How excellent is Christ!
Each new day let us draw our minds into the realm where we can replay the wonders of what it means to be in Christ. They suggest this habit is the best one to draw us away from the love of the world for we are so mesmerised by the love of God, it captures our affections. Everything else falls into the background. I think is part of the ‘secret sauce’ for us to love our city well.
Tell them how much we love Christ. Tell them how good he is. Tell them how much the good news of Christ means to you. Tell them about transformations you have seen in your life. This is how a Scottish evangelical pastor concludes his famous sermon ‘The expulsive power of a new affection’. [1] In his sermon from 1819 he is trying to suggest that the way we transform the world, is by holding the
beauty of Christ up for all to see. [2] At times it’s a little tricky to work out what he’s getting at. But
read it three times slowly and I reckon you start to get a sense of things…
If during this time of contemplation, some happy island of the blest floated by… and he clearly saw that there a purer beauty rested upon every field and a more heartfelt joy spread itself among all the families; and he could discern there a peace and piety and a benevolence that put a moral gladness into every bosom and united the whole society in one rejoicing sympathy with each other and with the beneficent father of them all and he could further see that pain and mortality were there unknown and above all that
signals of welcome were hung out and an avenue of communication was made for him – perceive you not that what was before the wilderness, would be the land of invitation and that now the world would be the wilderness.
How did you go? He is suggesting that when people see how incredible Christ is (like a beautiful
island signalling welcome), they will leave behind their love for the world simply by being drawn by
the absolute beauty of Christ. How cool is that vision? I love it!
Remember, if you find a neighbour or friend interested in reading the Bible with you, we have a stack
of Word One to One resources available. Here are two short videos that help to explain Word One to One: – this one explains the history of the resources, and
– this one (from Rico Tice, on of the creators of Hope Explored) helps us to see how you can be so powerful in helping love our city for Christ sake.
Let me finish off with the classic passage of the treasure in the field and the fine pearl…
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. Matthew 13:44-46
SP
__________________________________________________
1 Piper, J. The Expulsive Power of a New Affection, Thomas Chalmers. (Illinois: Crossway, 2020), 70-71.
2 The text he was working from was 1 John 2:15 (NIV): Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.
