Friday, February 22, 2008
No passing lane
The bible describes the entrance to heaven as narrow however the road to destruction as broad.
Matt 7:13-14 NIV
13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it.
In the letter to Corinthians Paul describes the believers live through the illustration or word picture of running a race.
1 Cor 9:24-27 NIV
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
I can’t help believing that along this race in life we have left fallen and distressed brethren behind; we have ran the race and attempted to push ourselves through the gate. There is no passing lane the way is narrow if one of GOD’s beloved falls in front of you stop and pick him up; carry him if necessary. We are in this rat race of life together in various conditions, we our called to be a peculiar bunch and called to love one another. The world cannot understand the love of Christ, but we as believers are called to live that love. Wow, what a remarkable privilege and gift. Can life be so hard that we break fellowship and divorce one another at the drop of a hat?
See the story of the Good Samaritan –
Luke 10:30-37 NKJV
30 Then Jesus answered and said: "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.' 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" 37 And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
I guess I have to wonder, when we see a fallen brother or sister how much compassion should we have? Should you jump overtop of them in this race of life and run your race? No, don’t let it be said amongst the heathen that we don’t love are own. We need to love them and feed them and pray for them in what ever condition we find them. Let us not run the race without the weaker brethren if need be lets carry them with us. We serve one Lord and have one goal to see GOD glorified; praise be His name. Remember we have all grown weary and been discouraged that does not mean we have been disqualified and most certainly not discarded by the brethren or fellow sojourners.
The bible describes the entrance to heaven as narrow however the road to destruction as broad.
Matt 7:13-14 NIV
13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it.
In the letter to Corinthians Paul describes the believers live through the illustration or word picture of running a race.
1 Cor 9:24-27 NIV
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
I can’t help believing that along this race in life we have left fallen and distressed brethren behind; we have ran the race and attempted to push ourselves through the gate. There is no passing lane the way is narrow if one of GOD’s beloved falls in front of you stop and pick him up; carry him if necessary. We are in this rat race of life together in various conditions, we our called to be a peculiar bunch and called to love one another. The world cannot understand the love of Christ, but we as believers are called to live that love. Wow, what a remarkable privilege and gift. Can life be so hard that we break fellowship and divorce one another at the drop of a hat?
See the story of the Good Samaritan –
Luke 10:30-37 NKJV
30 Then Jesus answered and said: "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.' 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" 37 And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
I guess I have to wonder, when we see a fallen brother or sister how much compassion should we have? Should you jump overtop of them in this race of life and run your race? No, don’t let it be said amongst the heathen that we don’t love are own. We need to love them and feed them and pray for them in what ever condition we find them. Let us not run the race without the weaker brethren if need be lets carry them with us. We serve one Lord and have one goal to see GOD glorified; praise be His name. Remember we have all grown weary and been discouraged that does not mean we have been disqualified and most certainly not discarded by the brethren or fellow sojourners.
Labels: No passing lane
Thursday, February 21, 2008
The Resume:
Matt 11:7-10 NKJV
7 As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he of whom it is written:
'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.'
Just as Jesus asked the multitude concerning John I to must ask; what did you come to church to see? Did you come to be entertained by articulate words, flowery speech, sweet music, obligation etc, etc…?
I must first say that I do not have a flawless resume. I have lived on earth for 36 years and have probably sinned for 35 of those. I have a high school diploma no formal college education. Why one earth would GOD choose you use someone like me or you? If you look at the who’s who cast in the bible there credentials aren’t all that impressive. Adam sinned and was not strong enough to take responsibility instead he blamed his wife. Moses committed murder and apparently stuttered. I can go on and on, what about the New Testament? Paul persecuted the church, Peter denied the Lord and that is just to name a few. Jesus did not select the elite for the church He used fisherman, tax collectors publicans and sinners.
Wow lets skip a few thousand years and go to the modern church; there is me and you. We all have been called to be a vital part of a local body of believers. We are called to spend and be spent in that body; there are no pew potatoes you are called to serve.
Matt 28:19-20 NKJV
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
What are you doing to make disciples in your church? Are you working with or teaching other believers. Are call is not that different from John’s, he was called to prepare the way for the Lord and we have the same call to prepare for the second coming of Our Lord. We are responsible for each other and should take that serious after all we are called to love one another. We have all been called to the church as laborers, some labor in the office of pastors, teachers etc… We are one body with many members functioning in harmony in order to share the good news of the gospel. Let us do all things for the Glory of GOD and may He bless you.
Matt 11:7-10 NKJV
7 As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he of whom it is written:
'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.'
Just as Jesus asked the multitude concerning John I to must ask; what did you come to church to see? Did you come to be entertained by articulate words, flowery speech, sweet music, obligation etc, etc…?
I must first say that I do not have a flawless resume. I have lived on earth for 36 years and have probably sinned for 35 of those. I have a high school diploma no formal college education. Why one earth would GOD choose you use someone like me or you? If you look at the who’s who cast in the bible there credentials aren’t all that impressive. Adam sinned and was not strong enough to take responsibility instead he blamed his wife. Moses committed murder and apparently stuttered. I can go on and on, what about the New Testament? Paul persecuted the church, Peter denied the Lord and that is just to name a few. Jesus did not select the elite for the church He used fisherman, tax collectors publicans and sinners.
Wow lets skip a few thousand years and go to the modern church; there is me and you. We all have been called to be a vital part of a local body of believers. We are called to spend and be spent in that body; there are no pew potatoes you are called to serve.
Matt 28:19-20 NKJV
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
What are you doing to make disciples in your church? Are you working with or teaching other believers. Are call is not that different from John’s, he was called to prepare the way for the Lord and we have the same call to prepare for the second coming of Our Lord. We are responsible for each other and should take that serious after all we are called to love one another. We have all been called to the church as laborers, some labor in the office of pastors, teachers etc… We are one body with many members functioning in harmony in order to share the good news of the gospel. Let us do all things for the Glory of GOD and may He bless you.
Labels: The Resume
