BEFORE IMPACT
AFTER IMPACT
Sometimes I think our lives here in the US are too tame. As in many other developed countries, the only real risk I take i my day is driving in Houston traffic, in a closed car, with airbags and seatbelts. Still not very risky.
I don’t race motorcycles, I don’t go skydiving.
I’ve never been attacked by a lion, or a bear, or any other really dangerous animal for that matter.
I’ve never been in a war, never been shot at, never been at risk for starvation, yellow fever, or other serious diseases.
So what risk is left to take in my life?
Ask God to decimate you.
Am I putting myself out there, allowing God to crush my preconceptions and forcing me to choose whether or not I will love my enemies? Love those who hate me? Love those who persecute me? Speak the truth in love?
The bible says that “even the pagans” can love their families and friends… Ouch.
So what am I doing here? Take a quick look at these passages:
1 Timothy 3:16
Beyond all question, the mystery …was preached among the nations…
Mat 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations…
Mat 12:18 ”… he will proclaim justice to the nations.
Mat 12:21 In his name the nations will put their hope.”
Why put these all together? Because a synonym for “nations” is PAGANS. Not believing nations! (Thank you Pastor Doyle for THAT little nugget!)
We are supposed to be out there. Not just sitting in a nice quiet soft comfortable place with people we know and love and will always love and care for us.
And what are we preaching? Are we constantly telling people they are wrong?
Is that the great commission? Convict people of their sin, right?
You have to go to a person who is sinning, and tell them they are sinning, and tell them to repent, right???
I’m beginning to realize I’ve had it wrong for a long time.
You are supposed to confront OTHER BELIEVERS who are living in sin about their sin.
Where in Jesus teaching does it say to convict sinners of their sin?
What is the Good News? “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
Acts 5:42 - Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.
Christ is the Messiah, the Son of God!!!
he rebukes demons, and his disciples foolishness, he argues against the religious hypocrits
He heals the sick, the blind, the lame. He forgives the sinner, he loves and loves and loves. He doesn’t have to condone their behavior, he loves them so much that they want to accept the truth that HE is THEIR SAVIOR.
…in the NIV I couldn’t find one instance of Jesus arguing, convincing, convicting or debating.
John 16:7-8 – But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:
Jesus gives the job of conviction of sin to the Holy Spirit. He gives the jobs of Loving God and Loving your Neighbor to us.
Are you willing to let God put people in your path that do not believe what you believe? That act the way they should not act? Who are living in outward sin? Are you willing to LOVE them where they are?
Are you willing to drop everything you have, like the disciples did, and FOLLOW JESUS? DO what he DID. BRING the KINGDOM to the Nations?
Take that risk, and I believe God will decimate everything you thought you know about reality with the enormous depth of his love.
