INTRODUCTION
TRANSFORMING LOVE
“…not by works…”
(Ephesians 2:9).
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I have been concerned with the
integrity of the Christian Faith for a while and whether it will maintain its
impact or relevancy in the 21st century.
So many people have used
Christianity inappropriately and have paired it with personal agendas or used
it for ill-gotten gains. Almost every Christian
term or service or activity or righteous work have had some kind of scandal or
negative behavior tied to it.
Christian leaders would have the
world think that politically the Christian faith is merely concerned with
homosexuality and abortion whether than our most important endeavors of love for God and love for others.
Therefore, their behaviors often
reflect a Christian faith that merely care about the laws of the land; yet they
are failing to allow their own hearts or characters to first, be transformed through
the spiritual law of God.
This action makes it appear that
Christians are more supportive of a political law agenda, whether than a
righteous one. How will the Christian faith transform society if those within
the Christian faith are not transformed themselves?
In addition, how will they be
transformed if they are more concerned with “doing” Christianity than
“becoming” Christ-like? Christians have mega churches, mega preachers, mega-colleges,
national and international ministry and yet fail to demonstrate a mega anointing.
These days, believers think the
anointing is nothing more than a form of entertainment or dramatic antics. Finding
a truly anointed person is like looking for that proverbial needle in a
haystack.
Please don’t misunderstand me. I am not
talking about you. I am talking about the other ones. For instance, there are
many Christians who can preach or teach with the greatest of talent and
eloquence; where even the angels in heaven applaud (1 Corinthians 13:1).
There are Christian people with great
faith and could be placed with the faith giants recorded in Hebrews chapter 11
(1 Corinthians 13:2). There are those whose gift of prophesy has impacted
people’s lives across the globe.
There are also some people who can
cast out devils and do all kinds of wonderful, miraculous Christians works. Yet
there is something terribly missing in all the frenzy of activities, events, services,
and works. Is it possible to be so busy doing God’s works that we actually miss
God?
Christian “doings” may be one of
the greatest deceptions that have ever been pulled over the eyes of those
claiming the Christian faith. I am not saying you are not to “do”, but I am saying “doing” is not a “sign” of authentic
Christ-like transformation or relationship with God.
Anybody can “do” Christian works. “’Master,’ Said John, ‘we saw a man driving
out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not ONE OF US,’ ‘Do not stop him,’
Jesus said, ‘for whoever is not against you is for you’” (Luke 9:49-50).
Therefore, just because you “do” Christian
works and do them well does not mean you are ONE OF US. Your Christian works
alone do not define or determine that you are ONE OF US, but many people think
it does and count their works as a guarantee of their transformation into
Christlikeness.
They worked for their
transformation, right” They earned it. They deserve it. They’re worthy of
Christian recognition based on their own merits. Here is how that belief could
become a deception. “Not everyone who
says to me, ‘Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does
the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, Lord,
Lord did we not prophecy in your
name, and in your name drive out demons,
and perform many miracles? Then I
will tell them plainly, I never knew you,
Away from me, you evildoers!”
(Matthew 7:21-23).
We have read this scripture a
thousand times, but miss the importance of the task of knowing the God of love.
God is love. “If I speak in the tongues
of men and of angels, but have not love,
I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can
fathom all mysteries and all
knowledge, and if I have all faith
that can move mountains, but have not
love, I am nothing. If I give
all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.”
(1 Corinthians 13:1-3).
So do you see where I’m going with
this? You cannot think that you can work your way to heaven through deeds and
that your Christian works alone are a surefire way to get there.
The world’s system says you worked;
so you earn by doing, but God’s system says I did it (worked) through the
finished work of Christ on the cross, so it’s already yours through responsive faith.
The just shall live by faith.
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| YADA - TO KNOW INTIMATELY |
The journey is to work on your
relationship with God. “Therefore they
said to Him, ‘What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe
in Him who He has sent.”
(John 6:28-29).
God will reverse the world
system in which you operate your Christian journey to reflect a YADA (oneness covenant-relationship)
with Him.
EXCERPT FROM TRANSFORMING LOVE
BY DR PENSACOLA HELENE JEFFERSON
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