Tuesday, October 8, 2013 “…brings forth out of his treasure things both old and new” –Matthew 12:35 Good Morning Heavenly Father, Family & Friends!! (*) Yesterday’s Discovered Treasure for Today: Tearing Down or Building? I watched them tearing a building down, A gang of men in a busy town; With a heave-ho and a lusty yell They swung a beam, and the building fell. I asked the foreman, ‘‘Are these men skilled, And the men you’d hire if you had to build?” He gave a laugh and said, “No, indeed, Just common labor is all I need; I can easily wreck in a day or two What builders have taken a year to do.” And I thought to myself as I went my way, Which of these roles have I tried to play? Am I a builder who works with care, Measuring life by the rule and square? Am I shaping my deeds to a well-made plan, Patiently doing the best I can? Or am I a wrecker who walks the town, Content with the labor of tearing down? (Author- Roe Fulkerson) (*) Today’s Application: I find it so much easier to speak to the speck in another’s eye before dealing with the non-overcoming beam in mine (Matthew 7:1-6). As a pastor who has grown older and has experienced the changes that constantly occur in an ever-changing world, I get caught up often contemplating the thought that change has meant we are now watering down the gospel into a slippery slope and why would anyone want to change the gospel of Christ who is “the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). The loyalty to the church I serve and the gospel displayed, preached and taught me the first fifty years of my life and for which is very important in all I do is definitely not that same loyalty outwardly demonstrated today. My problem in wanting to speak out about my concerns is checked when I read the parable of the “Wheat and Tares” (Matthew 13:24-30) and find that I might, not knowing it, “uproot the wheat” instead of the tares. Christ taught, “Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.” I prefer and I’m trying now to heed the words of the Apostle, “But remember, dear friends, that the apostles of our Master, Jesus Christ, told us this would happen: ‘In the last days there will be people who don’t take these things seriously anymore. They’ll treat them like a joke, and make a religion of their own whims and lusts.’ These are the ones who split churches, thinking only of themselves. There’s nothing to them, no sign of the Spirit! . . . But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God’s love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life!” (Jude 1:17-21 The Message). 0;-)
Posted on: Tue, 08 Oct 2013 10:56:28 +0000
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