In Matthew 24:14 Jesus says, "14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." The testimony He refers to is the "gospel of the kingdom". The western church has preached the gospel of the church, the gospel of OUR church, or THAT church and even the gospel of "salvation", but is this what Jesus commanded?
When we preach the gospel of anything besides "the kingdom" we distract. As a result we have many people in the church world who are "saved" but... Saved is good. Jesus came, died and rose again so we can be saved. He has MUCH more in mind though. When God created Adam and placed him in the garden of Eden there was more than just "surviving" planned for His creation.
Being saved is a first step into living in the Kingdom of God. Living in the Kingdom involves freedom, victory, blessing, and a WHOLE lot more. Most of all Kingdom living is about other people. God's plan is not for us to gain entry into His Kingdom and then be content. To the contrary, Kingdom living is about being discontent. Not regarding our status but regarding what we see and how it affects us.
When Jesus saw people who were "lost" He was moved. Sometimes He worked miracles, sometimes He just cried. The point is that if we are "saved" and not living out the passion of the Kingdom of God each day, we are not scratching the surface of His intended plan.
Lord, I ask you to help me, help Hope and help our city to be a people of passion who desire more than just the satisfaction of knowing our sins are forgiven. Give us the passion to live for you with passion that "moves us" as it does You.
Pastor J |
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You know, there are days like the ones we had this week. You know what I am referring to--days when the only news you hear is negative. Non-stop weather predictions, economic indicators, statistical disappointments, military reports and terror alerts. These are just the things that are going on around us...then there are the things we face personally. Things like health issues, for some very dire; financial challenges, bills due, automotive repairs, new tires, kids lunch money, grand-kids struggles, and on the list can go. What do you do when these days creep up?
A great suggestion I will make is to turn to the Lord. David provides a great example of what to do when challenges were mounting. In Psalms 42 and 43 he shows us a pattern for overcoming the negativity we encounter. In Psalm 42:2 David demonstrates the one thing that we must all do. He cries out to God. He recognizes God as his ultimate source. His hurts, fears, emotions and pain are not hidden as he opens his heart to the Lord.
As David spends time with the Lord he is reminded of God's blessings in his life. This miraculous thing called "memory" stimulates praise and joy from his heart that begins to flow from his mouth. So much is the praise and joy that he begins to question his own emotions. He says, "why are you so downcast? Put your hope in GOD!"
A funny thing happens when we call on the Lord. Our circumstances seldom change in the short-term, but our perspective and outlook changes immediately. One thing I have learned is when our outlook is bright (by trusting God first) our circumstances are never as bleak. Instead of seeing yourself as a separate entity with the world on your shoulders; see yourself as God's child with Him carrying your burdens. This is what He desires to do, and it will make your week a lot better.
Bless you!
Pastor J |
In reflecting on the goodness of our Lord this week I have been preoccupied with the scripture found in Colossians 3:3 which says, "3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." Think about this for a moment. You died, the writer says. But, he doesn't stop there; you died, AND your life. Wait, does not "you died" mean there is no longer life? No doubt in the natural this is so but in the heavenly economy it is the reverse of the natural. For when we come to Christ we die and through this death we are made alive IN HIM!
The writer goes on to say..."is now hidden with Christ in God." That's not exactly an easy picture for most of us to get. This is why I often encourage others to stop, think, listen, feel, and try to see what God is saying. We miss so much when all we do is hear the words. Hearing without experiencing the truth is nothing more than "theory" being taught in a classroom with no real world application.
God wants you and I to EXPERIENCE His glory, not to merely agree that it's so. As I have personally meditated on this verse this week I reflected on this thought. "Christ is God TO us and us Toward God." Being hid in Christ with God is illustrated in this quote. Thank you FATHER that I do not present myself to you, rather you place me in Christ and HE presents me to you. Thank you Lord that you send Jesus to me, and as you do this your love flows to me and to others.
The thought I was left with this week which has remained the focus of my quiet times is this; "We are assured of what we shall be, based upon who we already are, In Christ our Lord."
Bless your week!
Pastor J |
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