I don't necessarily like slogans...
Illustration
I don't necessarily like slogans. They always seem to say so little.
So I'm not very good with jokes. One slogan that strikes with this reading is, "If you've got it, flaunt it." Minus the call to arrogance, I feel that Paul is calling us to a flaunting that is both positive and productive.
We are not to bring attention and praise and glory to us. Our motivation and purpose of call into Christ is to bring God the glory. When Paul speaks of "striving with all the energy which he mightily inspires within me," we can readily grasp what he means. It isn't a call to see our robes, our preaching style, our lovely churches, our beautiful buildings. Rather, a base desire from the depths of our souls yearns for an expression.
That expression is the Spirit of God coming through us to whomever we might make available to him. We are the channel. He is the Way. Our richness is the presence of Christ, the hope of glory.
"For this (we) toil ..."
So I'm not very good with jokes. One slogan that strikes with this reading is, "If you've got it, flaunt it." Minus the call to arrogance, I feel that Paul is calling us to a flaunting that is both positive and productive.
We are not to bring attention and praise and glory to us. Our motivation and purpose of call into Christ is to bring God the glory. When Paul speaks of "striving with all the energy which he mightily inspires within me," we can readily grasp what he means. It isn't a call to see our robes, our preaching style, our lovely churches, our beautiful buildings. Rather, a base desire from the depths of our souls yearns for an expression.
That expression is the Spirit of God coming through us to whomever we might make available to him. We are the channel. He is the Way. Our richness is the presence of Christ, the hope of glory.
"For this (we) toil ..."
