GraceUnlimited

If you doggedly stick to your preconceived rights, regardless of how it impacts other people, you may need Paul's teaching of the conscience to the Corinthian church. A God-honouring conscience is considers the fact that other people have convictions too- even in issues that are not clearly sin or non-sin issues. A God-honouring conscience is also alert to the impact of your behaviour on other Christians. It is informed by Scripture and desires to do what is loving toward others. It is also sacrificial in relation to other people's convictions. Paul's convictions here are very strong. Stronger Christians are not necessarily validating a weaker Christian's view by accommodating themselves to their weaker brothers' convictions. Neither are they simply tolerating them. Sacrificial concern is a joyful thing. Harmony is ultimately found in the progressive submission of all Christians, of their consciences, to the Lordship of Christ.

While the conscience can plague a person to desperation, it is also a blessing. Those who are experienced at observing their inner lives will know how the conscience remembers, drives you into hiding, makes you feel fearful, anxious, irritable, restless or even fakely religious. Sadly, many of us ignore the alarm system and eventually don't hear it anymore. God gratefully grants Christians a way to live with a clear conscience. That way is Jesus Christ, the way by which we can draw near to God. Through Him we can have perfect peace with God. Jesus' provision of access to the Father is thrilling news-Even though Christians have sinned, we can be free before God in light of what God has done for us in Jesus and through His granting us both a new power and new nature so we can grow in holy living. True faith fights to hold on to what is true. It keeps confessing sin and trusting in God's forgiveness. The conscience, in that way, is clear.

If you say you are a Christian, are you living for Jesus- Many who claim to be Christians don't anticipate, or are not prepared to face persecution. Moreover, fear is a liar and tries to make Christians live timidly rather than boldly. Fear wants to scare you into not living for Jesus. but Jesus has called His people to unspeakable glory- a glory that follows suffering. He has confirmed the reality of this coming glory by the near fulfilment of His prophecy regarding the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. If that prophesy is fulfilled, then the other prophesies will be fulfilled. The fall of Jerusalem in AD 70 was a dreadful overthrow. And the cause was the sin of the Jews- their rejection of the Messiah. It is far more dreadful to reject Jesus than to live for Him. If you are afraid to submit to Christ, what are you afraid of- The destruction of Jerusalem was a warning to you not to end up in the same destruction. That is worth being afraid of.

Being persecuted can bring out the worst in people. Especially when you are being persecuted for doing what is right. Persecution is a constant reality throughout Scripture. Jesus' disciples in Luke 21 were expecting thrones, but Jesus warned them of persecution. Pain must be expected all the way to the end- until Jesus returns. What if this was your future- What if you are going to be shamed and gossiped about- Make up your mind now that this will not defeat you. This is your opportunity. God uses persecution and suffering in his people to spread the truth and bless the world. Persecution that drives the gospel further is the means God uses as a catalyst for the gospel. God is using evil for his glory and your good. Remarkably, a Christian's persecution often gives that Christian a platform from which to preach--either through his words or his response to evil. Moreover, Jesus promises to be present with every believer. He was certainly with his disciples. He was also with thousands of martyrs, like Polycarp and Perpetua. Jesus is the primary joy such Christians seek. Therefore, true Christians will endure persecution.

We respond to the evil in the world in varying ways. Some will ignore it. Some will become discouraged. Some will become afraid. Jesus' disciples could see the evil all around them and they eagerly anticipated the glorious kingdom Jesus was about to inaugurate. They had to face the reality, however, that Jesus would actually be leaving earth and returning at a future date to establish His kingdom. The intervening time, as the apostles discovered in Luke's record in Acts, would be marked by even greater wickedness and misery. False teaching--the greatest danger--would ravage the world. What is your your response to the wickedness that surrounds you- Are you setting your attitude for the long-haul until Jesus returns- Are you learning to discern error- Are you cultivating hope in the return of Christ- Are you living progressively and boldly, or are you living as an immobilised victim- Are you a witness to Christ or are you a slave to your own comfort- The King is coming-

The Olivet discourse is just as crucial for its content as it is for the place from which it was delivered. The disciples have asked about the signs of Christ's coming and the close of the age. Remarkably, the disciples are asking Jesus when His return would take place. The disciples believed, surprisingly, from the Old Testament, that Jesus would return because God had a future plan for Israel. That plan would be accomplished through the Messiah. They knew that Jesus was that Messiah, the greater Son of David. He was the Son of man from Daniel's prophesy. He is the coming glorious King. He will reign in glory and will judge His enemies. A beautiful paradise is coming- This is what the inquiring disciples correctly presupposed, therefore we can do the same. A beautiful paradise is coming. History is not out of control. God is leading every facet to His great consummation forever.

Christians face trials. If you have not experienced trials, you will. You will be tempted to stop doing what honours God in your trial because honouring God takes discipline. The pain should drive Christians to endure because there is remarkable joy for the person who endures, both now and in eternity. To endure is better than to abandon responsibility. It is better because God is bringing good to you and to others through this pain. It is making you holy. It helps you to refocus on what really matters. It helps you to learn dependence. It helps us to be equipped to ban encouragement to others. It gives power to your faith when it is proven to be real. Moreover, the trial will end. Also, every Christian who endures will receive the crown of life. Persevering through trials is a good process, even if it is painful. God Himself will approve of that person. How small, in contrast, is the reward we imagine we will receive by giving up. The crown of life lasts forever. It is not tarnished by sin. There is only one reason why people will go through all kinds of pain in this world with their eyes on glory- They believe it to be true. Let us pray that God will help us endure.

It is hard to share the gospel with people who don't think they need it. But when God has done a work of grace in the heart, the wonder of forgiveness never grows old, does it- Actually, this is why we need communion, because we need to be constantly reminded of the value of this priceless gift. It came to us when we were dead to God and alive to rebellion and sin. We only related to God as Judge and had accumulated a stockpile of sin-debt we could never repay. Our state was more dreadful than that of a convicted criminal on death-row. Forgiveness takes all of this away from us forever- We walk completely free- A King's pardon removes even the record of the sin from your file. This is not just a fact, it is a glorious truth- The sorrow that brings me to Christ is a blessed sorrow. Do you personally believe all of your sins are completely forgiven- Do you find joy in that fact- If not, deliberately seek joy in this greatest of all treasures.

What does the temple in Luke 21 have to do with me- Historically, it was the house of God. It was the place where heaven and earth met. God walked with Adam and Even in Eden and He also built and rescued the nation of Israel in order to be with them. Israel was intended to be the vehicle through which God's blessing would come to the nations but their failure has set them up for God's judgement. Astoundingly, that is not the end of the story. Their failure has set them up for God's blessing too. God Incarnate comes into the Herodian temple, yet His own people fail to receive Him yet again. What a tragedy is human failure. But out of this tragedy, God intends to turn evil into good. In the future, the whole of Jerusalem will be surrounded and penetrated by her enemies. This hostility against her will last until the end of the time of the gentiles. But then He, Jesus, will return to His people and work with them again. He will make from them something glorious. If God can do this with people who have vehemently rejected Him, there is hope for you. The kingdom of God is the final reality and living and sharing the gospel now is your final responsibility.