The World Without

Read: Matthew 23:13-23

You pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. --- Matthew 23:23

The Bible In One Year:
Exodus 1-3
Matthew 14:1-21

Personal faith in Christ comes with social obligations. If we believe that He reigns as Lord over history as well as Lord over our individual lives, we dare not focus solely on the "world within" and forget the "world without." Restricting His sovereignty to our personal struggles demeans Him. What do we imply about the Savior when we seek God's will about moving to another city or marrying someone, but never seek His mind on the plight of the homeless, the rights of the unborn, or racial equality?

Cultivating the inner life, vital as that is, without struggling with social issues is too limited and soft. We must think about how Christ wants us to respond to the unjust situations in our community and the world at large.

On the other hand, to emphasize social concern without stressing devotion to the Lord resembles dancing on one foot. If we are deeply committed to a cause but not deeply committed to Christ, we may trade away the power of God for the power of politics.

Ungodly people refuse to acknowledge Christ's lordship in their decisions. But what excuse can we as Christians offer when we forget that His rule over "the world within" also extends to "the world without"? --- Haddon Robinson

If I can right a human wrong,
If I can help to make one strong,
If I can cheer with smile or song,
Lord, show me how. --- Kleiser

ONE MEASURE OF OUR LIKENESS TO CHRIST IS OUR SENSITIVITY TO THE SUFFERING OF OTHERS.