Outdo One Another In This...

In what should we try to outdo one another?

Many people try to outdo other people in one thing or another. Sibling rivalry is exceedingly common in families. Students at school try to get ahead by getting better grades, excelling in sports, or becoming more popular. Workers compete to get promotions. Politicians seek to get more votes to get elected.

However in the Body of Christ there is (or should be) more emphasis on loving and serving one another than competing with one another. Just like in a human body, things go much better when both eyes look in the same direction and when neither foot tries to get too far ahead of the other.

Nevertheless there is a benefit for members of the Body of Christ to compete with one another in one area. Paul wrote about it in the second half of Romans 12:10:

Romans 12:10  ...Outdo one another in showing honor.  ESV

Outdo one another in showing honor. The NIV translation renders it "Honor one another above yourselves." The Greek conveys the meaning of taking the lead in honoring others. Doing so isn't easy for us, but that never stops God from requiring it because it is what is right. It is humbling to honor others rather than seek to get others to honor us. As it happens, that is a good thing because "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." (James 4:6)

If a person is to excel in any activity he or she needs become committed to it. For believers that should mean praying for God's help, and giving thought to what God has said in Scripture that can assist them to do what is required. God doesn't expect us to depend on our own strength and determination. He knows how weak we are and knows we need Him to accomplish what He commands us to do. He even gives us the faith to believe and do what He says is true and right.

So let's give thought to God wanting us to outdo each other in showing honor. Let's think about how doing so will please our Lord. Let's consider what it will be like when the Holy Spirit enables us to do better at honoring others. Then let's do it. Then do it again. And again.

How shall we honor others in ways that please God? Well, doing things for them and with them in a humble manner. Checking Scripture for instructions on both our attitudes and actions, and not getting ourselves all puffed up when we do a few things Biblically.

Honoring others does not mean always agreeing with others about everything they say and do, but it does mean that when correcting or rebuking is necessary that it be done without a "I'm better than you are" kind of attitude.

I hope all of us in the Body of Christ will seek God's help in obeying the call to outdo one another in showing honor. Let's go to it!

Many Members -- One Body of Christ

At First Baptist Church in Weymouth we have a new senior pastor, Jeremy Garber, who does expository preaching from Scripture that instructs, exhorts, and encourages those of us who get to hear him. People are taking notes and going online to hear his sermons over again because there is so much good material in them, even when some of the content makes us uncomfortable and realize we need to seek the Lord's help to live in ways more pleasing to Him.

Pastor Garber certainly doesn't seek to entertain us with his preaching. He seeks to be faithful to God, to help us learn and live out what God has for us in His Word. He is helping us wake up spiritually to give more thought to what it means to have faith in Christ and be followers of Him.

He knows God doesn't want him to go it alone in serving and reaching out with the gospel to the people in this area. Pastor Jeremy prays for a revival in New England, and knows that true revival begins with the Spirit of God and the exposition of His perfect Word.

It is wonderful to be in a church with a pastor who has such a heart for God, His Word, and the people who God has called to be part of His Church. Such passion should be shared by all the members of the Body of Christ, not just those who preach and teach from pulpits, Bible studies, and Sunday School classrooms.

Although not all are called to be preachers, teachers, or leaders as their ministry within the church, all believers should be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks for the reason for the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:15-16).

We can become better prepared to give a defense of the hope we have in the gospel with the help of other believers when we work together in the Body of Christ. God has given us different gifts and using them as He directs us through Scripture can help all of us to do what He wants us to do.

Romans 12:4-8  For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,  (5)  so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.  (6)  Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;  (7)  if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;  (8)  the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.  ESV

Jesus doesn't want us to sit back and let our pastors, elders, and deacons do all the speaking and serving in the church. He wants all who believe in Him as Lord and Savior to be active members of His Body..

When we use the gifts God has given us we can support others in the Body and also encourage them to use the gifts God has given them. We are one Body in Christ and we are members of one another. God wants us to do all He enables us to do to serve Him and each another. It is a glorious privilege to have been chosen as members of  the Body of Christ. Together we can honor Him by working together to do His will.

I am so thankful to be in a church where the leaders wholeheartedly believe in and want to obey the Word of God. And I am ever so thankful that God is making me ever more willing and eager to serve in whatever way He wants me to serve Him in the Body.

Are you a member of the Body of Christ? If not, are you ready to accept that you can't save yourself and that only the sacrifice of the sinless Jesus Christ on the Cross is sufficient to pay the price for your sins against God? If by His grace your are now or one day become a member of His Body, then I invite you to join me in seeking God's help to use whatever gifts He gives us to honor Him and serve Him and one another.