Romans 1:7
To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints…
Jude 1:1
Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ.
Each of these greetings and many more, point out the love of God upon the lives of those he has saved, called, and employed in gospel ministry. Each introduction reminds believers that are receiving the Word of God, that they are loved and called into relationship with him. Love is foundational to our understanding of salvation and identity as a child of God.
An issue we have here in the West is the priority we give utility over identity. What do I mean? I had the opportunity to visit a shut-in (person who is a member of the church but unable to attend) and share the Lord’s Supper. As we spoke of God’s good gift in salvation, she retorted, “I don’t know why God still has me here.” It is not uncommon to meet with an elderly believer and hear this phrase. The statement is a seeking of understanding of utility. God still has me here for something, a statement of usefulness for the kingdom is not a bad thing. But I would contend that we often put too much thought and emphasis on our utility rather than believers primarily as recipients of God’s love.
In our society, where importance is rendered primarily to utility, is not alarmed by older people who are shuffled into nursing homes and rarely visited. Time and energy are given to those that will make the greatest impact. Leadership skill is outpacing character. And children are loaded with ambitions, dreams, and goals as they are set into the future weighted with anxiety. We live in a world where usefulness is more important than the love others have for you. Burdens are weighed by how much of an inconvenience someone may be in the life of another.
How does this culture impact the believer? Make a hyperbolic comparison with me for a moment… Is it more important what a believer can do for the kingdom of God or what King Jesus has done for them? These two ideas are not opposed or exclusive, but they have right positions of priority in the life of a believer. God’s love for the saints and the work of Jesus Christ in their lives has a greater priority in each life, than their kingdom impact. It is far more important that you are loved by God than what you can accomplish for him. The greetings in the Epistles, that are blazed through, remind us of the defining mark in the saint’s lives…love of God, grace, peace, etc. God has plans and purposes for your life, he has called you to make his name known among the nations, but he has saved you because of his love for you. Live in the grace and freedom of God’s love today, knowing that if you didn’t accomplish much today, God still infinitely loves you.
-Pastor John