Well it's that time of the year for many of us. The semi-annual time change. I'm not sure when you will be reading this, but as I write these thoughts it is Saturday, November 2 and tonight's the night. But is the literal changing of our clocks all that is needing to be changed? As I began to read the scriptures today wouldn't you know that I "stumble" across the following passage causing me to be reminded that God does have a sense of humor, or that His timing is perfect as always. It seems that God knows that it's time to change the clocks, too:
"And do this, knowing the TIME, that now it is HIGH TIME to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed." (Romans 13: 11)
Now that is taken directly from The New King James version, which is by far my favorite. Sometimes, though, I love the simplicity and the easy to understand directness of The New Living translation of the Bible, so I will continue with Romans 13: 12-14 using the NLT.
"The night is almost gone, the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. (13) Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don't participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy.(14) Instead clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don't let yourselves think about ways to indulge your evil desires."
Now for most reading this I hope you don't have issues with the darkness of the deeds described in these verses, but I do believe we all have issues that need to be cleaned up. It is extremely important to do it now. This week the Lord has been speaking to me. I feel Him challenging me and then for me to challenge others that if we really do belong to Him then we need to become so much more like Christ. People need to see something in us that is better, but different. I have been talking lately on here, at church and even with people that I randomly encounter that we are at that pivotal time when God is saying to many that don't know Him that it's now or never. Time is eventually going to run out. Just a couple of days ago at church the Lord was talking to me and telling me that yes, He does want to use us in more incredible ways and that we are even wanting this. Who doesn't want to be used by God to bring forth; to birth incredible miracles? We want this from God. But God wants something from us. He wants to know that Jesus truly is at the center of our lives. He wants to know that we are serious about getting rid of any trace of undesirable garbage in our lives. Jesus did only what the Father would do. He would say only what the Father would say. In Jesus' time when a teacher took on a disciple, that disciple would take on the exact same characteristics of their teacher. It maybe took awhile, but eventually it happened.
How are you doing with that? Some people have been saying they have been a Christian for many years, but the lifestyle just doesn't always show it. I remember one time a friend and church leader told me how she was invited to a party. I can't remember if it was a graduation, birthday or some other kind of event, but she spoke of how people in our church were there and how some of them, even ones in ministry, were drinking and smoking just as much as non-Christians. How even much of their talk was the same. They weren't in a church setting, so I guess it was okay, or so they thought. She was not judging and neither am I, but I'll never forget her asking me the question, "What are we really doing if people walked in and can't tell the difference between who says they follow Jesus and who doesn't?" Being one of the pastors at that time, I remember how that pierced my soul and how sober minded I suddenly felt.
Today I'm telling you. Time is up. It's put up or shut up time. It's do or don't, but it's time to choose. Carnality needs to go. The Kingdom of God is calling. It's time to show the world that there are a lot of great and beneficial reasons to follow the Jesus that we talk about. Do I sound harsh?
"AWAKE TO RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND DO NOT SIN; FOR SOME DO NOT HAVE THE KNOWLEDE OF GOD. I SPEAK THIS TO YOUR SHAME." (1 Corinthians 15:34)
Now that is harsh. But it is also the truth and needed to be said. It wasn't me who said it though, it was this guy that people in the church look up to. His name is Paul.
I'm not turning legalistic on you. I am talking about living a life just like our Teacher did. Jesus went to parties, but the people around Him could always tell He was different. He loved them, accepted their short-comings, dealt with their sin when it was needed, but always encouraged them to become more like Him, often just by the way He talked and lived.
It's not all work and sacrifice. Become more like Christ. And then watch the blessings, watch the provisions and watch the sudden mighty works that He gives you the ability to do through Him.
Things in the spiritual worlds are colliding. Quickly and at an increased pace. This time is really the best time. God, let more of Your kingdom come!
This is going to be good!!!!!
MarkS.
"And do this, knowing the TIME, that now it is HIGH TIME to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed." (Romans 13: 11)
Now that is taken directly from The New King James version, which is by far my favorite. Sometimes, though, I love the simplicity and the easy to understand directness of The New Living translation of the Bible, so I will continue with Romans 13: 12-14 using the NLT.
"The night is almost gone, the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. (13) Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don't participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy.(14) Instead clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don't let yourselves think about ways to indulge your evil desires."
Now for most reading this I hope you don't have issues with the darkness of the deeds described in these verses, but I do believe we all have issues that need to be cleaned up. It is extremely important to do it now. This week the Lord has been speaking to me. I feel Him challenging me and then for me to challenge others that if we really do belong to Him then we need to become so much more like Christ. People need to see something in us that is better, but different. I have been talking lately on here, at church and even with people that I randomly encounter that we are at that pivotal time when God is saying to many that don't know Him that it's now or never. Time is eventually going to run out. Just a couple of days ago at church the Lord was talking to me and telling me that yes, He does want to use us in more incredible ways and that we are even wanting this. Who doesn't want to be used by God to bring forth; to birth incredible miracles? We want this from God. But God wants something from us. He wants to know that Jesus truly is at the center of our lives. He wants to know that we are serious about getting rid of any trace of undesirable garbage in our lives. Jesus did only what the Father would do. He would say only what the Father would say. In Jesus' time when a teacher took on a disciple, that disciple would take on the exact same characteristics of their teacher. It maybe took awhile, but eventually it happened.
How are you doing with that? Some people have been saying they have been a Christian for many years, but the lifestyle just doesn't always show it. I remember one time a friend and church leader told me how she was invited to a party. I can't remember if it was a graduation, birthday or some other kind of event, but she spoke of how people in our church were there and how some of them, even ones in ministry, were drinking and smoking just as much as non-Christians. How even much of their talk was the same. They weren't in a church setting, so I guess it was okay, or so they thought. She was not judging and neither am I, but I'll never forget her asking me the question, "What are we really doing if people walked in and can't tell the difference between who says they follow Jesus and who doesn't?" Being one of the pastors at that time, I remember how that pierced my soul and how sober minded I suddenly felt.
Today I'm telling you. Time is up. It's put up or shut up time. It's do or don't, but it's time to choose. Carnality needs to go. The Kingdom of God is calling. It's time to show the world that there are a lot of great and beneficial reasons to follow the Jesus that we talk about. Do I sound harsh?
"AWAKE TO RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND DO NOT SIN; FOR SOME DO NOT HAVE THE KNOWLEDE OF GOD. I SPEAK THIS TO YOUR SHAME." (1 Corinthians 15:34)
Now that is harsh. But it is also the truth and needed to be said. It wasn't me who said it though, it was this guy that people in the church look up to. His name is Paul.
I'm not turning legalistic on you. I am talking about living a life just like our Teacher did. Jesus went to parties, but the people around Him could always tell He was different. He loved them, accepted their short-comings, dealt with their sin when it was needed, but always encouraged them to become more like Him, often just by the way He talked and lived.
It's not all work and sacrifice. Become more like Christ. And then watch the blessings, watch the provisions and watch the sudden mighty works that He gives you the ability to do through Him.
Things in the spiritual worlds are colliding. Quickly and at an increased pace. This time is really the best time. God, let more of Your kingdom come!
This is going to be good!!!!!
MarkS.
