We need to keep our focus on the cross. Jesus entered the world and many followers believed he was bringing about a political kingdom.
But Jesus had far greater plans. Jesus planned to bring about an future eternal kingdom in the age to come for all who would come in faith.
If Jesus has been willing to settle the days problems with a political kingdom it would have been a tragedy. The tragedy today in the church is that the church has become increasingly willing to settle for a political kingdom instead of proclaiming a future eternal kingdom.
And because the world rejects Jesus the present day political kingdom is crumbling. The church is far to easily pleased.
The church should not be pleased perusing a political kingdom, but rather an ethereal kingdom. If the cross is not proclaimed Jesus is not glorified.
All political agendas no matter how noble are a stumbling block if they get in the way of the gospel being proclaimed by the church. The church cannot in any faithfulness to God move into the political realm by neglecting the gospel.
Showing posts with label kingdom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kingdom. Show all posts
Monday, August 3, 2015
Sunday, December 7, 2014
God Does Not Show Favoritism
God does not show favoritism. In theory all in the church agree to this point. In practice the church often views that God does prefer certain types of people to bring to himself.
We find many Christians suspect that God is more likely to save the unbelieving business executive than the cashier at our local supermarket. Some people feel that God is more likely to save those who are non-Christians and appear to have their life together than non-Christians whose life is a mess.
The issue is that we often assume the mind of God. It is dangerous for us to begin to act on what we assume God intends as God often has the most striking judgements on those who stand in the way of anyone coming to himself.
God's will is for us to reach out in love to the world. We cannot assume how anyone in the world will respond.
If the bible teaches us anything it is to expect the unexpected with God. God often accomplishes his will in ways in which men would not accomplish their ways. God uses unexpected people like David.
Often today we hear preachers act as if David was a logical choice humanly for king. It is of course the exact opposite story scripture tells. David was the least likely choice among his many brothers and a vary unexpected person for God to raise up.
Paul was an unexpected addition to the apostles. In fact many of the apostles of Jesus were very humble choices for God to chose for such an important task.
You see we bring too many ideas to the table when we anticipate how God will advance his kingdom in the world. God often has far more intent than we expect to use humble fisherman to advance his kingdom than to use people of position and power.
It is easy to feel we are too small or two weak to accomplish tasks we feel God has called us to. In a sense we may be right. Moses was correct that he was a poor speaker, but God called him to speak. You see it is God who brings success or not success and that is the ultimate reality.
If God has truly called us to accomplish a task he has also provided the means to accomplish the task if we have faith to see and believe.
We find many Christians suspect that God is more likely to save the unbelieving business executive than the cashier at our local supermarket. Some people feel that God is more likely to save those who are non-Christians and appear to have their life together than non-Christians whose life is a mess.
The issue is that we often assume the mind of God. It is dangerous for us to begin to act on what we assume God intends as God often has the most striking judgements on those who stand in the way of anyone coming to himself.
God's will is for us to reach out in love to the world. We cannot assume how anyone in the world will respond.
If the bible teaches us anything it is to expect the unexpected with God. God often accomplishes his will in ways in which men would not accomplish their ways. God uses unexpected people like David.
Often today we hear preachers act as if David was a logical choice humanly for king. It is of course the exact opposite story scripture tells. David was the least likely choice among his many brothers and a vary unexpected person for God to raise up.
Paul was an unexpected addition to the apostles. In fact many of the apostles of Jesus were very humble choices for God to chose for such an important task.
You see we bring too many ideas to the table when we anticipate how God will advance his kingdom in the world. God often has far more intent than we expect to use humble fisherman to advance his kingdom than to use people of position and power.
It is easy to feel we are too small or two weak to accomplish tasks we feel God has called us to. In a sense we may be right. Moses was correct that he was a poor speaker, but God called him to speak. You see it is God who brings success or not success and that is the ultimate reality.
If God has truly called us to accomplish a task he has also provided the means to accomplish the task if we have faith to see and believe.
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Futility
Life is often difficult. Sometimes it is difficult because our hard work is easily thrown down the drain.
It is often that many steps of hard work can be thrown away carelessly. Sometimes we are the ones who throw away our hard work.
Sometimes others throw away our hard word. Sometimes it is just disease or the force of nature.
The end reality is always that the world is subject to futility. People feel this is not right.
It should not be such. It was never intended to be such although man in the beginning chose it to be such.
Such is the cost of going against God. To go against God is in futile. We cannot defeat God.
We cannot frustrate him. We cannot slow him down.
At the cross it appeared God had lost, but he had won. Such is life if God has a plan no one can stand in his way.
We can at times avoid the will of God and run and hide for a moment, but we cannot stop the will of an all-powerful God.
Freighting? Not so much if we will trust him. He is good.
But his goodness is conditional to righteousness. Jesus’ righteousness.
He has told us how to obtain it by faith. There are always two choices or two paths.
We can be for God or against God. The choice is simple really if we believe the bibles account of God.
Some people have felt as if God does not want them. But God already says he wishes to bring all those who knock at his door into the kingdom.
It is often that many steps of hard work can be thrown away carelessly. Sometimes we are the ones who throw away our hard work.
Sometimes others throw away our hard word. Sometimes it is just disease or the force of nature.
The end reality is always that the world is subject to futility. People feel this is not right.
It should not be such. It was never intended to be such although man in the beginning chose it to be such.
Such is the cost of going against God. To go against God is in futile. We cannot defeat God.
We cannot frustrate him. We cannot slow him down.
At the cross it appeared God had lost, but he had won. Such is life if God has a plan no one can stand in his way.
We can at times avoid the will of God and run and hide for a moment, but we cannot stop the will of an all-powerful God.
Freighting? Not so much if we will trust him. He is good.
But his goodness is conditional to righteousness. Jesus’ righteousness.
He has told us how to obtain it by faith. There are always two choices or two paths.
We can be for God or against God. The choice is simple really if we believe the bibles account of God.
Some people have felt as if God does not want them. But God already says he wishes to bring all those who knock at his door into the kingdom.
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