 by
Nicole McPayten |
Micah 6:1-8
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Matthew 5:1-12 Radical, awesome, unique, powerful, loving ? that is the God that we serve. But how do we know that God is all of these things? We know by looking at what he has done for us through the marvelous plan of Jesus' birth, death, burial, resurrection, and second coming. The book of Corinthians describes God as being so radical in his ways and salvation plan that it is seen as utter foolishness to the world and a stumbling block to the Jews. Foolishness to the world perhaps. It is sheer folly to those who wondered how is it possible for God, clothed in flesh, to coexist with sinners and by his shameful and criminal's death on a cross redeem all those who believed in him to eternal life. But that is nothing new to us. Our God has always been radical and different. Who could deny the radical sending of a whole nation of people from one land to another by way of parting the entire sea and traveling on its bed? Who could deny the radical creating of the world in six days? Most importantly, what does God's radical act of salvation say about him and what does it mean to us as his people? One thing we can learn about God is that exteriors aren't as important as we think. God did not conduct his earthly ministry as a king wearing fine clothing and riding fine horses. He conducted his earthly ministry wearing simple clothing and primarily traveling by foot. Jesus was a man concerned with the people and not merely the externalities of serving the people. He was modest and a servant before and among all. In Matthew 20:28, Jesus said, ?The Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.? That seems very relevant in times like these where people are more motivated to serve because of the money, power, position, and privilege involved rather than the gaining of joy and the sheer satisfaction of loving another person as Christ would and establishing a bond with them. Even though Jesus was a servant, he also had a lot of power and performed miracles. Yet, Jesus never used miracles merely to glorify himself in a vain show of power. He used these miracles as ways to draw those who believed closer to God and to help people in ways that mattered. He fed 5,000 people with a miracle. He healed the blind, deaf, and mute. He showed his personal care through taking care of the special needs of his people in miraculous ways. That is how God would like us to take care of our brothers and sisters. Being a blessing to someone in a seemingly small and thoughtful way often means you are letting God use you to become a miracle in their life. My question to you is, how can you allow God to work through you to touch someone else in a radical way? We are jars of clay, but with God all things are possible. Nicole McPayten is a college student and the daughter of Baltimore-Washington Conference treasurer, Pier McPayten. | 
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