Twenty-three years of pastoral ministry has clearly taught me that God is faithful and we are not. God's love is unconditional and ours is not. Christ is perfect while mankind is broken. Out of our brokeness, we more easily break others than we restore them. Surely, "ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALLEN SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD!"
On the other hand for every ten people who receive from the Lord through a particular ministry, only one will remain to be thankful. Isn't that exactly what Jesus experienced when he healed ten lepers? We must thank God for the one; they receive and they return to be a blessing to others. When others walk away; they remain and like Elisha, say, "Please do not leave me here alone!"
If the Good Shepherd finds the "One lost sheep" valuable enough to leave the ninety-nine, shouldn't we find the one who is hungry for God enough reason to press-on in spite the abandoned by most?
Forsaking the praise of men; let us seek those who are hungry and thirsty and seeking for God. Let us shake the dust from our feet of the cultured set in order to better the life of the beggar and prostitute. Let us see the destitute for the God children they were created to be. Let us cast off all formalities of organized religion and give ourselves to what Christ calls the "True Religion"; caring for those who cannot care for themselves.
Let us STOP GOING TO CHURCH AND LET US BECOME THE CHURCH; loving God with all that we are and loving our neighbors as ourselves, in fact let us prefer them over ourselves. Let us not worry about building buildings; let us build lives.
Let the religious prefer their religion; let us abandon religion for relationship with our Living Christ! We may not have tomorrow, so let us love and serve and care and bless one another and all who come expecting TODAY!
AMEN!
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