The Glory of God

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. by whom: or, whereby - Galatians 6:14

    It is far too easy for a church—any church—to be off on side roads, causing them to miss the main work that Christ has given it to do. And what is that work the Lord of the church has commissioned? Whatever it is, let it be that which occupies our minds, our hearts, our all!

    At the center of all the work that the Lord's church does is the glory of God. Any other glory is sin and is the enemy of the cross of Christ. When such sin is discovered, it must be abandoned with all haste. Therefore, an eye must be kept alert to its invasion and it must be avoided at all cost. Whatever a church does, it must be all and only for God's glory.

    Flowing from that center (the glory of God) is the Lord's great commission to his church to declare the gospel (Matt. 28:19-20). He has kept our instruction very simple: worship God and preach his gospel!

    Brother Barnard said that we don't need to explain the gospel…we need to proclaim the gospel! Now, there is our work: the gospel and the proclamation of the gospel!

    Whatever a church may do that does not have preaching the gospel at the heart of it, should be dropped so they won’t be distracted from busying themselves with the main work! Brethren, we have no other assignment! If the gospel is not our work, then our work has no right to exist in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!

    Let us take caution, fellow believers in Christ, that we do not busy ourselves in that which neither worships Christ nor preaches his gospel.

    A community does not need to know a church for its buildings, crowds, or even charitable deeds. But it most certainly needs to know a church for the gospel it preaches!

    The people of a community may know a church's name, fellowship, or doctrine, and yet be lost. But what a difference it would make if the community knew the church's Christ!

    The Lord once said to Mary and Joseph, “Didn't you know I would be about my Father's business?” (Luke 2:49). Oh, may we be found in the work of preaching the gospel!