THE VULNERABLE BELIEVER
1 Corinthians 6:1 As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to
receive God’s grace in vain…now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of
salvation.
It
is quite easy for people to verbally profess faith in Christ. There is nothing
difficult or life threatening to say those words. But to say them and not live
them is a vain or worthless effort. It means nothing to God and other people to
live life centered on us and making statements about ideas and beliefs that are
not reflected in your daily living. Of what use are such words or phrases. They
are only valuable in establishing acceptance of your self from the group of
people with whom you associate or live. If you say the right things then you
can be a part of the group. That is what words can provide, the right ticket in
the door.
Before
this verse one of chapter six Paul writes about a new creature who is in
relationship to God and subsequently he speaks of hardships and sufferings that
result from the new creature who is reconciled to God. A person who has
received God’s grace will find his or her life turned inside out because they
have been changed and are now seeking to be an instrument of God’s to change
others. This is not a life that has merely verbal professions and no concern
for people beyond the circle of those who accept you.
In all the struggles and
contradictions that people see in the lives of Christians it is a wonder that
anyone goes to heaven. But the professing person who loves his fellow man,
exhibits that love in obedience to God’s Word and shows mercy to all people
there is hope and assurance from their faith. Like Paul, you and I may face the
same contradictory responses from others but we should not shy away or run but
open wider our hearts to them, make ourselves vulnerable in heart, soul and mind
knowing that Christ, himself, was vulnerable to the end because he loved his
fellow man and obeyed his Father.