Day of Praise

Th, 01/16/14, "Day of Praise"

1 Peter 2:21 - "For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps."

So why, pray tell, would anyone trust Jesus Christ so much as to follow his sacrificial and suffering example? Reason #3,524: eternal significance. Every human being, because we're made in the image of God, longs to live a life where we touch other lives in a way that makes a substantial and lasting difference.

The contrast, along with the choice, is simple: a) BASE - Be A Superior Example, or b) BANE - Be A Negative Example.

A) BASE - Be A Superior Example - Imitating the most superior example, sacrificing and suffering for others like Jesus, touches other lives in a substantial and lasting way. When one person knows they have even just one other quality person in their lives, it imparts a confidence and a foundation (a BASE) on which another quality life can be built. That's why, in addition to parents, a good school teacher or coach or scout leader or music instructor or children's minister or Big Sister/Brother or Sunday School teacher is such an important asset in a child's life. Bosses, civic leaders, Bible Study group leaders, and the like are equally important assets to another adult. And we're all called to be good neighbors.

2) BANE - Be A Negative Example - "Bane" literally means "death, destruction, source of harm, source of ruin." Need I say more? Uuuuuuh, no!

Follow Jesus's example. Suffer and sacrifice for others. That's what a BASE does to live an eternally significant life, which touches other lives in substantial and lasting ways.

God, in Christ, is our BASE. Pass it on.

Praise God!


Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson