God's Purpose
God's purpose of Christ in us is that the world may know God as Father and be saved. Every moment of our lives is an opportunity for the world to see Jesus Christ inviting them to come closer. Going out and condemning the world for acting worldly is not God’s plan. Going unto the world and loving them unconditionally the way Christ loves us is the only way they will be drawn to God.
1 Corinthians 9
For though I am free from all men, I am a slave to all, so that more people may be won to Christ. To the Jews, I become a Jew, so that Jews may be won… to those who are without law, as though I am without law, though I am under the law of Jesus Christ… to the weak I become weak, that the weak may be won to Christ… I have become all things to all men so that all men might be saved. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, that I may be a fellow partaker of it.
[Paul was doing exactly what Christ Jesus did. He became a friend to all that all might know the Lord. He didn't concern himself with having a holy reputation in the eyes of man, he literally existed in Christ's holiness.]
Jesus, friend of sinners
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Matthew 11
Jesus said, "To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
'We played the flute for you, and you didn't dance;
We sang a dirge, and you didn't mourn.’
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”
[Jesus compares the religious leaders to children in the marketplace who want what they want and are not satisfied with anything else. They weren't satisfied with the rough-hewn, unsophisticated John the Baptist nor with Jesus, whom they considered hedonistic and a sinner. They were blind and couldn't see past the surface of either man to the wisdom inwardly. They boasted of their own works and condemned others.]
View attachment 161729
Matthew 11
At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."
[The only way the world will see the Father is through Jesus Christ. And the only way the world will see Jesus Christ is if he reveals himself through us. It is the work of God. It's not our own work, so none of us can boast. None of us can mimic Jesus, he reveals himself through us as we humble ourselves to him and unconditionally love others as he loves us. Whoever cannot love like that, doesn't truly know God.]
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
[Jesus didn't go around boasting of himself. He was a servant to all, a friend to everyone. Jesus generously invited people to find rest in his love. You couldn't keep the throngs away from him, people just wanted to be near him because he offered genuine love... and light... and life.
Do the lost want to be near you? Are you a people person? Do folks gravitate toward you because of your genuine joy? How often do people come to you asking about Jesus? Does the world recognize Jesus Christ's love in you?]
View attachment 161730
God's purpose of Christ in us is that the world may know God as Father and be saved. Every moment of our lives is an opportunity for the world to see Jesus Christ inviting them to come closer. Going out and condemning the world for acting worldly is not God’s plan. Going unto the world and loving them unconditionally the way Christ loves us is the only way they will be drawn to God.
1 Corinthians 9
For though I am free from all men, I am a slave to all, so that more people may be won to Christ. To the Jews, I become a Jew, so that Jews may be won… to those who are without law, as though I am without law, though I am under the law of Jesus Christ… to the weak I become weak, that the weak may be won to Christ… I have become all things to all men so that all men might be saved. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, that I may be a fellow partaker of it.
[Paul was doing exactly what Christ Jesus did. He became a friend to all that all might know the Lord. He didn't concern himself with having a holy reputation in the eyes of man, he literally existed in Christ's holiness.]
Jesus, friend of sinners
View attachment 161728
Matthew 11
Jesus said, "To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
'We played the flute for you, and you didn't dance;
We sang a dirge, and you didn't mourn.’
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”
[Jesus compares the religious leaders to children in the marketplace who want what they want and are not satisfied with anything else. They weren't satisfied with the rough-hewn, unsophisticated John the Baptist nor with Jesus, whom they considered hedonistic and a sinner. They were blind and couldn't see past the surface of either man to the wisdom inwardly. They boasted of their own works and condemned others.]
View attachment 161729
Matthew 11
At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."
[The only way the world will see the Father is through Jesus Christ. And the only way the world will see Jesus Christ is if he reveals himself through us. It is the work of God. It's not our own work, so none of us can boast. None of us can mimic Jesus, he reveals himself through us as we humble ourselves to him and unconditionally love others as he loves us. Whoever cannot love like that, doesn't truly know God.]
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
[Jesus didn't go around boasting of himself. He was a servant to all, a friend to everyone. Jesus generously invited people to find rest in his love. You couldn't keep the throngs away from him, people just wanted to be near him because he offered genuine love... and light... and life.
Do the lost want to be near you? Are you a people person? Do folks gravitate toward you because of your genuine joy? How often do people come to you asking about Jesus? Does the world recognize Jesus Christ's love in you?]
View attachment 161730