking Jesus to view the world around you with the compassion He has for it. When we let go and allow the message of Christ to become a part of who we are, opportunities to share His love will make themselves known.
Zachariah Seanor serves as the ministry consultant for Challengers and Youth on Mission and co-editor for Missions Journey: Students at national WMU. Zachariah enjoys seeing people joining together in God’s mission and realizing we are all a valuable part of the kingdom of God.
