“A servant who deals wisely will rule over
a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the
brothers.” That is surely an unthinkable
idea but Solomon says it is so. Do we
understand what the Lord has done for us?
In the old covenant it was easier in some ways because they were all one
family and traced their lineage and their share of the Land to which brother’s
line begat them. Even in the Land they
were to live as family or tribes and it was clear, no one needed to be reminded
of relationships. Jesus says that we
find unity in Him, we are all family through Him in faith. All the Israelite tribes ultimately were
children of Abraham. We have been
granted entry into the family of faith and will share in the inheritance as one
of the brothers. What a concept!
Jesus re-interprets the family structure. In our particular liturgy, the Kenyan
liturgy, we say, “We await the coming of our brother, Jesus Christ…” the first
time I read that phrase it made me incredibly uncomfortable even though it is
true. I know others who cringe every
time I read it. What Jesus has done is
incredible when we truly realize that we are adopted children and share in the
inheritance that only He truly deserves.
It feels too familiar, however, to think of Jesus as brother. Even those who can think of Him as friend
find “brother” a bit intimate. He says
here, however, that those who do the will of God are indeed like family to
Him. It is sin that keeps us from that
intimacy, there is a healthy respect for the differences between us, but He
bids us seek righteousness to become more like Him, bear the family
resemblance.
Paul says that there are measurables to qualify for
leadership in the church and those relate to righteousness of life. He isn’t saying they have to be perfect but
their lives must be such that they are above reproach and worthy of
emulating. The community needs role
models and leaders should be role models, their lives should reveal godliness. Jesus should be manifested in our flesh, the
world should know something of Jesus based on the witness of our lives. Priorities and values reflect themselves in
our lives, what does yours say?
Great Father of glory,
pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
But of all Thy rich graces this grace, Lord, impart
Take the veil from our faces, the vile from our heart.
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
But of all Thy rich graces this grace, Lord, impart
Take the veil from our faces, the vile from our heart.
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