July 9, 2022
“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:18b-20
As I go about my daily life, I am an influence on those around me, either for good or for evil. It should be my joy to observe all things that Jesus, in His infinite wisdom, has instructed. Beloved, your confidence lies in the authority of Jesus. Your faithfulness to Him is a display, showing that His authority is the standard to which you are committed. By “display” one might also say “spectacle” or “theater,” conveying the idea that all are welcome to see.
For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. 1 Corinthians 4:9
Some translations say spectacle to the universe. The martyrdom of so many of Christ’s faithful ones is a reality. Make note that, in God’s Word, we are shown that the influences for evil in this world continue their rampages without pause or interruption. The pattern, repeated throughout, goes from purity to corruption. Cain, though properly instructed by his parents who had learned a painful lesson in their failure of the simplest of tests, invented his own way of worship which was contrary to the word of the LORD. Abel, rather than follow his brother, continued to approach God per God’s divine instructions. Cain’s anger over this issue led to the murder of Abel . . . and more pain for Adam and Eve! Thus the continuing pattern of woe resulting from disobedience is on display. The remedy for sin, from the beginning, was to look toward the coming Savior in obedience to His commands.
Having disarmed principalities and powers, [Jesus] made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them [on the cross]. Colossians 2:15
Anyone who fails to value God’s wisdom as worthy of obedience is exerting an influence and setting an example that will cause others to lightly regard or even dismiss altogether the Word of God. This is potentially fatal for the example setter and also the followers of the terrible example.
Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:19
It should bring us to a chilling halt when we hear professed Christians—especially church leaders—praying for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10, Luke 11:2), while ignoring the commandments of God and teaching others to do the same. Another expression for least might be “lowest of the low.” The above declaration from the Sermon on the Mount shows that Jesus knew there would be professed Christians who would influence others to regard select commandments with indifference. He said: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 1:18-20 (NIV)