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Brighten Your Corner - 3.31.24 Bulletin
Brighten Your Corner
An old hymn from the Sacred Selections hymnal is titled Brighten the Corner Where you Are. A verse that comes to mind when considering this song is, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Romans 12.18). A verse which given the context is describing the “Marks of the True Christian” (Romans 12.9-21). At its core the application of verse 18 to each of us individually is “I’m not going to be the problem.” We are only responsible for our own thoughts, actions, and behaviors. The actions of others are out of our control, we can only control how we react to them. This world is filled with darkness, rudeness, crudeness, meanness, anger, hate, violence, etc. With so many people walking opposite of God’s will it is easy to become discouraged. Disciples of Christ are called to be lights, to shine to remove the darkness (Matthew 5.14-16). While we individually can’t shine across the country or world at once, what we can do is our part to brighten our corner of it. Romans 12.9-21 give us some ways we can brighten the corner where we are.
Love genuinely (v. 9) and love one another (v. 10): It is easy for us to spot fake love; words are said but there is no real substance to them. The kind of love a disciple is to show is one that isn’t fake or false, but real, true, and genuine, or “without hypocrisy” (NASB1995). Love is to be shown in everything a Christian does. In a world full of hate, we are to show love to all, even those who hate us (Matthew 5.44). We are to show we genuinely care, then we back up what we say by showing they are more than mere words. “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (v. 15). We are to celebrate the successes of others without inserting ourselves, and we need to be there for others in times of sorrow, so they know we are there for them without making it about our own problems. It makes all the difference. Instead of being closed off we need to “seek to show hospitality” (v. 13b). We need to have a welcoming and friendly attitude to all those we encounter, but especially strangers. Our impact on the world lessens when we are more closed off to people. Most importantly we need to show love to our fellow brethren. There is a special bond amongst those of a like-minded faith. Love for all, including our brethren is only shown through actions (1 John 3.18). If we don’t love each other, how can we love the people of the world.
Abhor evil and hold on to what is good (v. 9): A person doesn’t have to look hard to find the evil in the world. Instead of taking part in or endorsing the evil, the disciple of Christ is called on to “abhor” evil. To “abhor” is to loathe which means to “dislike greatly often with disgust or intolerance” (Merriam-Webster’s). To the Thessalonian brethren Paul wrote “abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5.22). The evil of sin is the exact opposite of God’s nature. We need to view sin the same way God views sin, with disgust and hatred. It is not enough just to hate evil, we must “hold fast to what is good” or to “cling to what is good” (NASB1995) (v. 9). To “cling” is “to hold or hold on tightly or tenaciously” (Merriam-Webster’s). To love the Lord is to hate evil (Psalm 97.10). If we understand the truth of God’s word, then we are to hate every false way (Psalm 119.104). In other words, we must hold on to good and never let it go. Peter wrote to “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2.12). Here the Gentiles represent the non-believers, those of the world. The more we hold on to the good the less room there is for evil. The good things of God need to fill our lives, and then they need to be shared with others. “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (v. 21).
Be fervent in our service for the Lord (v. 11): To be “fervent” as used here is “to be hot, to boil” (Vines). We are called to have zeal and passion for the Lord. We are not to be slothful or lazy when it comes to serving the Lord. “Service to God without enthusiasm does not deserve to be called ‘service’” (Harkrider). Zeal can either be good or bad depending on where it is directed. We can either be zealous towards sinful, fleshly, and worldly things. Or we can be zealous or fervent to be the workmanship God created us to be (Ephesians 2.10). Paul in writing to Titus wrote, “who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works” (2.14). When we think about all God through Christ has done for us, how can we not be fervent to work for Christ. The more time we spend studying and learning about Christ, the more it should drive the fire in us to be His workmanship. Zeal is contagious. If we are not passionate about working for Christ, how can we expect others to becoming interested in working for Christ.
These are just a few of the many ways we can shine the light of Christ to brighten our small corner of this world. As the song goes “Do not wait until some deed of greatness you may do. Do not wait to shed your light afar. To the many duties ever near you now be true. Brighten the corner where you are… Brighten the corner where you are! Someone far from harbor you may guide across the bar. Brighten the corner where you are.” (Verse 1 and chorus of Brighten the Corner Where You Are).
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