TheoTrek — A Journey with God in Discipleship
Change in Measure
Rev. Chrístopher Harbin, First Baptist Church, Huntersville, NC
21 February 2010
Faith has a purpose. There is a reason for its existence and its call to accept a life that proceeds from faith. It does not have a static destination. It does not have as its objective a resting place for live, a heavenly mansion, or a state of blessing before God. Rather it has as objective a change for life.
Jesus spoke of fruit. In a context of day laborers consumed in agricultural work, it was a logical example to use in his doctrinal and theological teaching. He spoke of the fact that God has a purpose for plants to produce fruit. This was God's design from the very first of creation.
The general purpose in life and in the creative work of God was to sustain and support life. This purpose extends also to our own lives. We are called to be agents of change, agents of transformation and productivity. The question is, what kind of productivity is found in our lives?
The religious leaders before Jesus criticized him for not following life according to their rules and patterns. He said there was a higher rule that placed their definitions under judgment. They allowed their way of life to cultivate death and injury where it should be producing life, help, and blessing. They trusted too much in their culture, heritage, and tradition without giving enough time and effort to critique what was beneficial and what was harmful.
They were missing a change according to the measure of life. They needed a change that would return the greater values of living. They needed to see how they ignored God's values by following the routines of their supposed faith. They needed to measure the results of their living and make changes according to that judgment. Have we made appropriate changes in our lives according to the measure of God's justice? It is time to live with an eye toward the fruit we are producing.
—©2010 Chrístopher B. Harbin