What We Do or Don't Do Has Meaning

What We Do or Don't Do Has Meaning
by David Brenneman

"According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it.  For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,  each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.  If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.  If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire." 1 Corinthians 3:10-15.

"Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord---for we walk by faith, not by sight—we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.  Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." 2 Corinthians 5:6-10.

“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.   All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;  naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’  Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?  And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?  When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’   The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’  “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;  for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’  Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’  Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’  These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”" Matthew 25:31-46.

When you think of an Ambassador of a country's position and duties what comes to mind?  I mean besides those who've abused their position decrying 'diplomatic immunity'.  These are people whom wherever they go, whatever they do, they're obligated to represent their respective nation well or potentially face being recalled in disgrace.

It's a very high calling to be in such a position. 

"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.  He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:20-21.

You might have noticed that most of the passages today all come from the letters to the Church in Corinth.  The false Apostles that were there twisting the Word of God, the testimony of Paul, was certainly heavy on Paul's mind and heart. 

We are still today the called of Jesus Christ, the Ambassadors of our Lord Jesus Christ throughout the world if indeed we are saved in Christ Jesus.  We are His representatives to those in the Church and the world.  We read as well in Ephesians 2:10 "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.".

We have both the responsibility and the urging of the Spirit of God to walk in our lives in Christ in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.  Since He is not willing that any should perish but that all might be saved, so should we be of that same mind toward one another and those in the world.

Those who are Ambassadors in our world go through special activities and training to memorize their duties so that they flawlessly perform them.  When questioned they have confidence in their responses. They study even after being chosen for their appointment. 

Do you study for your own Ambassadorship in Christ?  Do you look intently into the Word of God daily?  Is it something you're taking seriously?  It does not matter where you are or your employed position in life or if you aren't employed at all.

If we indeed believe that we battle not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12.

That the immediately following verses apply daily, not just whimsically, to put on the whole armor of God...then what manner of men and women of God ought we to be?

Praying without ceasing.
Setting our minds on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world. 
Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.
The mind of man plans his ways but the Lord directs his steps.

Everyone who is in Christ represents Christ.  There are no exceptions.  Jesus said that every branch that does not bear fruit will be cut off.  Others will be pruned so as to bear more fruit.  A continual process. 

Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.

Ask, seek, knock.

All these things come together for the will of God for us in Christ Jesus: our sanctification.

Take time to evaluate your life and desires.  Are they in agreement with your calling in Christ?  God's word says you have a calling in Christ and should be fulfilling it to the best of your ability.  For there will be a day when out deeds done in the body will be tried by fire when we give an account of our lives before Jesus. 

What will yours show?  It's not yet too late to be about the Father’s business. 

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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