I watched this movie "The boy in the Striped Pajamas" this afternoon...and God has touched me and spoken to me through it in a powerful and emotional way. I feel that is was somehow God's divine plan right before Easter, as I have been praying that He would help me go deeper with Him and connect with His sacrifice. I saw this boy as an imitator of Jesus...He was a son, he loved his friends, and he ultimately died for his friend. This reminded me how we are priviledged and called to walk in the love, suffering, and sacrifice that Jesus did, as imitators of Jesus.
I've heard a popular message a lot in the past couple years, and especially around Easter. The theme is "It is Finished." Don't get me wrong...Jesus' work on earth walking around as a human being is finished...and that work is EVERYTHING that matters. We would be dead and in Hell without the finished work on the cross where Jesus has taken on the sin of the world and made the ultimate sacrifice for everyone, and if we would just call upon His name, we can inherit His righteousness and His reward...everlasting life in an indescribably amazing place. But I'm talking about a slant that I feel has been put on this "finished work" and what it means for us now. The grace, mercy, and forgiveness of God covers over everything wrong in us...how we think, what we do, our false interpretations of His word, etc. But if you're like me...I don't want to get it wrong. Why? Because we will look upon our Savior and our King, who has given everything and loved beyond anything we can comprehend, and we will have to answer for everything we did, and everything we did not do. And for a God that loves me that much...I want to do my best for Him...I don't want to miss the point...I don't want to miss opportunities that He gives me...I want to know I gave it ALL for the one who gave it ALL for me. Reminds me of words we sang last night at the Passion Good Friday concert, "Jesus gave it ALL, ALL to him I owe." But this isn't the message that has been speading like wild fire. It's...there's nothing left to do, Jesus did it all...just relax and receive the gift of salvation...walk in the fruit of what Jesus did...you don't have to sacrifice anything...He already did....stop trying to earn your salvation, etc. If you just read the words, some are very true, but the underlying tone is you don't have to do ANYTHING, rest in His love, walk in the joy of your salvation. And some of those words are also true, but with that underlying tone that tells us we don't need to do anything or sacrifice anything for Him, for others, for His Kingdom...which is so far from the message that I read when I read the Bible. These are the passages that direct me in how I "should" live my life as a believer, a follower and imitator of Christ, and I think all too often, pastors, in America especially, try to soften the call that is placed on followers of Christ, to appeal to our indulgent and selfish nature and culture, or natural desire to self-preserve, and our flesh's tendency towards fear and laziness. Am I saying I live these out perfectly? That is laughable, because I know and those close to me know all too well that I have missed the mark time and time again. And whenever I do get it right, it's only because of HIS grace and strength and by the power of the Holy Spirit that lives in me. The point is to get it right in our mindsets first, in order to live it out as He has asked us and given us the divine opportunity to do so. If we aren't thinking correctly, how can we act correctly?
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. Ephesians 5:1-2
As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 2 Timothy 4:5
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake. Philippians 1:29
Learn to do right. See that justice is done — help those who are oppressed, give orphans their rights, and defend widows. Isaiah 1:17
Suppose there are brothers or sisters who need clothes and don’t have enough to eat. What good is there in your saying to them, “God bless you! Keep warm and eat well!” – if you don’t give them the necessities of life? James 2:15-16
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. James 2:26
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow wearyand lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
So, if you ask me...we should be so compelled by God's love and example to us, and by the Spirit who burden's our hearts with what is NOT finished, that we allow God to work through us to reach the lost, the hurting, and the hungry with fervent prayer and urgency...when we are given ALL that we need and more in the physical and spiritual by God who has equipped us. It doesn't mean that we don't take the time that we need to go away with God to rest and to pray as Jesus did, but we do not settle for the message that it's ok to chill in this life, because "It is Finished." That is not diminishing the grace of God as Louie Giglio put it, and it does not mean that we can do ANYTHING apart from Him. But, we just don't look at the work that is left to do on earth like it isn't our responsibility. What if the disciples hadn't gone out into the world as Jesus told them to? We ARE his hands and His feet, and it is an honor to be used by Him. Does He need us? No. But does He call us to partner with Him in the unfinished work, yes...He made us in His image and He has given us gifts and talents and the Holy Spirit to accomplish what He has planned...otherwise I guess He could have sent aliens to do the job. And we shouldn't take the work to be done lightly, because people are perishing every day without knowing Christ. And until God comes to judge all of humanity and there is a new heaven and a new earth...there is MUCH work to be done. What if it's our willingness and obedience, our "YES" to be used by God....our prayers that mobilize workers, our mouth's that preach the Good News, and our hand's that feed the hungry...that makes the difference between souls that live in eternal torment, or ones that live among Jesus and the angels?
But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.” 2 Chronicles 15:7
I've heard a popular message a lot in the past couple years, and especially around Easter. The theme is "It is Finished." Don't get me wrong...Jesus' work on earth walking around as a human being is finished...and that work is EVERYTHING that matters. We would be dead and in Hell without the finished work on the cross where Jesus has taken on the sin of the world and made the ultimate sacrifice for everyone, and if we would just call upon His name, we can inherit His righteousness and His reward...everlasting life in an indescribably amazing place. But I'm talking about a slant that I feel has been put on this "finished work" and what it means for us now. The grace, mercy, and forgiveness of God covers over everything wrong in us...how we think, what we do, our false interpretations of His word, etc. But if you're like me...I don't want to get it wrong. Why? Because we will look upon our Savior and our King, who has given everything and loved beyond anything we can comprehend, and we will have to answer for everything we did, and everything we did not do. And for a God that loves me that much...I want to do my best for Him...I don't want to miss the point...I don't want to miss opportunities that He gives me...I want to know I gave it ALL for the one who gave it ALL for me. Reminds me of words we sang last night at the Passion Good Friday concert, "Jesus gave it ALL, ALL to him I owe." But this isn't the message that has been speading like wild fire. It's...there's nothing left to do, Jesus did it all...just relax and receive the gift of salvation...walk in the fruit of what Jesus did...you don't have to sacrifice anything...He already did....stop trying to earn your salvation, etc. If you just read the words, some are very true, but the underlying tone is you don't have to do ANYTHING, rest in His love, walk in the joy of your salvation. And some of those words are also true, but with that underlying tone that tells us we don't need to do anything or sacrifice anything for Him, for others, for His Kingdom...which is so far from the message that I read when I read the Bible. These are the passages that direct me in how I "should" live my life as a believer, a follower and imitator of Christ, and I think all too often, pastors, in America especially, try to soften the call that is placed on followers of Christ, to appeal to our indulgent and selfish nature and culture, or natural desire to self-preserve, and our flesh's tendency towards fear and laziness. Am I saying I live these out perfectly? That is laughable, because I know and those close to me know all too well that I have missed the mark time and time again. And whenever I do get it right, it's only because of HIS grace and strength and by the power of the Holy Spirit that lives in me. The point is to get it right in our mindsets first, in order to live it out as He has asked us and given us the divine opportunity to do so. If we aren't thinking correctly, how can we act correctly?
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. Ephesians 5:1-2
As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 2 Timothy 4:5
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake. Philippians 1:29
I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Philippians 3:10-12
Learn to do right. See that justice is done — help those who are oppressed, give orphans their rights, and defend widows. Isaiah 1:17
Suppose there are brothers or sisters who need clothes and don’t have enough to eat. What good is there in your saying to them, “God bless you! Keep warm and eat well!” – if you don’t give them the necessities of life? James 2:15-16
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. James 2:26
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow wearyand lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
So, if you ask me...we should be so compelled by God's love and example to us, and by the Spirit who burden's our hearts with what is NOT finished, that we allow God to work through us to reach the lost, the hurting, and the hungry with fervent prayer and urgency...when we are given ALL that we need and more in the physical and spiritual by God who has equipped us. It doesn't mean that we don't take the time that we need to go away with God to rest and to pray as Jesus did, but we do not settle for the message that it's ok to chill in this life, because "It is Finished." That is not diminishing the grace of God as Louie Giglio put it, and it does not mean that we can do ANYTHING apart from Him. But, we just don't look at the work that is left to do on earth like it isn't our responsibility. What if the disciples hadn't gone out into the world as Jesus told them to? We ARE his hands and His feet, and it is an honor to be used by Him. Does He need us? No. But does He call us to partner with Him in the unfinished work, yes...He made us in His image and He has given us gifts and talents and the Holy Spirit to accomplish what He has planned...otherwise I guess He could have sent aliens to do the job. And we shouldn't take the work to be done lightly, because people are perishing every day without knowing Christ. And until God comes to judge all of humanity and there is a new heaven and a new earth...there is MUCH work to be done. What if it's our willingness and obedience, our "YES" to be used by God....our prayers that mobilize workers, our mouth's that preach the Good News, and our hand's that feed the hungry...that makes the difference between souls that live in eternal torment, or ones that live among Jesus and the angels?
But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.” 2 Chronicles 15:7
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