Show Notes
Sometimes we get lost in details and forget the main thing — salvation through Jesus. In this episode of Formed for Faithfulness, Case Thorp reminds us how living in God’s kingdom involves justice, mercy, and goodness, but always points us back to the King Himself.
Nuance’s Formed for Faithfulness is a weekly liturgy to encourage all of us to be faithful to Christ in the public square. Join Case Thorp as he follows the Church calendar through the reading of Scripture, prayer, and short reflections on faith in all facets of public life.
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Episode Transcript
While the church calendar offers us a helpful sense of structure and order, may we never allow it to lull us into a sense of complacency. Though this is the 14th week of what we call normal time, it’s not just another week. Even today could be the day of salvation for someone, as Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians. What does it mean to live in light of that reality?
A reading from first Timothy chapter one, verses 12 through 17.
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Sometimes it’s good to pause and remind ourselves to just keep the main thing, the main thing. Because we humans have a tendency to want to over complicate. Look at how the ten commandments were parsed into more than 600 moral, social and ceremonial laws. That danger of getting lost in the details is perhaps never more inherent than when it comes to considerations of what it means to be part of expressing the kingdom of God. It’s a place where heaven touches earth, where there is justice and mercy and goodness, as God always intended. We do well as Christians to advocate for and support ideas and initiatives that encourage such fruit. But when we talk to people about the beauty of such a kingdom, we aren’t inviting them to appreciate it from afar or briefly as tourists. We want them to enjoy it as full citizens, and that means acknowledging that a kingdom, of course, by its very nature has a king displaying the fullness of God in human form. Jesus came as many things, a healer, a deliverer, a comforter, and much more. But as Paul reminds his protege, Timothy, Jesus came primarily and supremely as savior. Quote, he came into the world to save sinners. Remember, Jesus, Yahshua means God is salvation. It’s in one sense, His essence. In no way am I diminishing the importance of being followers of Jesus who pursue peace, seek justice, show mercy, and care for the outcast and neglected. After all, this podcast was created to encourage us all in our efforts to be champions and examples of biblical truth in the public square. Yet as we do so, let’s never lose sight of the fact that, important as temporal life is, we all face an eternal destiny that hinges on our salvation, our salvation in Jesus. In all of our interactions with others, may we be looking for opportunities not just to speak to them about the fullness of life in the kingdom, but the joy of personally knowing the King.
A reading from the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 15.
1Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Let’s join with the Prayer Institute in praying.
We thank you, Lord Jesus, for sacrificing your life for us. Thank you for being mindful of us and becoming our Savior, Deliverer, and Liberator. Thank you for making us right in God’s sight through your resurrection and ascension. Because of you, we have peace with God. When we were utterly helpless, you came to earth at just the right time and died for us sinners. It is because of your death our friendship with God has been restored. Holy Spirit please lead and guide our daily living so that we present the goodness of Christ to our families, friends and co-workers and enemies. In His name, Amen.
The words of Jesus in the third chapter of John, starting in verse 13.
13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
