The mature believer welcomes and cares for strangers. Much more than entertaining friends or hosting a nice meal, this is about helping those in need, especially those outside your familiar circle.
Church leadership matters because Jesus cares. When He restored Peter, Jesus’ thoughts were fixed on the care for His sheep. Christ loves His church. Shepherding is an excellent work, for it reflects the heart of Christ that seeks the spiritual welfare of His flock.
Christ, in His humanity, possessed a genuine human will, which He submitted perfectly to the Father. He did what every man should have done but could not because of his fallenness. In contrast to man, who sought equality with God, Christ, though equal to God, submitted to the Father’s will.
Six striking features of Christ’s humanity are seen in this text: Debasement, Death, Body, Brotherhood, Fullness, and Exaltation. Christ became like us to save us and to be all that we should have been and to make us all that we should be.
Six striking features of Christ’s humanity are seen in this text: Debasement, Death, Body, Brotherhood, Fullness, and Exaltation. Christ became like us to save us and to be all that we should have been and to make us all that we should be.
Even though the original design of male leadership was marred by sin, it is restored in Christ. In Him we learn godly leadership, and the church exhibits godly submission, becoming a signpost of God’s will for male leadership.
The church is the means and the end of discipleship on earth. This purpose of our Lord was meant to include, not exclude, women. This was Jesus’ way and it was also the way of His apostles. Paul followed this same pattern and directs women to be leaners (disciples), not teachers.
As the planets orbit the sun, so we order ourselves around our object of worship, the Lord. He is the radiant sun and we the muted planets; He the center, we the periphery. We spotlight the God of majesty, and fade into the background. His glory sparkles and shines like jewels on the crown.
Even as the LORD provided for Israel manna and water in the wilderness to train their souls, so the LORD acts for the good of our souls: He continually restores wayward sheep to His paths of righteousness.
