Sheep

 

“Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”

(Philippians 3:17-21 ESV)

 

Although we claim that we’re our own person, although we like to believe that we are free-thinkers, and although we insist that we make our own decisions and do things our own way, the opposite tends to be true. Even though we hate to admit it, we are sheep. Even though we hate to acknowledge it, we tend to follow the crowd. We tend to do exactly what everyone else is doing.

 

We wear what everyone else is wearing, and we’re critical of anything that doesn’t match the trending style. We watch the shows and the movies that everyone else is watching. We listen to the music to which everyone else is listening. We talk like those around us. And, of course, we think like those who surround us.

 

Whether this is done knowingly or unknowingly, this is the case. We are not the unique people that we believe ourselves to be. And we are not the rebels, we’re not the nonconformists, that we believe ourselves to be.

 

While this can certainly be a bad thing, if we’re following the wrong crowd, it can also be a positive thing. It depends upon the company we keep and the role models that we admire. If we’re looking to the right people, and following their example, it can be a great blessing.

 

This is why, in the above passage, Paul encouraged the people to imitate him. This is why he encouraged them to keep their eye on those who walk according to the example seen in him and his companions. As they followed the example of Paul, and as they emulated the faith of Paul, they would remain on the right course.

 

I realize that a statement like this may seem arrogant on the surface. It may seem that he’s holding himself up before others in a prideful way. And, for this reason, we’d be uncomfortable making a statement such as this.

 

We must realize, however, that Paul is not claiming perfection. Nor is he claiming to be sinless. He is, however, an example of the very faith he was proclaiming to others.

 

His focus, you see, was not on himself. Nor was it upon his obedience. His focus was on the cross of Christ. This was his source of comfort and assurance. And it was this to which he directed others.

 

For this reason, it’s people like this, it’s people like Paul, that we should emulate. We should imitate those who look only to the cross of Christ. We should seek to live like those who trust in Christ, and in Christ alone, for the salvation he provides.

 

And, in the same way, as we trust in Christ, we are that example for others. Although we must never think too highly of ourselves, we must realize that our hope in Christ is a model for those who surround us. As we walk through life, with our eyes fixed on Jesus, we can reveal to others what a life of faith looks like.

The Lord of Peace

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.”

(2 Thessalonians 3:16 ESV)

Peace is something that we all crave. It’s something that we all desire. It’s something for which we all long.

However, that being said, it is also something that seems elusive. It’s something that seems distant. And it’s something that seems impossible to obtain.

As we live life in this world, it seems anything but peaceful. We hear about conflict between nations of the world. There is conflict on the political front. There is conflict in our community. There is conflict in our churches. And there is conflict in our families.

As we seek out this peace, our tendency is to think that it’s something that is ours to obtain. We believe that, if we include certain people in our life, we can have peace. We believe that, if we exclude others from our life, we can have peace. We believe that, if we place ourselves in the right environment, we can have peace. Or we believe that, if we work the right job, we will have peace.

We, then, do all that we can to grab hold of it. We do all that we can to obtain it. We do all that we can to place ourselves in a position where we will have this peace. We do so even if it means violating God’s law.

We fail to realize that the Lord alone is the source of our peace. We fail to realize that it’s he who can bestow this peace. And we fail to realize that, for this reason, we can have peace regardless of how our outward circumstances may seem.

In the above passage, Paul refers to Jesus as the Lord of peace. This tells us that he is the God of peace. He is the author of peace. We, therefore, can look to him for this gift of peace. He, in fact, is the only source of peace.

And this is what Paul wishes for the believers at Thessalonica. He asks that the Lord will give to them peace at all times and in every way. He asks that the Lord will give them a perpetual peace that will remain with them in every circumstance in which they might find themselves.

This is something we can have because the peace that Jesus gives to us is not subjective, but objective. It’s not simply a feeling of peace that can pass away when our circumstances become difficult. It is a real, outward reality. It’s not dependent upon our circumstances nor our emotions. It’s dependent only upon Jesus and what he’s done for us.

Although we were God’s enemies, we are no more. Although we were dead in our trespasses, we are no more. Although we were once far off, we are no more. By his sacrifice, he has made peace for us. He has obtained peace for us. And he has granted to us this peace, which is received through faith in him.

Judge Not?

^“If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.”

(2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 ESV)

 

The greatest of modern virtues is that you shall not judge. We’re reminded of this on a daily basis. And even though this belief is completely ripped out of the context in which Scripture presents it, we go along with this in the church.

 

What I mean is that little, if any, correction is offered by the church. Even if we preach the Word of God rightly, we offer little in the way of personal application. We are unwilling to address the sin in which our members live.

 

I’m not suggesting that we should make knowledge of their sin public. Nor am I suggesting that a spectacle be made of their wrongdoing. However, we turn a blind eye to it and ignore it.

 

By our silence, we give our tacit approval to their actions. We tell them that their lifestyle is acceptable before God. And we tell them that no confession, repentance, or forgiveness is necessary.

 

We see, in the passage above, Paul’s instruction for such an occurrence. And we must note that he is not addressing our dealing with unbelievers. He’s addressing our interaction with those who confess faith in Christ.

 

He says that if anyone does not obey the instruction given in this letter, we’re to take note of him. If anyone does not obey the instruction given in this letter, we’re to have nothing to do with him. We are not to associate with him or to have company with him.

 

However, even though we are to use this measure, we’re not to regard him as an enemy. We’re not to consider him as one whom we are against. We’re, rather, to warn him as a brother.

 

In other words, we are seeking not his harm, but his blessing. We are seeking not vengeance, but the salvation of his soul. We are seeking not his punishment, but his repentance.

 

This is not a lone passage where this teaching is presented. We see it throughout Scripture. And not only is it seen in the Old Testament, where we might feel that we can dismiss it as an outdated law. We see it also in the New.

 

We see this, for example, in 1 Corinthians 5:11, which says: “But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.”

 

There is a right way to go about this, of course. It’s to be done not in a spirit of condemnation, but one of love. However, Scripture is clear that this tool is to be used as we seek the salvation of souls.