Devotional THought fo the Day:
³  So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak? Hebrews 2:3 (NLT)

⁸  And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. ⁹  Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9 (NLT)

668      The first Twelve, too, were foreigners in the lands where they taught the Gospel. They came up against people who were building the world on foundations diametrically opposed to Christ’s doctrine. Look: despite these adverse circumstances, they knew that they had been entrusted with the divine message of the Redemption. And so the Apostle cries, “Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!” (1)

One of the blessings I have, is working with “young” guys in ministry.

Some are actually young, in their 20’s and 30’s.  Some are just young in ministry, men in their 50’s, 60’s and even 70’s whom God is calling to do more, to come to the aid to their pastors, and even to become pastors themselves.  (Three will be ordained this year!)

But everyone is in ministry, everyone has the vocation (the role) of being someone God has sent into the world, wherever they are at, to live a life that reflects the love of Christ.

That may seem like a heavy burden, especially in striving to keep focused as Paul says, on that which is of Christ.  It is especially hard in a world like ours, where we can think we are doing well, because we aren’t as bad as the rest of the world. yet we create our own idols, our own sacred cows, and in doing so, we ignore our salvation.   Idol making is not something that starts deliberately, neither does approving of immorality.

Yet we do live in a world that opposes holiness, that calls what is wrong and sinful, right and spiritually healthy. Even when we do it among other believers. How can we call people to the peace God has planned for them, unless we show them the need for the Holy Spirit to bring them to repentance?  How can we be healed, unless we recognize our brokenness?  Not just the brokenness caused by this sin, or by that…but all brokenness?  (As Luther said, unless we preach against real (our) sin?)

We have to share the gospel, not from obligation, but from need, and because we love those who need it. This includes ourselves.  We need to know God’s grace, we need to realize that He has saved us, that He has saved us from our sin, yeah – even that one.

Ours.

By “we” i don’t mean pastors and priests, or church workers… I mean all of those who believe and trust in jesus, who know God is at work.

May we as well encourage people to keep their eyes on Christ and not ignore our being saved!

(1)  Escriva, Josemaria (2011-01-31). The Forge (Kindle Locations 2456-2460). Scepter Publishers. Kindle Edition.