“Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11) I wonder if some read this verse and wonder at it? Perhaps some shake their heads and say, “Wow, the Apostles had a commission and yet they simply gaze.” Or perhaps some say, “Not me, I would have got right down to business for Jesus.” But in reality are not some believers still simply gazing and not doing? Or another thought, are not some believers so hung up on “Maranantha Lord Jesus” they forget “Never the less not my will but Thine e done?” We have been given a commission, an edict if you will. And it is such a powerful one we call it “The Great Commission.” “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20) But how great do people really think it is? Not very by the judge f how many obey it. “Yes but Ralph that was for the Apostles.” Oh really? Since when do we get to pick and choose which verses are for today and which are not? This is not a Chinese restaurant where we can say “I will have one from column A and two from column B.” We cannot say, “Wow, I really like the fact that ‘There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,” (Romans 8:1a) but I am not so sure I am ready for that ‘who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.’“ (Romans 8:1b) Sorry Charlie but we enlisted in an Army and it is a package deal. It is either “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4) or face the consequences. “Oh come on Ralph, I thought you were a grace man?” Yes I most certainly am, but what I am NOT is a bastard, I am a born again child of the living God through the Blood of Jesus Christ! And as such I expect tp be spanked if I am not obedient. “But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.” (Hebrews 12:8) After all, has God changed or does he still prefer obedience to sacrifice? “And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22) Well seeing as how there are five verses that specifically say God does not change (Psalm 102:27; Malachi 3:3; Hebrews 1:12, 13:8; and, James 1:17)and a raft of others that infer He does not change , I guess it would be a pretty safe bet that God does NOT change! And as that is the case, I would guess that Hs word has not changed either. But we do not have to guess, that is backed up by Scripture too. God said it is settled forever (Psalm 119:89, 119:152); it will stand forever (Isaiah 40:8); it will not pass away (Matthew 5:18, 24:35); and, it will endure forever.” (1Peter 1:25) God has not changed! God’s word has not changed! So what are we left with? We must obey, we must go! As a missionary friend said many years ago “There is a go Gospel. And no I am not saying sell everything and on the mission field, unless God tells you to. But what I am saying is do something for God, perhaps working as a soup kitchen volunteer or maybe helping out at a rescue mission or simply soul winning. Just ask God, He will tell you what to do. But do not simply stand there gazing up towards heaven rather ask, listen and then obey. Baruch HaShem Adonai
Posted on: Tue, 22 Jul 2014 12:20:10 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015