~Mark Batterson
Surprsingly I don't really have a huge topic to talk about today, but this quote was brought to my attention by Perry and I feel like it's a lot to chew on. Are we spreading the light and love of Christ to the darkness like we are called to do or are we just going to where the light already is? Are we stuck in a rut of comfortable Christianity? All these questions go along with my earlier entries, but they are definitely relevant on a daily basis. Christianity is a daily fight and we must be deliberate and conscious of our actions. We are called to rescue people from the darkness. How can we rescue people like Christ did if we are too busy staying in the light?
Today I finished reading Hebrews and the final chapter speaks of this kind of behavior and calls us to imitate it. Hebrews 13:7 "Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith." We are called to remember those who called us out of the darkness and spread the word of God among us, so we can do the same. Chapter 12 is entitled Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith, and it is the essential that we remember that he is the founder and ultimate leader of our faith. The one whom we should be imitating always. Hebrews 13:8 follows up this commandment to imitate leaders by reminding us that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Reminding us that our true leader the light sent down to us from heaven to bring us forth from darkness is constant. Therefore we are called to be constant in our imitation.
I was talking with Nikki today about what Christians in America should look like. And after reading all this it's quite obvious Christians in America should look the same as Christians everywhere. We should be constant in our imitation of Christ and bringing light and love to the spiritually and physically poor. The coolest thing about being in America is God has blessed our counry with an abundance of resources, but are we personally giving those resources back to God to bless his kingdom?
I've talked about this passage before in some of my earlier suffering entries Hebrews 13:12-16, but is monumental that we grasp this when we think of what living a life that displays the gospel looks like.
12So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. 14For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Christ was crucified where they sacrificed animals, and we are called to follow him. To deny this world, because we acknowledge the city that is to come. To endure as Christ did. All these are tasks impossible to us, but made possible by a living God who has a relationship with us and interacts with us. In America I believe this lifestyle that displays the gospel looks like giving up our blessings to bless others. That is offering a sacrifice of praise to God that is sharing what God has given us and that pleases God. Don't we want to please our creator? We have the comfort and security of eternal life with Christ in heaven what else do we need to motivate us to do good and share what God has blessed us with here? If we know what is to come why is there any need or desire to hold on to what we have now, because we know we cannot take it with us.
Mark Batterson in his book shortly after the quote I have listed in the beginning of this entry says, "As we grow, God gives us more difficult things to do." What difficult things are we being asked to do?
~Aaron Weiss
good talk
ReplyDelete-nikki