Saturday, September 15, 2012

What the World Cannot Give


Ephesians 3:4b-6 “The mystery of Christ,  which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel.”

 

To Know Christ and make Him known goes infinitely beyond the “meat & bones” of the incarnate God/Man Jesus. An egocentric world system is blind to purposes of the “author of life” (Acts 3:15). What the “Lord of all” would have us know, for here and now, in living in the Will of God and His plan for our lives, in His presence, and making His message of salvation and forgiveness known, to bring glory to the Father, our Lord God Almighty. The gospel truth lived out and shared, with love and care, for both the redeemed in Christ and the lost. To be relevant in society with the message of truth they seek. 2 Peter 3:9 tells us that The Lord is not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

 Ephesians 5:25b “Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.”

Some will say, “Why church? I don’t need church. I have a great relationship with God. I am just fine.”  But they miss something. God gathers His people together, as His flock of (metaphorically speaking) sheep that their Shepherd loves and knows individually by name (John 10). Also, (metaphorically speaking) as a body, made up of many parts working together in the unity of the Spirit for a common purpose, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ  (1 Corinthians 12 & Ephesians 4). As Jesus called: “Follow me.”, and they by faith followed in Matthew 4:17-22, as a community of faith, we follow the Lord. Helen Keller said: “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” We need to get “on board” and participate, now and for all eternity, with what God is up to today, banded together as brothers and sisters in Christ, to do something bigger than ourselves than what the world offers. To be a church with a dedicated dedication, a committed commitment, with a desirable desire and a devoted devotion to see God’s glory in the world. Bringing hope and love with the light of Jesus in the darkness.

 

Eleanor Roosevelt was right when she said: “The past is history, the future is a mystery, but today is a gift, that's why it’s called the present.” Church, there is no time like the present. Let’s make a godly impact on our culture and the world together, today. Give Jesus.

  
Hebrews 12:2-3 “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

In Christ, Brian

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