(Jesus)...who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
Memory of the Month: 2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Today's reading: 1 SAMUEL 13-14 LUKE 10:1-24
Put In The Work
It bothers me that folks present the gospel in the middle of flowery speech. There were no flowers at the cross. There were no great congregations there lead by the young and beautiful singing the sweet, flowing melodies of praise. There were no famous author/preachers declaring great victories of perfect health and overflowing coffers.
Three men died that day. There was torture and blood and the smell of death. The streets were lined with a mob who screamed kill, kill, kill. A certain tradition set a murderer free and sent an innocent to His death.
All this is part of the Gospel message. This is such a harsh picture that the Gospel message has been painted over by so many generations trying to make it palitable to the masses until we have the Gospel of today. It looks good and smells good and jingles with money as it is delivered.
Jesus said:(from John 15:18-25)
"They hated me first".
"They hate you because I have chosen you out of the world"
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6
"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" Mark 8:34-37
"I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Luke 5:31&32
The gospel is inclusive:
"Whosoever believes in Him shall not perish" John 3:16
The Gospel is exclusive:
"Whosoever believes in Him shall not perish" John 3:16
"No one comes to the Father except through Me" John 14:6
The Gospel is the truth. Truth does hurt if you are in the wrong place-if you are in sin. Every person on this earth, saved or lost, sins.
1 John 1:8 ►If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
But-
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
Because...the Gospel is the truth of our divine and perfect and just Creator.
The Gospel is still the Gospel. I could ask, "Where is your church in reference to the real Gospel?" But that is not the really pertinent question, is it?
The question for us all is this:
"Where are you in reference to the real Gospel? You know, at home in your heart-in your personal life with Father, Son and Holy Spirit?"
Yes, of course the world denies God's truth, the Gospel, because God deals with one heart at a time and that one heart cannot blame anything on someone else in God's presence. You cannot be saved unless you talk to God about it. You cannot be saved unless you accept God's truth about your sin and His deliverance.
1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”
Growth will not happen unless we can turly say:
Romans 1:16 ►For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
We cannot grow unless we put in the work. We do not grieve properly without doing the hard work of recovery from loss. We cannot find the righteousness of God and His Kingdom unless we put in the work. But...
...But, we are saved without any work. We must turn our backs on the former life of self(Luke 9:23 take up your cross daily).
The daily work seeking God cannot be done without making the decision to do the work-all the work-and then put in this work. No other work on this earth will ever bring what this work brings. This work is where God leads and counsels and comforts and empowers.
This is why Paul tells us to:
“...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).
The word 'work' in this verse translates "work fully, accomplish, finish". In all this, we must remember that nothing is accomplished unless God in Christ is foremost in our minds and hearts.
We cannot work to acomplish our own salvation. That comes by faith in Christ Jesus.
We cannot ignore the divine work that must be done. We must work-do whatever it takes-to finish learning the real truth so as to accomplish God's purpose for each life. No one but you can do this.
Learn God-finish the work-accomplish His purpose for you.
Put in the work...
...because He loves us...
Father in Heaven,
Forgive me my shame over not speaking the Gospel. Forgive me for not putting in the work. Have mercy on me-I am the chief of sinners. But thank You for Your salvation-for Christ's blood over me.
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