Category: Devotion

“And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:24-25 CSB

As we are hurled further into the age of self, and as we witness the colossal cultural shift where much of the world is all the more non-bashfully departing moral norms and practices that many of us born in the 20th century are accustomed to- we as Christians are already finding that to live for Christ is becoming increasingly less comfortable, and we are starting to truly feel the cost of forsaking the world and clinging to Him. In this same age, we are seeing many prominent leaders in the Christian community, and many others, going through a crisis of their faith, then deconstructing, only to depart true Biblical teaching.

This is one of the great tragedies of our age. So many through the years, have made the horrible and oftentimes spiritually fatal mistake of neglecting gathering with fellow believers to fellowship together, encourage each other, and generally do life together. Many of us have forgotten that if God is a perfect community within Himself (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), then we, as His creation, are created for community also. To live without this, is to live outside of God’s perfect design. To live without the gift of community, we are rejecting life and choosing death.

Brothers and sisters, I urge you to take this matter seriously. This viral departure from the Church begs the question: Why are many fleeing the Church?

For many, it could be that you were hurt by the Church in some way. Maybe you had a youth pastor that abused his position, maybe one of your ministers or fellow brothers or sisters fell short of your expectations when you were walking through a trial. Maybe you witnessed a local church mistreat a dear friend of yours and so this, or other examples, angered you to the point of not going as often as you should if not going altogether anymore. Maybe you’ve become bored of the Gospel and feel that you no longer have need of it, because you no longer believe in the power of the Gospel Message or perhaps more poignantly- due to the attractiveness of relativism and plurality- you no longer believe in the power of God.

Friend, I implore you to not go into the darkness and death that surely wait for you outside of the light that is found in God and gathering with His people. We humans are not lone rangers. It is not in our DNA. To try and live as such is a mimicry of living at best. Do you remember when you first came to faith? Do you remember the rush and thrill of the deep and otherworldly beauty of Christ and the life He offers you? Do you remember what it was like to journey to your congregation’s meeting place in the dead of winter’s bitter cold and within the church doors you were instantly greeted and warmed by the love of your fellow adopted brothers and sisters in Christ, and their loving and gleeful company? Do you remember that moment, when you who were once a wanderer realized you no longer had to wander anymore, because there is a place for you at the Father’s table, and in His house?

My friend, if we allow ourselves an honest look at things, you and I will find that this world is deeply and   unfathomably sick. This world, because it is destined for destruction, has no place for those of us who desire life, joy, and peace.

We still need the Church, because the Church is where we hear the word of God preached, the laying of hands and the sacraments are administered. It is where lunches, dinners and coffee meets are scheduled which are avenues of deeper connection with other broken vessels like ourselves, which helps us know we never are, nor ever were, alone. The Church is where the single mother finds support. Where the widow is comforted. Where the sick can be healed. The hungry fed. The homeless given a warm and dry bed. The suicidal turned into being steadfast. Where we are sent out to the ends of the earth to preach the Gospel so those who are dead in their sins may be made truly alive in Christ who offers us life and it more abundantly.

The Church, the bride of Christ whom He died for, is still very much needed today. If Christ found her worth dying for, then may we not dishonor Him by forsaking her!

After all, our faith is in Him, not broken and corrupt sinners like you and me.

 

Isaiah 61:11 “For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations.”

After the long, dark, cold, and gloomy season, we begin seeing signs of new life.  The trees start to bud, flowers are blooming, the grass is greener, and the birds are chirping.  It’s a new beginning.  Spring is finally here.  It is the best time to see God’s handiwork.  As I was driving to work one day, I was thanking God for this beautiful season of renewal. 

What I love most about this time of year is planning my garden.  What will I plant?  What seeds will I sow?  I was asking myself these questions as I drove to work, and then it hit me.  God is trying to tell me something.  He reminded me of all He has done and all I should be doing.

As I was deciding what to plant in my garden, I thought of the comparison between sowing vegetable seeds and sowing seeds for the Gospel.  Finishing up my devotion, I did not like what I had written.  It sounded more like any typical Christian devotion with tons of churchy words and phrases.  I deleted half of it and decided to include something that happened just the other day.

My daughter came and told me something amazing!  It was kind of an “aha” moment that brought me to tears.  She said she was telling her childhood friend of the change she’s seen in my husband and me.  This friend lived with us briefly and is like another one of our children.  She knows how we were before we started following Jesus, and she sees the difference in us now.  My daughter told her how we have immersed ourselves into the church and serving others and how much happier we are.  She recognized the change from our old selfish, destructive behaviors, and sees now our desire to help, love, and be kind to those around us.  She sees us living out what we believe, and at that moment, I realized the seeds we plant are by our example.  And the best part, she is telling others about it.

Without Christ in us, she would not have recognized the change.  All the Glory belongs to Him!

God has called us to be sowers.  We sow seeds by showing love to those around us by serving at church and helping those in need.  Jesus set the example, and we are called to follow it.  

2 Corinthians 9:6 “… whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”

In our final station of the cross, we arrive at the tomb.

Our reading today is from John 19:38-42

John 19:38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. 39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

Jesus has declared, “It is finished” and we see the providence of God, even in His death.  When Rome classified someone as a criminal, that person was often buried in a forgotten tomb in a potter’s field, but God produces a man, Joseph of Arimathea, who obviously had both riches and influence to receive the body of Jesus.

Nicodemus also shows us.  We see the impact of Jesus on Nicodemus as Nicodemus does something brave:  He stands against the other religious leaders and chooses to honor Jesus.  His stand is not highlighted here, but imagine the opposition.  Those who had Jesus killed watched as one of their own sought to honor Him.

Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea both step forward at their own peril to honor Jesus.  The beautiful picture here is an example to all of us:  That in a culture that is increasingly becoming less ‘Christian,’ these men choose their faith over their status.  If our world continues on the path it is going, representing your faith in public may cost you more than ever, but like these men, we will have to choose.

Because of God using these two men, Jesus is given a proper burial with the spices and a proper tomb.  Their actions are tied to Scripture:

Isaiah 53:9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.

As these two men step forward, God uses them to fulfill His purposes as their actions make this prophecy come true.  The Gospel writers recording this event go out of their way to show that as prophecy is fulfilled, that it is the outward sign that God never loses control of the death and burial of Jesus.

The writings confirm across multiple witnesses that Jesus was crucified, that He died and we now have the confidence in their testimony that He was placed in the tomb.  By their testimony, the disciples give an account of everything that happened to Jesus.  I want to leave you with this:

We can trust the providence of God.  It’s not that life is always easy or pleasant, but we understand that God’s will is accomplished in the earth and no matter what happens to us, we are in His hands.  Whether death or life, hardship or ease, sick or well…  the greatest place to both live and die is in the center of His will.  God uses two men to bury His Son.  Jesus accomplishes the will of God in His death and the invitation is that God would use us.

The 11th station of the cross is: Criminals speak to Jesus. Our reading today is from the book of Luke, chapter 23:

Luke 23:32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. 35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”  39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

In considering the thieves on the cross on either side of Jesus, we must place ourselves there.  We don’t imagine ourselves there.  We don’t understand the death sentence over our lives as tied to something we have done.  How could we be thieves?

As we consider our lives, we often see more of what’s been done to us, but we don’t imagine having done anything wrong.  We don’t see ourselves as thieves.  In short, we don’t see our sin.  However, if we could be honest, the cross and its existence is the greatest testimony to our sin.  There’s no need for the cross if there is no sin, but yet it exists.

The two thieves also represent the choice we make regarding the Gospel.  Two men who know they are dying have different responses to Jesus.  One mocks Jesus, while the other humbles himself before Jesus and the outcome is much different because this thief knows that paradise is next for him.

In the end, this is our story.  We are dying, a little more every day.  We can call out to the blameless one and ask if He would remember us, though we rightly deserve death.  What we learn is that it’s never too late and there’s nothing we could have ever done to cause Jesus to deny our request.  

Yes, we are thieves, but He is a Savior.  It is by His love and mercy that the Savior makes us thieves no more.

²⁶ And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. – Luke 23:26

The eighth station of the cross is that Simon helps carry the cross of Christ. There is very little said about Simon in the Gospels except for this verse, that he was chosen to carry the cross. There is much room for speculation on why this happened, and why Luke recorded specifically that Simon carried the cross behind Jesus. What we do know about Simon is that he came from a region of northern Africa and that his two sons, which are mentioned by name in the scripture, were later recorded as being missionaries for the cause of Christ in church tradition. Simon himself is considered to be one of the first bishops in the catholic tradition and is recorded to have died a martyr for Christ via crucifixion around 100 AD.

One of the most blatant pictures that this station paints for us as believers, is the significance of Jesus’s words to take up our cross and follow Him if we want to be His disciple. While we don’t know the exact reason Simon was chosen from the crowd, it was certainly not an expected moment. He was in Jerusalem with his sons to celebrate the feast of the Passover, and now caught in the crowd surrounding Jesus as He carried His cross to Golgotha, Simon was grabbed out of the crowd and told to shoulder the cross. There are no specifics on why someone was pulled from the crowd to carry the cross but Matthew Henry suggests that it was because the Roman soldiers saw Jesus about to die from the burden of carrying the cross and they were so worried that He wouldn’t actually make it to be crucified and what this might mean for their own lives.

In our lives, we never know when the moment might come that we are called to something that is painful to us but is perfectly in the will of God. Part of trusting in the sovereignty of God is knowing that God is in full control over everything that happens.

¹¹ In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, – Ephesians 1:11

At times God’s will for our lives may be painful, it may be difficult, it may even seem like we cannot physically take any more, but understanding God’s goodness, and His love, allows us to lean on Him through it all, and submit wholly to His will and His will alone. What happens may not make sense to us right now, but someday when God’s plan unfolds we will understand. Jesus showed up perfect submission to the Father’s will, in His path to the cross. We are called to shoulder our cross and follow behind His example in perfect submission to the will of the Father for He is good!

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever! – Psalm 118:1

Father, as we continue following the path Your own Son walked to the cross, I pray that we can follow His example. Lord that when trials come and we experience both the good and the bad in our lives, that we can point to You and say that You are sovereign and we place our trust in You alone. That You lift us up and strengthen us through Your spirit and that we submit wholly and completely to Your will alone. That we gladly bear the cross and follow after Christ. We love You and thank You for Your goodness, Your mercy, and Your kindness to each of us. In the name of Jesus. Amen

27 ¹ When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. ² And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate the governor…

²² Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” ²³ And he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!” ²⁴ So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood;^[a] see to it yourselves.” ²⁵ And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” ²⁶ Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged^[b] Jesus, delivered him to be crucified. – Matthew 27:1-2, 22-26

The fifth station of the cross is Pilate condemning Jesus to die via crucifixion. Jesus is brought before Pilate because at this time it was unlawful for the Jewish rulers to condemn someone to death, especially the death of crucifixion. Pilate questioned Jesus regarding the charges against Him and Jesus remained mostly silent. Pilate’s wife sent word that she had dreamed that Jesus was innocent and for Pilate to have nothing to do with the death of this man. The innocence of Christ was known by Pilate, but the people shouted for Jesus to be crucified. Pilate used the ceremony to wash his hands and declare himself innocent of placing an innocent man to death. In a final attempt, Pilate offered to release either Jesus, or Barabbas, a murderer, and thief, yet the people shouted for the true criminal to be released to them and for Jesus to be crucified.

Crucifixion is considered one of the worse forms of torture and execution. It was reserved during Roman times for the worst of criminals. In Jewish law, it stated that any person that died on a tree (crucified) was cursed. Not only did this method of death involve the most extreme pain but it had spiritual significance in Jewish law as well. Pilate questioned Jesus yet Jesus stayed mostly silent. He could have called angels to deliver Him from this at any time, He could have defended Himself to Pilate, but He remained silent in submission to the will of the Father. This was the path that must be walked. This was the will of the Father. Instead of acknowledging Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah, the savior that Israel had been waiting on for so many years, the Jewish people condemned their savior to death and traded Him for a criminal.

I can’t help but see this reflected even today in our own personal lives and walks. How often do we fail to acknowledge the Lordship of Christ in our lives and instead search after sinful abominations to feed our flesh? How often do we fail in submitting ourselves to God’s will and argue and shout to receive what our wicked hearts desire? How often does Jesus stand silent as we accuse Him? Yet, He loves us and waits for us, and forgives us our failures and shortcomings. How great is the love of Christ for us!

Father, Your son was rejected and condemned to die a horrible death by the very people that He came to save. By the very ones that You chose to call Your own. Father work in our hearts. Turn our hearts of stone into hearts that are tender to Your Spirit’s words. That we do not seek after our own desires and our own wicked ways but that we cry out for Christ and Him alone. Lord let our hearts cry always be for Christ and Your Word, that we never reject the truths You have revealed to us and that we never reject the calling and promises You have made for us. Let us cling to You and You alone in all things. In the saving name of Jesus. Amen

³⁹ And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. ⁴⁰ And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” ⁴¹ And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, ⁴² saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” ⁴³ And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. ⁴⁴ And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.  ⁴⁵ And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, ⁴⁶ and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” – Luke 22:39-46

The first station of the cross is when Jesus prays to the Father in the garden of Gethsemane or the Mount of Olives. When Jesus prays here in the garden, He makes clear He knows what is going to happen. He knows that prophecy must be fulfilled. At this greatest time of temptation and agony, He was left alone by the disciples, and while they slept, He prayed. The submission of the Son to His Father is shown. If there was any other way for God’s justice to be satisfied Jesus prayed that He would not have to endure the trials of the cross, but through it all, with the knowledge of what was to come, Jesus prayed that His will would not be done but that the Father’s will would be done. The agony and the stress were so great that the Bible records that Jesus sweat great drops of blood. This is not a literary license by the writer, but a legitimate medical condition called Hematohidrosis. This is caused by an amount of stress so great that it causes the blood vessels close to the skin to burst and blood to come out as sweat through the pores of the skin. This shows us that Christ’s prayer was a true cry to the Father that there would be a different way to save us. Despite all of this, Jesus shows true submission to the will and plan of the Father.

The disciples are nearby but are “sleeping for sorrow.” Jesus had told them that He would die and though they had realized that this was the long-awaited messiah, they still did not understand that Christ would be raised again. The amount of spiritual warfare going on at this time in the garden is unimaginable. This is why Christ tells the disciples twice to rise and pray that they don’t enter into temptation. The original temptation that caused man to fall into sin was in a garden many years prior, and now the final temptation was once again in a garden where the very souls of men were being fought for.

We must understand that Jesus was God made flesh here on earth. He is the 2^nd member of the Holy Trinity and He was both fully God and fully man at the same time. He had a man nature that He had to still war against and He had the power to attempt to defy the Fathers will. Isaiah tells us how the messiah would be treated.

He was despised and rejected by men,
    a man of sorrows  and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
    he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (Isaiah 53:3 ESV)

The perfect one who knew no sin, submitted to the Fathers will and took a punishment He never deserved, even to the death. God’s justice required death for sin but as through one man, Adam, man sinned and was sentenced to death and hell, only through the perfect man, Jesus Christ, was man able to be saved from this punishment. This is the beauty of Holy Week. We walk this week through the ultimate sacrifice that could ever be given. The example live out of “No greater love.” 

Jesus, we thank You for Your sacrifice for us. That even before time began You knew that man would fall and that You would step forward and satisfy the wrath of God against Your chosen people. That we would no longer be sentenced to death and eternity in Hell separate from You, but that now because of Your great sacrifice, You have redeemed us and washed us in Your blood and You have gone to prepare a place for us. We are no longer slaves to sin and death, but we are free to live in the perfect will of the Father. I pray that Your Spirit leads and guides that in all things at all times we submit to the will of the Father. In the precious name of Jesus. Amen

As we begin our celebration of Holy Week with Palm Sunday today, it is important to recognize and know the historical and spiritual significance. One of the pilgrimages that many Christians still do today, is to go to Jerusalem and retrace the path of Christ from Pilate’s house to Golgotha where He was crucified. This path is known as the via Delarosa or way of sorrow. The stations of the cross are along this path and currently have 14 stops from Christ being condemned to death, to His body being laid in the tomb. This pilgrimage is replicated in the liturgical practice of the church.

 

Many times, these stations will be represented in protestant churches by places around the church at which to pray, meditate, and remember the path to the cross that Christ took for us. The protestant church bases these stations strictly on biblical accounts. They are;

1. Jesus Prays Alone
2. Jesus is Arrested
3. The Sanhedrin Tries Jesus
4. Pilate Tries Jesus
5. Pilate Condemns Jesus to Die
6. Jesus Wears the Crown of Thorns
7. Jesus Carries His Cross
8. Simon Helps Carry the Cross
9. Jesus Speaks to the Women
10. Jesus Is Nailed to the Cross
11. Criminals Speak to Jesus
12. Jesus Cares for His Mother
13. Jesus Dies on the Cross
14. Jesus is Laid in the Tomb

Often, we rush so quickly to celebrate the resurrection and the triumph of Christ over death and sin, that we ignore the importance of recognizing and contemplating the path to this victory. Throughout scripture, God reminds His people to remember where they have come from and the places that God brought them out from. They are called to set up altars and remembrances in places to remind them of what God did for them. “It is in this mode of remembering, of re-presenting the events of the past as part of a living story that has not yet ended, a story in which we still participate, that the events become more than dates and places. They become markers of a journey as those who were no people become a people (Ex 6:7, 1 Peter 2:10), as those who grope awkwardly in the darkness come into the light of God’s presence (Isa 9:2, John 8:12), as those who were far off draw ever nearer to God and his grace.” (http://www.crivoice.org/stations.html)

“Beyond all the dogmas and the sentimentalism associated with the Cross, finally it is about faithfulness, servanthood, the commitment of One to another that will not abandon that commitment even when rejected. In a real sense, the cross is about the power of love, the commitment of God to humanity, the faithfulness and grace of God that knows no limits and will yield to no boundary, that will risk even death itself for the sake of new life.” (http://www.crivoice.org/stations.html)

As believers, we want to use this week, as we celebrate Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, to His death, burial, and on Sunday His resurrection, to remember and be grateful for the path that Jesus walked for each of us. Every night this week a devotion will be posted on one of the stations of the cross. On Saturday we will have another video posted to close out the devotions for holy week and on Sunday we will come together and celebrate a risen Savior who has redeemed us from the hands of the enemy. Let’s all spend time in prayer, meditation on scripture, and study of scripture this week as we remember with gratitude what God has done for us. Wednesday night we will have a special service for Holy Wednesday, and we hope you can join us then for a time of prayer, worship, and communion.

“Come, and see the victories of the cross. Christ’s wounds are thy healings, His agonies thy repose, His conflicts thy conquests, His groans thy songs, His pains thine ease, His shame thy glory, His death thy life, His sufferings thy salvation.” – Matthew Henry

One of the important aspects of the Christian life is understanding Christian History and where our faith has gone and come from over the years since Christ walked this earth. “Church history is the story of the Christian community and its relationship to the rest of the world throughout the ages…Church history shows us how the Gospel message can be embedded in culture in our own time.” (Dr. Gordan Isaac) With this, while we don’t hold sainthood to humans as the traditional Roman Catholic Church does, it is important that we know the history of so many that were instrumental in the advancement of Jesus Christ to all nations and tongues.

Patrick was born Maewyn Succat to wealthy parents in Britain near the end of the fourth century. At the age of 16, Patrick was captured by a group of Irish raiders and brought to Ireland to be a slave. During his 6 years of slavery, Patrick worked as a shepherd and turned to his religious upbringing to bring comfort and peace. After 6 years of captivity, Patrick was able to escape, walking nearly 200 miles to the Irish coast, and returning to Britain. 

Upon Patrick’s return to Britain he began to study to become a priest, After more than 15 years of study, Patrick was ordained as a priest. Patrick had previously claimed an angel came to him in a dream, telling him to return to Ireland as a missionary. The church agreed to return him to Ireland and he returned both to minister to the Christians already living in Ireland, and to convert the Irish people.

Patrick spent his life proclaiming the Gospel to the very people that had enslaved him during his younger years. In this, we can see the power of love and forgiveness that can only come from Jesus. His explanation and simplification of the trinity through the use of a 3 leaf clover is probably one of his most known examples. Each leaf was taught to represent each member of the trinity showing they are 3 separate leaves but part of one central branch.

After 40 years of living in Ireland and working tirelessly to spread the Gospel to the Celts, “Patrick died on March 17, 461 in Saul, where he had built his first church.” (History.com)

As we see people around the world celebrate St Patrick’s Day, we can celebrate and rejoice in the life of a man that gave up the riches and wealth of his station in life, and returned to the country that enslaved him, to share the love of Christ. Through this, we see the spread of Christianity to the pagan’s of Ireland and how great God’s grace is to use whosoever will follow His command to go and preach the Gospel to all!

Works Referenced:

• https://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day/who-was-saint-patrick
• http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1972553_1972551_1972451,00.html
• https://www.tenontours.com/shamrocks-and-four-leaf-clovers-whats-the-difference/#:~:text=While%20trying%20to%20convert%20the,we%20get%20the%20luck%20from.
• https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/saint-patrick-dies#:~:text=He%20arrived%20in%20Ireland%20in,had%20built%20his%20first%20church.

As much as this is a devotion, this is a pouring out of what’s been on my heart lately regarding the Church, capital “C” and where our country is at.  This is not about politics or presidents or news, but about who the church should be.

Often what happens more than not is that Christians shake their head at culture for being cultural yet neglecting the idea that we are to be influencers of it.  However, it’s not what the church has been.  From as far back as I can remember, by large, church has been about attending a service, listening, receiving, and returning back to our lives.  This mentality has progressed over years, and church has found a way to be even more entertaining and convenient as we extend this mentality.  All of this while we imagine that culture has lost its mind.  I’ve asked myself recently if we’ve looked in the mirror lately.

As a church, we went through the Truth Project that was put on by Focus on the Family, and Os Guiness made a statement that haunts me.  He basically said that Christians have maybe 10, 15, or 20 years before culture passes the point of no return.  The shocking moment for me was that the content had been released in 2006.  In 2021, we hit the 15-year mark.  If Os Guiness is correct, there are a handful of years left before we hit the point of no return.

When I look at his warning for the church to impact culture and I trace our digression from 2006 to now, his words seem to be on point with our current cultural conditions.  I don’t say this as an accusation, but as a burden.  We can separate the church from the world in how we live, but we cannot separate the two in our concern.  We can’t because Jesus didn’t.  Even though His people and His culture had drifted from God, Jesus comes to save anyone who would listen, and we see His concern spread in the book of Acts through the end of the New Testament in Revelation.

There is no complete answer that can be given in one short message in how to respond, but the remedy I believe, still lies within the church.  It will lie within believers who find a church home where they choose to give their lives away for the Gospel.  It will take parents willing to disciple their children in the ways of God despite what their college professor says.  It will take all believers striving for biblical literacy in a biblically illiterate age.  It’s going to cost us something.  It will cost time, our talents, and maybe our lives.  We are going to have to let go of all the distractions that have no meaning for the only thing that matters.  We are going to have to go out, share truth and live like the Gospel of Jesus is worth our lives. 

In my opinion, the church hasn’t looked like this in a long time.

I leave you with my burden.  If you have only a few years left before culture falls over the edge, what should you be doing?  What sense of urgency should you have?  We should be praying for revival with all of our hearts.  No more entre church where you go to the place that serves you best.  Where do you go to pour yourself out for every person God will place in your path?  What if the point of no return is sooner than you think?  This has been my awakening.  Is it yours?