by Timothy Cooley, Sr.
An Effective Communicator of Truth
Truth that has no effect on my life is only an airy abstraction!
The Truth of Life Situations. This is Truth as Fact or reality — (1) the way things are, (2) “the way it was,” and (3) the way it will be. Jesus taught us, “Let your communication be, Yea, yea; nay, nay.” His half-brother James preached, “Let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay…” (James 5:12).
The Truth of the Job at Hand. This is Truth as Application. Now that we know the truth, what will we do about it? Vision (of how things should be) should inspire motivation (“Let’s do something!”) and lead to reporting (“How did we do?”).
I continue to pray, “Lord, make me…”A Powerful Convincer of Righteousness
5:11). Persuasion comes both through our words and our actions. Preaching under the unction refers eminently to the power of persuasion. Christians must be Right-Livers. Jesus is the standard of all righteousness. The Holy Spirit delivers the clout in convincing men of righteousness. John 16:18 explains, “When he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.”
Convincing men of righteousness requires a person-to-person impact. We consciously depend upon the Holy Spirit, yet we also do our best to help persuade them of the…
The Supreme Value of Bible Standards. We must obey at any cost all the commands of Scripture and all the light we have. What converted me to the faith of my father was the settled assurance that Dad would obey Scripture supremely; there was no price tag! He was not for sale. Differences of opinion he could accept and graciously allow, but he firmly lived Joshua 24:15: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
What converted me to the faith of my father was the settled assurance that Dad would obey Scripture supremely.
Finally, I pray, “Lord, make me…”
A Loving Conveyor of Beauty
What are the elements of beauty? Symmetry, balance, pleasing proportions, whether physical, spiritual or emotional. Tasteful combinations of color, shape or sound. Spiritually, we can identify excellence with the character of Jesus Christ. He is the perfect blend of all character traits.
Luke declares, “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man” (Luke 2:52). He lived an excellently balanced life. For thirty years, He carried the normal responsibilities of home and business. Then for three years, He balanced a public ministry with private training of His disciples. Everything was done in perfect balance.
Glory is the outshining of the excellence of God’s character.
The Beauty of Excellence. Holiness is the glorious moral excellence of God. Imitating God’s character will extend excellence into every area of life. The wise man admonished us, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10). God’s works evidence His excellence. Our work has our mark of identity on it. Let your work represent you and your Master well. Even in recreation, guard your choices. Act in such a way as to glorify God.
Beauty of Appearance (Aesthetics). Our personal appearance ought to reflect holiness, not only in plainness and modesty, but in simplicity, neatness and beauty. The Christian ought to seek excellence in culture, art, environment and surroundings. Our living quarters, house, yard, car, and office should be respectable. Holiness is not equal to shoddiness! Christians must be Lovers of Excellence!
By grace, my example must proclaim the same message as my lips. I submit to the teaching regimen of Jesus Christ that He may make me.