Blogging for edification: October 2005

Monday, October 17, 2005

O Magnify the Lord

Phil 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

I'm quite sure that you have used a magnifying glass some time in your life. What comes to mind when you read the word 'magnify'. It would mean to enlarge, to enable a closer look, to examine in closer detail....
So what did the apostle mean when he wanted to 'magnify' the Lord in his body? What would it mean for US to magnify the Lord in our body, in life or in death? Here's what i think...
In Life...
If we're to magnify the Lord in our body, does it mean we've got to get a HUGE TATTOO that says JESUS CHRIST all over our body? I don't think so. Let us remember, everything we do or speak is done through this body of ours. The Lord Jesus Christ is magnified or de-magnified through the things that we do while in our body.
To magnify the Lord would be to live a life that an observer would be able to learn things about the Lord Jesus Christ.
It would be to live a life that would bring the Lord Jesus to those around us for a closer look.
People would be able to ask us questions, and come away learning something from or about the Lord Jesus Christ.
This kind of life would, through the Holy Spirit, testify and glorify CHrist in every area of life, school, work, family , friends, church, even when preaching the gospel.
Every word that is spoken would bring grace to the hearers, just like Christ.
Every deed done, would show forth grace and love, just like CHrist.
Every decision, would be to the glory of the Father, just like Christ.
For the Lord to be magnified, it would mean people could inspect the very personal things of our life, and still see Christ.
Far too many Christians parade around in 'christian velvet', from afar, seems to be shiny and giving light, but upon closer inspection its usually dark and coarse.People can see terrible deeds, many lies, much deceit. This cannot be for the Christian who wants to magnify the Lord.
Magnifying the Lord not only serves to spread the light of Christ, but also to concentrate that light for convicting a sinner.
The unbelieving friend would be able to curse our beliefs, and deride and ridicule Christ and His Word, but when the light of Christ is focused on him, through our blameless lives, like how a magnfiying glass is used to focus a ray of light to cause heat, he would be unable to raise any accusation against the child of God, hence, he's unable to accuse anything against CHrist.
As the apostle writes, to magnify the Lord, it has to be done without shame, with love, and with boldness. We must learn to leave consequences to the Lord Himself, and carry our cross daily and bear it in front of men.
In death...
Of all the people in the world, i think only Christians, object of God's great love and grace, can face death without worry and doubt. The Word of God very clearly describes what we will be like, where we will be, what we will do, and who we will be with. This is compounded by the fact that God who cannot lie, is faithful to His word, and will do what He has promised to do.
When the Christian faces death, aside from the physical suffering that accompanies sickness, he need not fear the fate of his soul. He can indeed sing with the hymnwriter 'It is well with my soul'.
Such peace and steadfastness in the Christian when facing death is a strong and powerful testimony to the unbeliever. In Fox's book of Martyrs, the account of 'James the Great' one of the elders of the church in Jerusalem, who was so steadfast and peaceful when he was lead to be beheaded so pierced his accuser that he fell at his feet and seeked forgiveness, professing to be a believer and was beheaded together with James.
Oh that we may have such confidence and 'consider it pure joy, when were face with divers trials', even death.
... O Magnify the Lord
For HE is worthy to be praised...