Are We Alone?
Read Romans 11 before proceeding and you will understand the heart behind this excerpt.
I think that it's interesting that we look around often and wonder if anyone else is "in it to win it." By that I mean is anyone else following Jesus? I know that there are churches full on Sunday across the city, state, nation, but is anyone really following Jesus? Now at first glance that might sound brash or even prideful but that is not the point. Have you ever felt like Elijah? Have you ever wondered where are all the Christians at? Why aren't more people helping to feed the homeless? Why are there not more willing to visit prison and jail? Why are there not more that are looking not just to help fellow man but actually share the love of Jesus with them? Then the flip side is there is so much pain and heartache, there is such a focus on things that don't matter but yet take so much of our time and energy and resources.
This past week has brought many reminders, earthquakes, tsunami hitting Japan and the threat of more to come, couple that with funeral #3 tomorrow the evidence of life being short is an understatement. Our one life that we have to live will one day come to an end. The result of understanding the temporary nature of life on earth and the permanent nature of eternal life in heaven brings many emotions. The understanding that we have been grafted into the vine we have been brought into the family of God, not because of who we are or our heritage but because of God's great mercy for each one of us.
Romans 8
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
In the midst of that we are called to live a life of service to God. Paul would say earlier we are "slaves to God" (Romans 7) meaning our every action and thought would be captive to Him according to His will and plan for our life of service. (part of the death of sin and the flesh in us)
When we have the question about who is following Jesus, who is really "in it to win it" I think we have to remember that there are many others that are living lives pure and holy unto God. In the midst of chaos of earth quakes and tsunami's we press on toward the goal of living life for Jesus and bringing with us a message of love for all we encounter. May our focus and attention be on things of God and may we to with Paul say the words of the Doxology:
33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?”
36 For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.
I think that it's interesting that we look around often and wonder if anyone else is "in it to win it." By that I mean is anyone else following Jesus? I know that there are churches full on Sunday across the city, state, nation, but is anyone really following Jesus? Now at first glance that might sound brash or even prideful but that is not the point. Have you ever felt like Elijah? Have you ever wondered where are all the Christians at? Why aren't more people helping to feed the homeless? Why are there not more willing to visit prison and jail? Why are there not more that are looking not just to help fellow man but actually share the love of Jesus with them? Then the flip side is there is so much pain and heartache, there is such a focus on things that don't matter but yet take so much of our time and energy and resources.
This past week has brought many reminders, earthquakes, tsunami hitting Japan and the threat of more to come, couple that with funeral #3 tomorrow the evidence of life being short is an understatement. Our one life that we have to live will one day come to an end. The result of understanding the temporary nature of life on earth and the permanent nature of eternal life in heaven brings many emotions. The understanding that we have been grafted into the vine we have been brought into the family of God, not because of who we are or our heritage but because of God's great mercy for each one of us.
Romans 8
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
In the midst of that we are called to live a life of service to God. Paul would say earlier we are "slaves to God" (Romans 7) meaning our every action and thought would be captive to Him according to His will and plan for our life of service. (part of the death of sin and the flesh in us)
When we have the question about who is following Jesus, who is really "in it to win it" I think we have to remember that there are many others that are living lives pure and holy unto God. In the midst of chaos of earth quakes and tsunami's we press on toward the goal of living life for Jesus and bringing with us a message of love for all we encounter. May our focus and attention be on things of God and may we to with Paul say the words of the Doxology:
33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?”
36 For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.
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