Luke 13:23-30
A bystander said, “Master, will only a few be saved?”
He
said, “Whether few or many is none of your business. Put your mind on
your life with God. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires
your total attention. A lot of you are going to assume that you’ll sit
down to God’s salvation banquet just because you’ve been hanging around
the neighborhood all your lives. Well, one day you’re going to be
banging on the door, wanting to get in, but you’ll find the door locked
and the Master saying, ‘Sorry, you’re not on my guest list.’
“You’ll
protest, ‘But we’ve known you all our lives!’ only to be interrupted
with his abrupt, ‘Your kind of knowing can hardly be called knowing. You
don’t know the first thing about me.’
“That’s when you’ll find
yourselves out in the cold, strangers to grace. You’ll watch Abraham,
Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets march into God’s kingdom. You’ll
watch outsiders stream in from east, west, north, and south and sit down
at the table of God’s kingdom. And all the time you’ll be outside
looking in—and wondering what happened. This is the Great Reversal: the
last in line put at the head of the line, and the so-called first ending
up last.”
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
In recent weeks, the world
has mourned the passing of the artist known as Prince. For the first few
days, the news reports covered this man’s contribution to music and the
arts…and his lesser-known philanthropic efforts, such as purchasing
solar panels for homes in the San Francisco Bay area of California - and
his involvement in #YesWeCode, a program to “connect 100,000
low-opportunity young adults to high-paying careers in technology.”*
People
flocked to the grounds of Prince’s home, Paisley Park Studios outside
of Minneapolis, Minnesota, to pay their respects. They felt a
connection to this man. Perhaps they had attended one of his public
parties on the grounds…or maybe they just liked his music and his
kindness to others. But when the day came for family to gather for a
memorial service, most of those mourners stood outside the gates as cars
entered the compound – and the services were conducted in private for a
relative few people.
Now, reports are surfacing of family
members who are coming out of the woodwork to at least investigate
whether or not there might be something for them in Prince’s will. This
happens a lot…people claim they are “close friends” of someone or assume
they are “in the will” of a loved one who has passed. They just know
that Grandpa, Uncle Jim, or Aunt Sue left them an “inheritance.” After
all, haven’t they been “family” forever? Haven’t they spoken at holiday
dinners and reunions? Wasn’t there that one time when Aunt Sue needed a
ride to the doctor and they took her – or Grandpa and this person had
that really long conversation about the “good ole days?” Didn’t Uncle
Jim always send these family members money on their birthday? Surely he
left them something in the will! Besides, they are “blood kin!”
And
then the will is read…and all of the money and assets went to someone
else…or to a charity…or even to a beloved pet! It happens. And these
people who thought they were so special and “in the loop” are
standing on the outside – looking in with bewilderment and
disappointment – if not downright anger!
I attended a Priscilla
Shirer simulcast even recently, and one of the spiritual leaders who
assisted made a point to remind us that a lot of people think they know
God…that they have a “guaranteed seat” at His table in Heaven for all
eternity…and they are dead wrong. They’ve done the Bible studies and
attended worship every week…they’ve paid their tithes and worn the
crosses and t-shirts. They have prayed and “done good works.” And all
of that doesn’t add up to a hill of beans when they stand before
God…because they didn’t surrender their hearts fully to Him and really
get to know Him.
They didn’t trust God for everything.
They looked good on the outside…but there was no true salvation and
submission in their hearts. They were so busy doing that they didn’t take time to really get to know God…so they will be “turned away at the gate.”
What does this mean for us? The message today is to be certain
that you truly know God. No one can do this for you. You have to
spend time in His presence. You have to study the word of God for
yourself…and talk to Him – about everything – then listen
for His response. You have to seek His will for your life…then follow
His lead with obedience and faith that whatever God calls you to do - He
will equip you to complete.
Salvation in Jesus Christ is simple
and complicated all at once. It is as easy as confessing your sins to
Jesus and asking Him to forgive you and live in your heart. But the
work comes in staying in continual communion with Him…seeking His word
on your life at every turn – and walking in full obedience to His
commands. Do not assume that you are “in the will” when it comes to
God. KNOW that you will be an invited guest at His table. Start today
to fully engage with Him and be His faith-filled disciple, so that one
day when you approach the gates to His eternal home, they will be open
wide – and you will be more than welcome.
©2016 Debbie Robus
* http://YesWeCode.org
Showing posts with label going through the motions as a Christian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label going through the motions as a Christian. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for May 20, 2015
Acts 2:41-42
That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up. They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
My young cousins, nieces and nephews, and countless young friends are all members of organized activities/groups like soccer, t-ball, swimming, scouting, and dance troops. They have made the commitment to attend practices and games/performances…to participate in events associated with the team/group…to offer support and be an active participant…and to encourage their fellow members. They are representatives of these groups, and people form opinions about the organization as a whole on the basis of how individual members behave.
In any organization, there will be people who go “all in” and give their very best. They make almost all of the meetings, participate in group activities and invite others to join them. They support the members and do all that they can to conduct themselves in a manner that honors the group and its purpose/tenets. There will be a few who sign on and then fail to show up…literally and figuratively. When this happens, they are often dismissed from the group…either by quitting and forfeiting membership and the right to participate - or by removal from the roster by the group leaders.
When we give our lives to Christ and become Christians, we are automatically a member of “Team Jesus.” Just as there are members of any club or organization who claim to be associated, then hang out on the fringes – or drop out altogether - there are Christians who assert that they belong to Jesus and then go back to their old ways. They don’t support others, much less minister to anyone – especially unbelievers. Sadly, there are quite a few “fringe Christians.” Many of them go through the motions…attend worship services, contribute to a church and missions/ministries, participate in Holy Communion, and sport a t-shirt or bumper sticker that proclaims their allegiance. But it’s all essentially a show…there is no real “heart” and commitment behind these actions. Others claim to be Christians and don’t even make a half-hearted effort to go through the motions of discipleship.
Unlike most organizations, you can’t get kicked off “Team Jesus” for this. But it does sadden Jesus…and it should sadden us as believers. Jesus suffered, bled and died for our sins. He loves us unconditionally…meets all of our needs…feeds and heals us – body, mind and soul…and prepares a Heavenly mansion for us to enjoy for all Eternity. And all that He asks of us in return is that we love and honor Him.
Jesus asks that we live in a way that demonstrates our devotion to Him and encourages others to make Him their personal Savior. Whether we go “all in” or not does not change our status on the “team”…or make us better than the next believer. But it’s a matter of personal and spiritual integrity. This is the most important affiliation we will ever have. We ought to do more than merely act like it matters.
Stop and spend some time today in prayer and reflection on all that Jesus has done for you…all that He does for you each and every day. Count your blessings and consider what sort of “team member” you really are these days. Search for ways to step up your “game/performance”…to honor and glorify the amazing gift of Salvation and inclusion that Jesus has given you. Make this the day that you move off the sidelines and into the thick of things with Jesus. It’s what you signed up for…the time has come to make good on your commitment!
©2015 Debbie Robus
That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up. They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
My young cousins, nieces and nephews, and countless young friends are all members of organized activities/groups like soccer, t-ball, swimming, scouting, and dance troops. They have made the commitment to attend practices and games/performances…to participate in events associated with the team/group…to offer support and be an active participant…and to encourage their fellow members. They are representatives of these groups, and people form opinions about the organization as a whole on the basis of how individual members behave.
In any organization, there will be people who go “all in” and give their very best. They make almost all of the meetings, participate in group activities and invite others to join them. They support the members and do all that they can to conduct themselves in a manner that honors the group and its purpose/tenets. There will be a few who sign on and then fail to show up…literally and figuratively. When this happens, they are often dismissed from the group…either by quitting and forfeiting membership and the right to participate - or by removal from the roster by the group leaders.
When we give our lives to Christ and become Christians, we are automatically a member of “Team Jesus.” Just as there are members of any club or organization who claim to be associated, then hang out on the fringes – or drop out altogether - there are Christians who assert that they belong to Jesus and then go back to their old ways. They don’t support others, much less minister to anyone – especially unbelievers. Sadly, there are quite a few “fringe Christians.” Many of them go through the motions…attend worship services, contribute to a church and missions/ministries, participate in Holy Communion, and sport a t-shirt or bumper sticker that proclaims their allegiance. But it’s all essentially a show…there is no real “heart” and commitment behind these actions. Others claim to be Christians and don’t even make a half-hearted effort to go through the motions of discipleship.
Unlike most organizations, you can’t get kicked off “Team Jesus” for this. But it does sadden Jesus…and it should sadden us as believers. Jesus suffered, bled and died for our sins. He loves us unconditionally…meets all of our needs…feeds and heals us – body, mind and soul…and prepares a Heavenly mansion for us to enjoy for all Eternity. And all that He asks of us in return is that we love and honor Him.
Jesus asks that we live in a way that demonstrates our devotion to Him and encourages others to make Him their personal Savior. Whether we go “all in” or not does not change our status on the “team”…or make us better than the next believer. But it’s a matter of personal and spiritual integrity. This is the most important affiliation we will ever have. We ought to do more than merely act like it matters.
Stop and spend some time today in prayer and reflection on all that Jesus has done for you…all that He does for you each and every day. Count your blessings and consider what sort of “team member” you really are these days. Search for ways to step up your “game/performance”…to honor and glorify the amazing gift of Salvation and inclusion that Jesus has given you. Make this the day that you move off the sidelines and into the thick of things with Jesus. It’s what you signed up for…the time has come to make good on your commitment!
©2015 Debbie Robus
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