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 Genesis 24:63 Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide.Very admirable was his occupation. If those who spend so many hours in idle company, light reading, and useless pastimes, could learn wisdom, they would find more profitable society and more interesting engagements in meditation than in the vanities which now have such charms for them. We should all know more, live nearer to God, and grow in grace, if we were more alone. Meditation chews the cud and extracts the real nutriment from the mental food gathered elsewhere. When Jesus is the theme, meditation is sweet indeed. Isaac found Rebecca while engaged in private musings; many others have found their best beloved there. Very admirable was the choice of place. In the field we have a study hung round with texts for thought. From the cedar to the hyssop, from the soaring eagle down to the chirping grasshopper, from the blue expanse of heaven to a drop of dew, all things are full of teaching, and when the eye is divinely opened, that teaching flashes upon the mind far more vividly than from written books. Our little rooms are neither so healthy, so suggestive, so agreeable, or so inspiring as the fields. Let us count nothing common or unclean, but feel that all created things point to their Maker, and the field will at once be hallowed. Very admirable was the season. The season of sunset as it draws a veil over the day, befits that repose of the soul when earthborn cares yield to the joys of heavenly communion. The glory of the setting sun excites our wonder, and the solemnity of approaching night awakens our awe. If the business of this day will permit it, it will be well, dear reader, if you can spare an hour to walk in the field at eventide, but if not, the Lord is in the town too, and will meet with thee in thy chamber or in the crowded street. Let thy heart go forth to meet him. Daily Light on the Daily Path Hebrews 13:20,21 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, • equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Ephesians 2:8,9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; • not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. James 1:17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. Philippians 2:12,13 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; • for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Philippians 1:11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. 2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, 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. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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