QUESTIONS: Are we going to die in our RELIGION or
Are we going to die in our DEVOTION?
Hebrews 13:11
It was VERY costly to be a Jewish Christian. It was tempting to fall away from their commission. They could not stay in the camp of Judaism and keep the Commission.
The verse is our challenge TODAY "(And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through His own blood) Let us, then go to him ouside the camp bearing the disgrace He bore."
What is outside the gates? - dirty, despised, dangerous! Outside the gates are the abandoned, the poor, the destitute, much terror and diseases (and much more).
To not fulfill our Commission is to be like the children of Israel who did not enter Canaan. Numbers 13:31- 14:20- God forgave them, yet left them in the wilderness until they died!
Look around at our TODAY happenings: 1/4 million died in catastrophic weather events, many live on $2.00 a day, India...50,000 died of Aids in one week and on and on. AND cats and dogs in America are fed better than most people are fed around the world!
Today's church has retreated into our beautiful buildings...we are not on the firing lines!
OUR ONE PURPOSE: to give glory to the Lord! Glory to God! We are to devote ourselves to His glory. ...to what are we devoted?
Two Problems in the Church: Formalism (worship made more important than Whom we worship) Fear (we are paralyzed by)
Two Options for the Church: Retreat or Risk everything!
We cannot "stay in the camp". We MUST go outside the gates... "out of the camp".
Heb. 13:14 "For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come." This is not our home - we are living for another city!!!
Are you living for another city? Are you ready to RETREAT or to RISK everything?I am sure that I have not done this inspiring, moving, transforming message justice, so please click on sbc.net and listen to Dr. Platt's message which he gave to the Pastors at the Convention. You can even order a CD on that site.
As you ponder the depth of this message, consider some of these ?'s:
Am I risking a little or a lot for His glory? How is God's glory being served in my leadership? Am I holding back in my committment? Am I paralyzed by some fear from enemies or risks I won't take? Retreating or Risking? staying in my comfort zone? Enjoying the fruit personally or wandering in the wilderness? Do I realize the impact of my role? Who is suffering because of my unfaithfulness?--my children, or others under my influence or just a spectator of my life? Are those in my S.S. class still in the nursery because of my lack of committment to the Commission and willingness to go "outside the camp"? (there are many more questions to introspectively ask!)
1 comment:
Great message yesterday. Had more confirmation in this mornings devotion "My Utmost For His Highest" Thank you for what you and Wes do!!
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