These are Jesus' words: "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself" (John 12:32). Obviously, the "all" to which He refers is not everyone but His elect; however, that is not the point. This is the point: the Christian life is about Jesus, not man, being lifted up, whether it happens on the cross or in worship. Unfortunately, the church across America has taken an altogether different position and the evidence is obvious--everything is about pleasing people and, therefore, not about lifting up Jesus.
I am praying a very specific prayer for this part of the Body of Christ and it is this: Father, may the primary purpose of our worship services be to lift up Jesus. Show us how and when we do otherwise and give us the courage to change when we do. The "otherwise" is most often so subtle that we aren't even aware that we are caught up with having our own way, rather than with submitting to your way.
Please join me in this prayer--
Your Pastor
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1 comment:
Mac,
I agree with your statement that Jesus is The Way and The Truth.
Somehow on earth if that is all we have to do then it would be very easy to live life. Somewhere long ago God made this place called earth and placed us upon it. For his purpose I might add. When the journey began it was no different than today. Adam and Eve had each other and God, and God had them for the purpose of what? From the Garden came self-centerness and the idea that I know better even when misguided. We to are all misguided at times. Maybe more than we would like to admit. I have met people who seem to know it all and think they really do not make a mistake. Wonder if God had not reminded Eve of her error would she have covered it over and justified it in her mind as a clear conscious decision? Maybe and very well maybe that is how we are built. To believe that being in Christ that we do not make any mistakes. How could we if we are in Christ? Right? I have many friends that think because we are a church, Grace Christian Fellowship uses the Grace card to not see our own utter depravity. As you and I know we do and are depraved even though we are choosen and of the elect. Here is my point. Those that are rested in Grace can fall into a place where they do not show they care about others because well their conscious is clear. That is how we get to a place where others do not think we care about them and love them unconditionally.
For me the place of rest is real, but someplace there we are called to love one another no matter what and that is Grace. Those that make mistakes and fall away do not deserve being lifted up or out of guilt get helped up or as we are called to make them better given another chance, it is out of love that we have the capacity to show them the love of Christ that did the same with us and for us. We ought not label them, put them up and compartmentlize them, judge them as not realizing their wrong, and well filing them away for safety sakes.
My conscious is clear in that I know I have wronged many, let down many, and have destroyed hope in many. It is with a very humble heart that I come back and say I could have done different but I did not. I could have considered another view, but did not. I could have gone a different way, but did not. I also would say today that God had it to be that way for his purpose and I was but using my so called free will to just be and do. Once we get past that point do we just say our conscious is clear, free, and move on or do we love that brother and sister no matter what? I say we show them more love than we know and then some. I believe that is what Jesus did at the well, in the synagogue, in the road, and at the cross. If we are to be a reflection of Christ then we need to reflect him and act to not deflect others. Somewhere things have gone askew and are much different than they once were. I cannot put a handle directly on it, but something has happen. Maybe to me, maybe to us, just maybe for a reason things have changed. Someone once told me it is better to say we once could have been wrong than to say we were right no matter what. If we cannot do that we live out of fear and self-rightousness more than a humble heart.
In closing, I trust we will continue to look to Christ, reflect him in us, give to those who kick back, and open our hearts to those in need of a risen Savior. We have much to be thankful for and much to take care of. He did not give us legs, arms, eys, along with a heart for him to just clear our conscious to those we are called to love. He did say Remember Me. I sure he wants us to not only remember those, but to pray and hope that they will one day be with us where ever we are, go, and be. It is too easy to turn away. Thank God he never turned away from us.
John
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