Exempli Gratia

Latin is considered a dead language because no one speaks in Latin as their native language. Yet, Latin is still used consistently in mottos (e.g., the phrase on the US Seal, E Pluribus Unum, meaning Out of Many, One). I suppose its not really a dead language then, maybe we could refer to it as an undead language, a zombie language. No one speaks it but it ambles about, still appearing everywhere, looking to eat the brains of regular languages.

ATTACK of the LATIN PHRASES!!

I just dropped some Latin in that earlier paragraph that you may have missed, the little abbreviation "e.g." which refers to this post's title - Exempli Gratia. It means, "for example" and is used in sentences to clarify a statement by giving an example of what you mean.

I was watching a movie the other night, and there was a quote that almost made me say AMEN.

"...be strikingly upright; an outstanding example so that those in the darkness can see the power of the light."

So simple yet so powerful. Peter said the same thing in one of his letters.

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. I Peter 2:12

The sames ideas are expressed here:

be strikingly upright = live such good lives

outstanding example = that they may see your good deeds

those in darkness = pagans

the power of the light = glorify God because of those deeds.

BOOM! I am especially loving that second part, "so that those in the darkness can see the power of the light." Not just the light, if I read Romans correctly, that light has been there since the beginning and made evident to all. People have consistently lived in rebellion to the LIGHT. What brings people to Christ is how that light has changed people. Vicki's testimony on Easter is an ultimate example of this quote, she is now an example of the majestic, wonderful, awesome POWER of GOD'S LIGHT. The POWER of the LIGHT to change lives. In our mission to bring the lost to Christ, its not enough just to point at the bible and say, "See this light?". No, we have to SHOW what it means to live in that power, that is why we are called to live such good lives, strikingly upright, because WE ARE the example. If we were to put this into a sentence to explain it, it might look like this.

Only God can remove the sin in your life (e.g., Vicki Johnson and her addictions).

I can understand the fear that can accompany this. We generally don't want people looking to us as the example, because we fail. We say, "Its not fair that the pagans should be looking at my life, they don't understand that we are forgiven no matter what, they shouldn't be able to judge me". Outside of the forgiveness of sin, people want to know that God lives in them and that it makes a difference, an abundant life NOW. People in darkness want to see the POWER of the LIGHT, and we are the ones that should be showing that. Paul tells us this in Ephesians.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. Eph 1:18-23

This is what brings people to Christ, His people, filled with that INCOMPARABLY GREAT POWER, same power that brought CHRIST back from the DEAD. In real terms, if Vicki continues live her life as an open addict while testifying to how awesome the power of Jesus is, will her testimony still be as compelling? Compelling, making people take notice of that change, this whole thought behind being strikingly upright. Its the fact that she is FREE of it now, the fact that SHE is DIFFERENT now, strikingly different. This is not about a higher burden on us that anything that we are shown in scripture. Paul repeatedly reminds us that we are no longer slaves to sin, so why are we still living in it. Live a life so good that people will see your good deeds and glorify God. To live a good life doesn't take away from HIS power, it is only because of that power that we can live that live and do good deeds.

We are called to be that exempli gratia. We are called to be an outstanding example so that those in the darkness can see the power of the light. Allow His power to work through you and be that e.g.