The Brush Strokes of the Master Artist (Part 2 of 2)
Rom 12:13-16
Last week, we looked at how Paul described that we should treat each other as believers in Christ
We said that God is the Master Artist and He is trying to paint in us the brush strokes that others can see such as
• Geniune Love
• Consideration for Others
• Enthusiastic Service
• Patience in Tribulation
In vs 13-16, Paul identifies some other things that should be present in the canvas of our lives
Read Passage 13-16 / Pray
Notice now that Paul begins to describe how we should treat those outside the Church
Trans: Paul says people should see in our lives the brush stroke of…
1. Practical Hospitality (vs 13)
The word “hospitality” in the Greek is “philoxenia” and it literally means “love to strangers”
In other words, we should have in our lives the habit or practice of showing love to strangers
It’s easy to love those that love us – AMEN – but what about total strangers?
It may have been a while for some of you but not for others but do you remember what it feels like to visit a church for the first time?
You visit and feel like an outsider – a stranger – around a bunch of people who don’t know you and you don’t know them
People go to the church that is dearest to them and not nearest to them
True hospitality practiced in a church will draw people to want to come and stay
Proverbs 18:24 (KJV) “A man that hath friends must show himself friendly…”
Hebrews 13:2 “Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it”
May we pursue the practice of pure hospitality in our everyday lives
Trans: Secondly, Paul says that we should…
2. Be Different (vs 14)
Listen, the normal emotion to exhibit when someone does you wrong is to do wrong back to them
That is our natural fight or flight instinct that kicks in – it’s what the norm is
But Paul here says for us to BE DIFFERENT
Bless them that persecute you and do not curse them
“Bless” here is “eulogeo” (U la gay O) which means “to praise, celebrate praises”
It is where we get our English word “Eulogy” from
“Persecute” means “to be mistreated”
What happens when we bless those that do us wrong or mistreat us?
• First, we exemplify the character of Christ
• Second, Prov 25:22 says “You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads, and the Lord will reward you”
Jesus said in Matt 5:39 “to turn the other cheek”
Abraham Lincoln was once being criticized for his attitude towards his opponents, “why do you try to make friends with them?” a colleague asked. “You should try to destroy them” Lincoln simply replied “Am I not destroying my enemies when I make them my friends?”
My story with Chris just this past week
We should be in the habit of blessing those who do us wrong
Trans: Thirdly, Paul says we should…
3. Be Understanding (vs 15)
We should practice understanding by empathizing with those around us
We can be very cruel at times to others when we don’t empathize with them in what they are going through
Did you know it’s all relative according to how God has wired you?
What seems like a little thing to you may be a horrendous thing in someone else’s life
It may seem illogical to you but then something you go through may seem that way to others
The key is this; it doesn’t matter how you see it but rather how the person going through it sees it and we should all practice understanding or empathy
Galatians 6:2 “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ”
Abraham Lincoln “I am sorry for the man who can’t feel the whip when it’s laid on the other man’s back.”
More people fail for lack of encouragement than for any other reason
Discouraged people don’t need critics…they hurt enough already.
They don’t need more guilt or distress piled on them…they need encouragement, they need a refuge
Someone who cares about them in the midst of what they are going through and not trying to tell them to get over it and move on
Ancient proverb says “I must first seek to understand and then seek to be understood”
We should practice to be more understanding of others and what they are going through
Trans: Lastly, Pauls says we should not just practice hospitality; not just be different; not just be understanding, but that we should…
4. Live in Harmony as One (vs 16)
NLT “Live in Harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!”
Paul says we are to be a team player…I like what the motto is for WCS volley team
FTTM – First team then me – “we walk on this floor together” – not as individual players but as one
Did you know it’s amazing what can be accomplished when we don’t care who gets the credit!
How hard is it to be in harmony together when you have a member on your team who thinks they can do it all and know it all?
If you watched the Cowboys this last week – great comeback – great character by Romo to play with broken ribs & punctured lungs
But do you know who the unsung hero was? Jesse Holley – some of you say who?
They won as a team – not by individual effort – remember the turmoil with T.O. there?
Same thing in the church – it takes us all being able to live together in harmony and do our part in order to win or be successful
Turn Psalm 133
What happens when we live in harmony? (Look at end of vs 3)
Some missionaries in the Philippines set up a croquet game in their front yard. Several of their Agta Negrito neighbors became interested and wanted to join the fun. The missionaries explained the game and started them out, each with a mallet and ball. As the game progressed, opportunity came for one of the players to take advantage of another by knocking that person’s ball out of the court. A missionary explained the procedure, but his advice only puzzled the Negrito friend. "Why would I want to knock his ball out of the court?" he asked. "So you will be the one to win!" a missionary said. The short-statured man, clad only in a loincloth, shook his head in bewilderment. Competition is generally ruled out in a hunting and gathering society, where people survive not by competing but by sharing equally in every activity. The game continued, but no one followed the missionaries’ advice. When a player successfully got through all the wickets, the game was not over for him. He went back and gave aid and advice to his fellows. As the final player moved toward the last wicket, the affair was still very much a team effort. And finally, when the last wicket was played, the "team" shouted happily, "We won! We won!"
That is how the Church, the body of Christ, should be. We’re a team. We all win together.
There is great blessing to be poured out on those that live together in harmony!
Conclusion
God Almighty is the master artist and He is painting a masterpiece on the canvas of life through you and me
He desires for others to see on our canvas
1. Geniune Love – By this will all men know you are His
2. Consideration for others – Esteem others better than self
3. Enthusiastic Service – Energetic not lethargic
4. Patience in Tribulation – A peace that flows from the Master
5. Practicing of Hospitality – show love and concern to strangers
6. Be Different – turn the other cheek
7. Be Understanding – Walk in others shoes
8. Live in Harmony – for it is there God’s blessings will flow
I pray that we all will exhibit and be able to see the strokes of the master’s brush as He paints these things on the canvas of our lives
Pray
