The lack of taking commitment seriously in the lives of some is glaring. For the Christian we should not live our lives in a "come and go" fashion but a "come and stay" one. Jesus comes into our hearts to be our King forever. The Holy Spirit comes into our lives to seal us forever. The Father comes to direct our steps forever. The commitment God has for us is firm, steadfast, and will never end. We are to be perfect as He is perfect. However, the preacher comes to a church and goes as soon as a better opportunity presents itself (pay raise usually going with it); a man and woman come together in the bonds of matrimony and go apart from one another because of irreconcilable differences; the member comes to a church to see it grow and goes as soon as he or she does not get his or her way; and the Christian comes into the presence of the Lord on Sunday and goes to live like the world every other day of the week.
Being committed is hard but it is necessary. It begins with a resolve to be "come and stay" people. We will stay no matter how bad things become. It continues with a vision of hope. The longer we live, the more we understand that things change. It might be bad right now, but it will not be bad forever. As Mark Lowery says, "It will pass or you will pass." Finally, it is realized with perseverance. There will be temptation, trials, obstacles, and seemingly valid reasons to throw one's hands up in the air and give up, but one stays committed instead. If we will take these steps we can change the culture of the church and even the world from being "come and go" people to those that are like the Lord above and "come and stay" people, which is how it should be.
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Unconventional
Last Sunday was Easter. The title of the sermon that day was Living Redeemer and the text was Job 19:23-27. The thrust of the message that for the Christian, no matter how rough, tough, or difficult to handle life may become, a Christian has the hope of the resurrection. A member of the congregation told me they were not expecting Job, which was unconventional but I am unconventional. As I have had time to think about that statement the more I realize it was a great compliment.
Conventional is an adjective that is defined as based on or in accordance with what is generally done or believed. Therefore, unconventional is an adjective that is defined as based on or in accordance with what is not generally done or believed. Granted, years ago unconventional would not be a compliment but the way the world is changing (for the worse and not the better), I believe unconventional is the way to go.
As I told the Wednesday Bible Study Group last night, we do not need to do what everybody else is doing, but we need to do what everyone else needs to be doing. We are to be salt and light. We are to be different, even peculiar. We are to be in the world but not of the world. We are to be unconventional. We are to do and believe what is not generally done or believed.
It is unconventional to go to church.
It is unconventional to forgive one of his or her offenses.
It is unconventional to sacrificially give one's time, energy, and resources to meet the need of a stranger.
It is unconventional to share the Gospel unashamedly.
It is unconventional to stand for one's convictions no matter the cost.
It is unconventional to consider oneself last on a personal list of priorities.
It is unconventional to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him.
It is unconventional to believe Jesus is the only way to Heaven.
It is unconventional to believe most people will go to Hell.
It is unconventional to believe success is not measured by a balance in the bank.
It is unconventional to believe we are not the most important person in the world.
It is unconventional to believe we should take advantage of every last minute we have, not wasting one.
It is unconventional to believe we will have to answer for everything we do, whether good or bad.
It is unconventional to believe we are not living for this life, but living for eternity.
I have absolutely no problem with being unconventional and hope to become more unconventional today than I was yesterday.
Conventional is an adjective that is defined as based on or in accordance with what is generally done or believed. Therefore, unconventional is an adjective that is defined as based on or in accordance with what is not generally done or believed. Granted, years ago unconventional would not be a compliment but the way the world is changing (for the worse and not the better), I believe unconventional is the way to go.
As I told the Wednesday Bible Study Group last night, we do not need to do what everybody else is doing, but we need to do what everyone else needs to be doing. We are to be salt and light. We are to be different, even peculiar. We are to be in the world but not of the world. We are to be unconventional. We are to do and believe what is not generally done or believed.
It is unconventional to go to church.
It is unconventional to forgive one of his or her offenses.
It is unconventional to sacrificially give one's time, energy, and resources to meet the need of a stranger.
It is unconventional to share the Gospel unashamedly.
It is unconventional to stand for one's convictions no matter the cost.
It is unconventional to consider oneself last on a personal list of priorities.
It is unconventional to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him.
It is unconventional to believe Jesus is the only way to Heaven.
It is unconventional to believe most people will go to Hell.
It is unconventional to believe success is not measured by a balance in the bank.
It is unconventional to believe we are not the most important person in the world.
It is unconventional to believe we should take advantage of every last minute we have, not wasting one.
It is unconventional to believe we will have to answer for everything we do, whether good or bad.
It is unconventional to believe we are not living for this life, but living for eternity.
I have absolutely no problem with being unconventional and hope to become more unconventional today than I was yesterday.
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