Bible League: Living His Word "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."— Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV These questions often cross my mind. How come most professing Christians don't even appear to be bothered or hurt when considering the millions that are dying without Christ every day, every hour, every minute? How is it possible for people to walk out of a church service and immediately switch on secular FM music in their cars and drive away with a smile, commenting what a great service that was, without any reverence or gratitude for such a great salvation? How is it possible for someone to experience the forgiveness and liberating power of our Lord and then be so caught up with self-centeredness? Yes, it is possible because of our pride and our blindness to the extent of our sinfulness. When you recognize the depths to which you have fallen, it will make your heart cry out to the Lord for mercy and grace. And when He showers His grace upon you, you will find that His grace is the mighty power to set you free from the power of sin. This experience will break you and humble you, while at the same time, filling you with immense love for the lost and a burden to see them experience the same grace you did. Instead, "bless me Lord, prosper me Lord, heal me Lord, keep me happy Lord," seem to be the more popular prayers these days, whilst thousands suffer in poverty, pain and rejection. Could it be that the church is to blame? Could it be that the church has lost its purpose and is caught up with filling seats and increasing in size, running well organized programs and seminars designed to maintain people's interest in the church? The church seems to have lost sight of Jesus' command to go into all the world and preach the good news. The world equates church size to church growth. God equates number of disciples to church growth because He commanded, "Go and make disciples." Sadly, most professing Christians are yet to become true disciples of Christ (as defined in Luke 14:26-27, 33), because if they truly understood their unworthiness before God, the value and the preciousness of what Jesus has done for them, they would then realize He is truly that pearl for which the farmer sold all he had. They will, by their new nature, be compelled to share the gospel with the lost. A believer attending church doesn't bring about church growth. Only disciples reproduce and bring about church growth. When you obey the Great Commission and go into all the world, Jesus said, it will bring about persecution and suffering. It will take courage, boldness, and unwavering faith. Effective evangelism will take disciples who are dead to self and are one with the Lord. It will take disciples who spend intimate time with the Lord and are not at all attracted to what the world considers success. Disciples give their whole selves. Part 1 of 2 By Santosh Chandran, Bible League International staff, New Zealand Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingPsalm 103, 104 Psalm 103 -- Praise the Lord, my soul! All that is within me, praise his holy name! NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 104 -- Bless the Lord, my soul. O Lord, my God, you are very great. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Romans 14 Romans 14 -- Principles of Conscience for The Weak and the Strong in Faith NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion “That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I AM who I claim to be, you will die in your sins.”Insight People will die in their sins if they reject Christ, because they are rejecting the only way to be rescued from sin. Sadly, many are so taken up with the values of this world that they are blind to the priceless gift Christ offers. Challenge Where are you looking? Don't focus on this world's values and miss what is most valuable—eternal life with God. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Ezekiel 36:26 And I will give you an heart of flesh.A heart of flesh is known by its tenderness concerning sin. To have indulged a foul imagination, or to have allowed a wild desire to tarry even for a moment, is quite enough to make a heart of flesh grieve before the Lord. The heart of stone calls a great iniquity nothing, but not so the heart of flesh. "If to the right or left I stray, That moment, Lord, reprove; And let me weep my life away, For having grieved thy love" The heart of flesh is tender of God's will. My Lord Will-be-will is a great blusterer, and it is hard to subject him to God's will; but when the heart of flesh is given, the will quivers like an aspen leaf in every breath of heaven, and bows like an osier in every breeze of God's Spirit. The natural will is cold, hard iron, which is not to be hammered into form, but the renewed will, like molten metal, is soon moulded by the hand of grace. In the fleshy heart there is a tenderness of the affections. The hard heart does not love the Redeemer, but the renewed heart burns with affection towards him. The hard heart is selfish and coldly demands, "Why should I weep for sin? Why should I love the Lord?" But the heart of flesh says; "Lord, thou knowest that I love thee; help me to love thee more!" Many are the privileges of this renewed heart; "'Tis here the Spirit dwells, 'tis here that Jesus rests." It is fitted to receive every spiritual blessing, and every blessing comes to it. It is prepared to yield every heavenly fruit to the honor and praise of God, and therefore the Lord delights in it. A tender heart is the best defence against sin, and the best preparation for heaven. A renewed heart stands on its watchtower looking for the coming of the Lord Jesus. Have you this heart of flesh? Daily Light on the Daily Path Hosea 2:14 "Therefore, behold, I will allure her, Bring her into the wilderness And speak kindly to her.2 Corinthians 6:15,17 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? • "Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. 2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Hebrews 13:12,13 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. • So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. Mark 6:31 And He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while." (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.) Psalm 23:1-3 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. • He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. • He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. 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