Yesterday we celebrated the Queen's birthday as a national holiday in Australia. On this day each year another group of leaders in Australian national and community life are named on the Queen's Honor List. Of course, my name is always omitted. Very few names of we ordinary people will ever appear there, but have you ever thought about the greatest honor you have ever been given or could conceivably receive?
For the athlete it might be to be selected to represent his country at the Olympic Games. For the doctor it might be to be named to the College of Surgeons. For the barrister it might be selection to sit on the High Court. For the parent it might be to be named Father or Mother of the year. For simple folk it might be more mundane or simple things. I'll never forget the thrill I felt the first time my name was called to leave the end of the bench I was warming, and play football for my High School team.
But just what is the greatest honor possible for man? We Christians should have little doubt about the matter. The honor of being chosen in Christ Jesus as the eternal sons of the Eternal God far outweighs any attempt by mortal man to give recognition or honor to his fellow man. Accompanying this honor is the additional blessing of being chosen to serve the Sovereign King of the universe.
Did you ever think of just what it really means to be chosen to be a servant of God? The Word of God tells us we have been chosen to be ambassadors for Jesus Christ on planet earth. (II Cor. 5:17-21) This means we are chosen, in Christ's stead, to fully represent the eternal Kingdom of our God on earth. What an honor!
God also tells us we have been chosen to be living love letters of God's love for man. (II Cor. 3:2-3) What an honor! Jesus Himself said He has chosen us to be his very special and personal witnesses. To give witness to His resurrection and saving power. (Acts 1:8-11) What an honor!
Isn't it wonderful that God has chosen such sinful vessels of mortal clay to bear about the glorious gospel of His Son? Perhaps it is the greatest display of God's marvelous and matchless grace that He chose sinners, saved by that grace, to proclaim the good news of the gospel of grace.
But some might say, what other choice did God have? His choice of saved sinners as His instruments of grace was absolutely necessary. Perhaps so, but I dare say those who say that may be limiting the omnipotence and omniscience of an infinite God. Could not the Sovereign Creator have chosen to paint his gospel in every sky or echo it from every hill in the language of every man, if that had been His eternal will? But instead He has chosen our feet to stand in Christ's stead, our hands to handle His Holy Word and our tongues to tell out His glorious good news! What an honor! Praise be unto our great God! What an Honor!
For the athlete it might be to be selected to represent his country at the Olympic Games. For the doctor it might be to be named to the College of Surgeons. For the barrister it might be selection to sit on the High Court. For the parent it might be to be named Father or Mother of the year. For simple folk it might be more mundane or simple things. I'll never forget the thrill I felt the first time my name was called to leave the end of the bench I was warming, and play football for my High School team.
But just what is the greatest honor possible for man? We Christians should have little doubt about the matter. The honor of being chosen in Christ Jesus as the eternal sons of the Eternal God far outweighs any attempt by mortal man to give recognition or honor to his fellow man. Accompanying this honor is the additional blessing of being chosen to serve the Sovereign King of the universe.
Did you ever think of just what it really means to be chosen to be a servant of God? The Word of God tells us we have been chosen to be ambassadors for Jesus Christ on planet earth. (II Cor. 5:17-21) This means we are chosen, in Christ's stead, to fully represent the eternal Kingdom of our God on earth. What an honor!
God also tells us we have been chosen to be living love letters of God's love for man. (II Cor. 3:2-3) What an honor! Jesus Himself said He has chosen us to be his very special and personal witnesses. To give witness to His resurrection and saving power. (Acts 1:8-11) What an honor!
Isn't it wonderful that God has chosen such sinful vessels of mortal clay to bear about the glorious gospel of His Son? Perhaps it is the greatest display of God's marvelous and matchless grace that He chose sinners, saved by that grace, to proclaim the good news of the gospel of grace.
But some might say, what other choice did God have? His choice of saved sinners as His instruments of grace was absolutely necessary. Perhaps so, but I dare say those who say that may be limiting the omnipotence and omniscience of an infinite God. Could not the Sovereign Creator have chosen to paint his gospel in every sky or echo it from every hill in the language of every man, if that had been His eternal will? But instead He has chosen our feet to stand in Christ's stead, our hands to handle His Holy Word and our tongues to tell out His glorious good news! What an honor! Praise be unto our great God! What an Honor!
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