NUMBERS ..... NUMBERS .... NUMBERS..... It seems that big numbers in the christian world are very important. 75 people came forward to receive the Lord last week. Now doesnt that sound better than 3? Or our church went from 50 to 500. Wow! God is really blessing us. Over and over we view bigger and more as better. I was reminded this morning in John 6 that Jesus thinks very differently than we do. Big numbers meant nothing to Him. As a matter of fact He discouraged big numbers because big numbers in His followers meant a whole lot of fair weather believers. If you read the gospels you will see that several times Jesus purposely said things that offended the followers. IT WAS HIS INTENT TO OFFEND THEM. Read John 6 for yourself. People said Jesus teaching was hard and offensive, who can hear it. Jesus said in the same text does this offend you. He did not apologize. He didnt call them back and reword it so it sounded nicer. He let them go because He knew that 99% of His followers were only fair weather followers. In doing so He also put His disciples to the test. He said to them, after everyone else left ...... will you go too. He gave them the opportunity to get out. My point is this...... just because we have millions of churches, christian concerts, pastors, speakers and charismatic evangelists and just because they all have kazillions of christians following them, doesnt mean these people are disciples. Jesus feels the same today as He did 2000 years ago about fair weather followers. So our big question is this..... One group follows primarily in good weather ..... no bad storms, no hard sayings, christian life is easy to attain because Jesus doesnt really expect much from you. The other group says we must enter a hard and narrow path that will mean dying to self, to the world and overall a very rewarding, but also a difficult existance in the flesh. We must die to self or we are not worthy of Him. We as individuals must decide ..... Which group are you and I? Are you willing to pay the price to be a real disciple?
Posted on: Thu, 24 Jul 2014 17:36:06 +0000
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015