Lawyer or Ambassador?

by Wayne Cordeiro on September 27, 2022

Happy Tuesday. It's September 27th, 2022. Today we visited the Gutenberg museum in Mainz, Germany. Martin Luther's Reformation spread throughout Europe through the Gutenberg printing press. God used the mass distribution of truth to influence the future of Christianity. That didn't sit well with the Catholic Church, so Luther had to be ready to face the music even if they weren't willing to face the truth. Sound familiar? It reminded me a lot of today's devotions. Read on … 

Today's Reading:

Haggai 1,2; Psalms 129; Luke 10

Scripture

“… But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?’” (Luke 10:29)

Observation

A lawyer came to Jesus with an excellent question: "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 

When Jesus asked him what was written in the Law, the lawyer quoted Deuteronomy 6:5, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind" and Leviticus 19:18, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

Jesus responds, "You have answered correctly, do this, and you shall live." 

But wishing to justify himself, the lawyer continued... 

"But wishing to justify himself?" 

Application

The lawyer's mind was already made up before Jesus answered. He wanted the feeling of holiness and the reputation of godliness, but genuineness has a higher price tag, and this lawyer wasn't in the market for that. So, he needed to know more to justify himself.

But unfortunately, more knowledge isn't always the answer. Sometimes, our questions, inquiries, and desired knowledge can be for purposes other than action. For example, we can acquire more knowledge of the Word as evidence to justify our ways, desires, and lifestyles.

I must check my heart constantly to determine the bottom line of my actions. That's the litmus test. 

It is not how much I know about giving. Do I give?
It is not how much I know about endurance. Do I endure?
It isn't how much I know about service. Do I serve?
It is not even how much I know about the Word. Do I apply it in my everyday life?

It is in the doing that life is found … for Jesus said, "Do this and you will live." 

We can attend ten Bible studies per week, but life will still elude us. We will be left with Christian clichés but without life.

This lawyer came so close to entering the Kingdom, then backed away. I wonder how many of us are like that in the church — we come so close and back away. God's lawyers are made of those who get close, but only those who enter are known as ambassadors.

Prayer

Lord, I desire to be an ambassador for Christ, not a lawyer for Christ. Teach me how to enter in when You invite me to and take the risk — to make the change and be different each day because of what You say. Help me to write down what You say and apply it so that I’ll be an ambassador and not just a lawyer.

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