I am a part of a wonderful church. I say that not bragging, but with humility. I am a part of a church that is indeed wonderful. At Hillcrest Baptist church we just concluded our 2013 Missions Conference themed, 'A City Set on a Hill'. The Lord worked something special out this year. There was nothing extraordinary about the conference per se, but this conference was by far the most powerful, spiritually moving conference I have had the privilege of attending. It was just incredible. I believe it was a conference that honored our Lord and the work it represented.
What amazes me is that the Spirit of the Lord can be at work in such an obvious and overwhelming way, and yet I know in my heart that there are so many believers that just refuse to get on board with, or even be open to, the work that our Lord has called us to, whether it involves money, effort, or time. Some Christians approach God, or church, or religion, or the Bible with timidity, nervous about what may or may not be asked of them. They'll attend the service, but don't ask them to participate in any way. Don't expect them to reach out to anyone. Don't ask them to minister. Don't expect them to give. They are just here for the service.
It is my belief that these people cannot claim to have a clear understanding of and thus appreciation for the circumstances they find themselves in as believers. They cannot have possibly spent any real time considering God, themselves, or the salvation they enjoy through Jesus Christ.
Effort to find ways to repay the debt we owe is not only reasonable, but it is also natural for the person who has spent adequate time meditating on God's Truth as it pertains to our situation of life as believers. Now I know that the debt is insurmountable as far as we are concerned, but that is the point isn't it? The idea that there are some that realize and acknowledge that there has been a work done on our behalf the magnitude of which is immeasurable, and which naturally moves those that consider it to a place of obligation and devotion, implies that those that fail to have that same sense of indebtedness have not adequately considered the work themselves.
We have a God who is holy! He is righteous! He is right! He is The Almighty, All-Knowing, All-present Creator God! He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords! He is just! His Word is Truth! His ways or above our own as are His thoughts! He holds our lives in His hand! He sustains all things! He is a God who is good! The only way a God like this could love a people like us is if He is a God of love as well, and He is! It only works if He is a God of grace as well, and He is. It only happens if He is a God of mercy, and He is indeed! He is a God of patience! He is a God of long-suffering! He is our kind heavenly Father! That is the only reason we have the opportunity afforded us by Jesus Christ and faith in Him! There is nothing lovable about us. There is nothing in us that would recommend us to God except our need for Him! We like Isaiah are undone. Like all mankind we are all gone astray. We all live to do that which is right in our own eyes. We have all worked to earn our place in Hell! Yet Heaven is my home! How incredible is that? Mankind turns its back on the God responsible for its very existence, and that same God pursues mankind not with a sword, but with a cross that He then hangs Himself on... incredible.
You think about that for a second and then say, "I'll go to church on Sunday morning 'Lord', but anything beyond that is just unreasonable." "I'll give a few bucks here and there 'Lord', but I have other things I want to do with MY money." "The idea of me serving God with everything I have is getting carried away." "Don't ask too much of me." As if that were even possible... It doesn't make sense, does it? Now in all fairness I must confess that these thoughts have crossed my own mind as well at times. That would seem to imply that the ranks of those who consider utter devotion to God an unreasonable prospect aren't filled only by people who have never striven to fully appreciate their position before God, but they are filled also by those who forget or have forgotten.
What amazes me is that the Spirit of the Lord can be at work in such an obvious and overwhelming way, and yet I know in my heart that there are so many believers that just refuse to get on board with, or even be open to, the work that our Lord has called us to, whether it involves money, effort, or time. Some Christians approach God, or church, or religion, or the Bible with timidity, nervous about what may or may not be asked of them. They'll attend the service, but don't ask them to participate in any way. Don't expect them to reach out to anyone. Don't ask them to minister. Don't expect them to give. They are just here for the service.
It is my belief that these people cannot claim to have a clear understanding of and thus appreciation for the circumstances they find themselves in as believers. They cannot have possibly spent any real time considering God, themselves, or the salvation they enjoy through Jesus Christ.
Effort to find ways to repay the debt we owe is not only reasonable, but it is also natural for the person who has spent adequate time meditating on God's Truth as it pertains to our situation of life as believers. Now I know that the debt is insurmountable as far as we are concerned, but that is the point isn't it? The idea that there are some that realize and acknowledge that there has been a work done on our behalf the magnitude of which is immeasurable, and which naturally moves those that consider it to a place of obligation and devotion, implies that those that fail to have that same sense of indebtedness have not adequately considered the work themselves.
We have a God who is holy! He is righteous! He is right! He is The Almighty, All-Knowing, All-present Creator God! He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords! He is just! His Word is Truth! His ways or above our own as are His thoughts! He holds our lives in His hand! He sustains all things! He is a God who is good! The only way a God like this could love a people like us is if He is a God of love as well, and He is! It only works if He is a God of grace as well, and He is. It only happens if He is a God of mercy, and He is indeed! He is a God of patience! He is a God of long-suffering! He is our kind heavenly Father! That is the only reason we have the opportunity afforded us by Jesus Christ and faith in Him! There is nothing lovable about us. There is nothing in us that would recommend us to God except our need for Him! We like Isaiah are undone. Like all mankind we are all gone astray. We all live to do that which is right in our own eyes. We have all worked to earn our place in Hell! Yet Heaven is my home! How incredible is that? Mankind turns its back on the God responsible for its very existence, and that same God pursues mankind not with a sword, but with a cross that He then hangs Himself on... incredible.
You think about that for a second and then say, "I'll go to church on Sunday morning 'Lord', but anything beyond that is just unreasonable." "I'll give a few bucks here and there 'Lord', but I have other things I want to do with MY money." "The idea of me serving God with everything I have is getting carried away." "Don't ask too much of me." As if that were even possible... It doesn't make sense, does it? Now in all fairness I must confess that these thoughts have crossed my own mind as well at times. That would seem to imply that the ranks of those who consider utter devotion to God an unreasonable prospect aren't filled only by people who have never striven to fully appreciate their position before God, but they are filled also by those who forget or have forgotten.
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