MAY 3 "NO RELATIONSHIPS"

       Whether this is a cleverly crafted strategy of the Enemy of our souls or not, is irrelevant, the end result, is the same. Are we just introverts or are we being set up...regardless, the outcome (easy prey and defeat) is more of what we need to focus on.  "There was no one to rescue them because they lived a long way from Sidon and had no relationship with anyone else."  There are numerous Christians sitting in numerous churches all over the world that are in this situation right now and it's just a matter of time before they are taken out. They have no relationship with anyone else and they too will have no one to rescue them when they need help.  One of the greatest joys, outside of Jesus himself, that we received when we became Christians was the Fellowship of the Brethren.  In the book of Acts we read,  42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals, and to prayer.

     How did we get here? How did we get to a place where we have no relationships with anyone? How did we get to a place where fellowship, sharing meals is no longer part of our Christian lives?  Could it be we are being cleverly and cautiously set up, by the Enemy, for a big fall?  And when we fall, who will be there to pick us up, who will be there for us when we are struggling, who will be there for us when we are faced with the disaster that could be up the road? The answer is....NOBODY.  Nobody will be there to defend us.  This group of people living in Laish had succumb to this mindset, "don't need nobody, we will be fine by ourselves, I won't bother nobody and nobody will bother me".
     What happened to entertaining people in our homes? What happened to desiring fellowship, forming close relationships and linking hearts with our brothers and sisters in Christ?  What happened to taking interest in one another, sitting down by a good meal and sharing stories, testimonies and getting to know each other?  What happened.......?
     Whether we are being craftily set up by the enemy of our soul or this is just part of becoming an older saint, the end result will be the same. We will have nobody to help us in our time of need; which will only solidify our reasoning for leaving the church (these people don't care).  I believe many have allowed the enemy to rip them off of one of the greatest blessing of being a Christian, the enemy has  convinced some that it is a waste of time, effort & money because nobody reciprocates; so therefore why should I?!  That is a bad mindset. It is the same as saying, "why should I forgive them, they haven't forgiven...why should I love them, they don't love me".  The question to ask is, "are we better off for having cast off fellow-shipping and sharing of meals together? Has this brought more joy and satisfaction to us in our Christianity, or less?! Entertaining in our homes is a ministry in itself and we do not determine whether or not we will be faithful in a ministry on how much we are appreciated or how much people reciprocate.  I believe there is a call for Christians to go back and re-visit what kept them and gave them the most joy as an early Christian, and they will find, that other than Christ, one of the greatest blessings was Fellow-shipping in each others homes, entertaining and sharing meals together. Remember.... "There was no one to rescue them because they lived a long way from Sidon and had no relationship with anyone else." 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

NOVEMBER 6 "DOES GOD STILL DO MIRACLES?"

 The Psalmist writes, "who can list the glorious miracles of the Lord!" I dare say, there are some reading this blog that might challenge that!"  They would say, "list them, I'm hard pressed to think of one! How'' your miracle life? Miracles go hand in hand with opportunity. We have our lives so structured and we don't venture out in faith, we keep it safe. Well then don't complain you have no miracles. Peter had to step out of the boat to experience a miracle, but don't forget there was a handful of other disciples that stayed in the boat, safe and experienced no miracle! You can have it both ways.  Christians who venture, in faith, are the ones that have the "lists of miracles" to write about.   "Does God still do miracles? In your intellect you say, "yes of course", but in your heart what do you say? God does miracle, yes! Does He do miracles for you? Do you encourage others to believe in miracles and now you need ...
Read more

NOVEMBER 21 "CLASS WARFARE IS AN UGLY THING"

     There’s no denying, James is not that fond of “rich people”.  If it was only this reference in Chapter 5, that would be bad enough, but James has taken jabs at the rich in other chapters as well. No doubt, James did not grow up with affluence of any kind. We know from the Gospels that Joseph and Mary (James’ parents) were poor. Historians believe that Joseph died at an early age, as he is not mentioned in the Gospels; except in the early stages of Jesus’ life. Now with Joseph dead, James & Jesus, probably had to work that much harder to make ends meet at home. Jesus himself takes a jab at rich people saying, “ it is easier for a camel to get through the eye of an needle than for a rich person to get into heaven ”.  I’m sure in the  Church  of  Jerusalem  where James was an elder, there were not many affluent people in that congregation. However we cannot deny that it was Joseph of Arimathea, an affluent man , a prominent member of th...
Read more

FEBRUARY 8 "ABANDONED IN MY TIME OF NEED"

   This may end up being one of the greater indictments against The Church of Jesus Christ at our judgement; that we abandoned our brothers and sisters in their most dire time of need. In our reading today, the Psalmist eludes to a time of great anguish in his life and because of this his strength is failing; he then goes on to say concerning his friends, "I am a dread to my friends....I am forgotten by them". Unfortunately, it is when we are not at our best that our brothers and sisters in Christ seem to get turned off by us and often abandon us when we need them the most! Why is that? Is it because of selfish reasons, after all, who doesn't want to hang around upbeat people full of joy and victory, but are there not times that we need to also grieve with those that are grieving?! Another reason is their weakness probably turns us off, "why are you even struggling with this ....what's wrong with you!!?" Thence, we're turned off and leave them to struggl...
Read more