Who knows you?
Why would you want to be known?
Is it about who you know?
Beyond who you know or discover to connect with for a career, your valuable education, talent, skill, experience and reputation are qualities which may convince a business owner to fill or create an employment position. It’s a combination that functions along with the employer’s assets to benefit both, plus the company’s clients and their customers, too. This sensible business-world concept isn’t how the Last Day when Christ returns will work. Then, our Creator, who knows us completely and supplies all we need, won’t base His selection on our performance or who we know. Even the devil knows what he’s doing and knows Jesus. God’s perfect standard for living and salvation is higher than any human can reach on our own. What really matters is whether or not we’ve received, and taken to heart, the faith He offers us. Faith which loves and trusts God’s perfect sacrificial work is powerful enough to save all who grasp it.
“Our preaching of Christ crucified has always been ‘a stumbling block,’ ‘folly,’ ‘foolishness’ and ‘weakness’ to the non-Christian world (1 Cor. 1:20–25). So be it.” –Pastor Harrison
Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 1 Corinthians 4:1
God planned ahead to provide Truth, not so we would tear each other apart, but that we may build each other up in the name of Jesus. He desires all people receive faith, be set apart, known and purely loved by Christ. Caring enough to ask questions and giving ear to hear another’s answers helps all types of relationships—professional, personal and spiritual. Having courage to be honestly vulnerable about what’s really going on in our own heart to a willing listener increases understanding which can lead to good things. God listens to prayers of those who ask and trust His will be done. Though not necessarily as we predict His answers would be, He allows things to happen which serve His good purpose for us or those we know.
On the other hand, a smarty pants attitude which thrives on its superiority complex that uses intimidation to satisfy the sinful heart’s desires, shows no interest in what’s going on in another’s heart or mind. Disrespect shows up in shut-down, talk-over, noisy hurtful remarks, insults and deluded degrading criticism. Testing patience, tempting counteraction, the unwanted perspective is squashed so the conversation is ineffective and a waste of precious time. Manipulative, abusive, immature, limited emotional development, and cognitive impaired behaviors are part of this dark, sinful world. Concealed personal errors of an inflated ego cause pain for all involved. Correction resistance may lead to further loss of empathy and sense of curiosity about people. Thankfully, God is in control and cares enough to help us confess such nonsense as we stand before Him for mercy and strength. Though we don’t understand someone causing pain and harm, we can always trust he or she is a child of God because of Christ’s death and resurrection. Repentantly admitting our own failing, we may love with a gentle spirit by forgiving and praying for everyone in the name of Jesus. We’re all works-in-progress living in grace.
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.…What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline, or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit? 1 Corinthians 4:5,21
If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. 1 Corinthians 8:2
1 Corinthians 9:24
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| Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 1 Corinthians 9:24 |
Receiving the opportunity to be fully known.
An appropriate amount of effort is wonderful, yet no matter how hard we work out or what degree of dedication we give to training—the more we drive ourselves to perfection, we’ll discover that on our own we can’t win. Lack of success needs to be realized or it could lead to depression or despair. Undeserved forgiveness of Jesus allows grace to joyfully look forward to the eternal prize faith promises.
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
Participation in the race by grace focuses on the the Spirit of Truth. Sorrows too heavy to carry may be dropped into the empty grave of our Lord. God is Love running within us, keeping us honest, forgiven, safe and motivated. Recipients of Christ’s victory, in the gifts he provides, have purpose in life. Turning to our Heavenly Father is possible by His amazing design in that sin is made invisible to Him through the lens of His Son who died to save us. Spiritual-tangible food is available for us to receive by the senses and faith God’s Word creates to renew and refresh us regularly. Listen to a chapel sermon.
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31
Carefully celebrating Holy Communion, we bring sin to the Lord’s Table where He lovingly serves us forgiveness and strength.
My church family, The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS), has about 1,807,408 baptized members. As our pastors desire to faithfully love and care for you, we ask, please respect our position of love. We believe and teach the Word of God distinctly from all other Christians. The Lord’s Supper is a life-giving blessing given by God to the Church. It’s a miracle in bread and wine established by the God-man Jesus Christ. Those who attend The Lord’s Supper have carefully examined what the Scriptures and the Confessions reveal about Jesus’ gift of His true body to eat and His true blood to drink. God serves us with his Word and sacraments, allowing us to serve others in the name of Jesus Christ. An educational process leads to understanding and rejoicing in the distinct nature of our worship and faith life to be witnesses to Jesus Christ. If you haven’t yet been instructed in the faith or if you hold to a faith different than the LCMS, it is out of love that we would, for the moment, invite you to refrain from partaking of this meal until we’ve had a chance to talk with you about our beliefs and practices. Until then, you may come forward for a blessing, placing your arms across your chest to let the pastor know you would like to receive that blessing. The congregations of the LCMS welcome you to learn more by calling or visiting—please talk with pastors and members.
For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 1 Corinthians 11:23-27
Love
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-2
1 Corinthians 13:12
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| For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12 |
Does a fragmented reflection distort what we know about how to love?
What is love? How long will love last? What does love have to do with trust? How does love grow? What about tough love? Do you know how to be loved? How many types of love are there? How do various kinds of love differ? Where does love come from? What does the greatest gift of Love do? Why are we called to love? God first loved us.
Listen to ten conversations about love:
Our own sin, and that of others, hinders our capability to love as perfectly as Jesus loves us.
On our best days, our ability to love isn’t what it should be and on our worst days it’s heart-breaking. Thankfully, we’re forgivable in Christ who has risen from the grave to remove the sin of the world. He isn’t finished loving, teaching, caring and patiently desiring we receive and use His gifts to His glory.
For I handed down to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
God’s love has defeated jealousy, worry, arrogance, selfishness, rudeness, resentment and irritation—even death itself! Contentment is dependent on Jesus who protects, comforts, heals and encourages.
“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57
Joy within God’s merciful presence brings peace which cherishes grace-filled, honest, helpful conversations. Love hates what is wrong and doesn’t excuse evil, yet it kindly looks into the face of each other as a person for whom Jesus died.
Do everything in love. 1 Corinthians 16:14
Truth bears, believes, hopes and endures while trusting God’s love is perfected in Christ.
Negativity most often leads to negative results. However, positivity brings about different results. Running goals — or any other goals — can only be achieved with positive motivation, hard work, and perseverance. As strong as a dose of positive thinking is, faith in God can do infinitely more. The Race of Faith: A Positive Mind
Eventually Jesus will return and the people who’ve died will be bodily resurrected. At that very moment, all cynicism, confusion and damage by sin will be expelled forever. God’s glory will be complete where harmonious, blissful, forgiven believers of all time, together in Christ, will eternally show appreciation for God who saved them from the pit of eternal suffering.
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