The Gospel Makes Everyone Useful

The Gospel and Your Life
1 Cor. 7:17-24
Listen to this message here: (The Gospel and Life)

There are worse jobs than yours!

We are all caught from time to time wishing our lives were different. We long for a different job in a better house living in a nicer city blah, blah, blah. We learn from Paul in this passage that the Gospel makes everyone's station in life a ministry. God didn't make a mistake saving me in the time period and the context that He did. Its no accident that I have the job I do, the neighbors, the activities or any event in my life. My life is a mission field today, now, exactly like it is.

The Gospel has me caught up in something greater than the things I'm caught up in. My job now is not to fit Jesus into my life, work, hobbies or activities. He IS all those things. He is already here and we are to be focused on Christ's mission for me in these things.

#1 Live where I am.
Not just surviving but living for Him. Any Context! Verses 17-20 clearly show that my station in life now is a personal assignment from the Lord. The most amazing God displayed sovereign activity in someone's testimony is no more amazing than mine. The Gospel does this. It makes the most meaningless activity or work a God ministry.
#2 Forget where you'd rather be. Vs. 20-21.
If you are in the worst possible job, someone's property as a slave no less, then it just doesn't matter. Its a heart issue not a situation issue. Christ comes in and makes life context powerless. (vs. 22) The power of the Gospel transcends my life's circumstances.

(vs. 16) was Paul's start on all this. We don't know what God is going to do in our context to save a person around us. We just don't know so we serve Him where we are.  (vs. 24) My ministry is where I am right now! Life is a short term mission trip.

Your Life in light of the Day (1 Cor. 3:10-15)

1 Corinthians 3:10-15

The Day is a real day of judgment. The Bema Seat judgment of Christ is not the same as the Great White throne judgment where unbelievers are given their deserved sentences but a judgment for believers concerning their works. (see also: Rom. 14:10 and 2 Cor. 5:10) On this day will be large plumes of smoke from so called 'good works' being burned. However we won't have the vantage of seeing other's works going up in judgment flames because the smoke from our own works fires will be blocking our view. Read these words and let them sink in deeply as you meditate upon them. "each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done."
Our heart is so wickedly deceitful but on this day the truth will come out. Does this at all motivate me? Do I live in light of this fact? Does it drive me at all? No, I guess it doesn't otherwise my secret sins would be much less palatable.
So what are the affects of this coming judgment upon our lives?
Security:  Other scripture are very clear, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ. Grace is given. Even though painful fires are coming He will wipe away every tear. My ministry in Christ is out of the reach of men and even my own feelings about it. I am hidden in Christ and that is enough.
Sincerity: These thoughts drive us to works that advance the Gospel. How many conversations do I have about Christ? Am I just mailing it in when I come to church for worship? We must resolve along with Paul to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
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