GOD KNEW (Way Back When) TODAY WOULD COME TO US!
When led to write to those believers living in Rome, the apostle Paul was led by the Holy Spirit to write these words.
The Word of God says—
“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!
For
- WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD,
OR
- WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR?
Or
- WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN?
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.
To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
“Therefore
I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God,
[which the Bible says are new for us every morning]
to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice,
acceptable to God,
which is your spiritual service of worship.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
so that you may prove what the will of God is,
that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
(Romans 11: 33-36 & 12: 1-2 NASB)
I keep a calendar on my mobile device, and such as it is, my calendar leads my days. Now, for a moment, consider what I just wrote and what you just read.
MY CALENDAR LEADS MY DAYS!
- Does this mean that I do exactly what is deemed acceptable I should do TODAY based upon what is listed on my calendar marked for today? NO, I SHOULD NOT!
OR
- Does this mean that I do exactly what is deemed good to do TODAY based upon what is listed on my calendar marked for today? NO, I SHOULD NOT!
AND FINALLY,
- Does this mean that I do exactly what is deemed perfect for TODAY based upon what is listed on my calendar marked for today? NO, I SHOULD NOT!
Thus, if we should not live by what our calendar deems acceptable, good, and perfect for our day—TODAY—then by WHOSE standard should we live—OUT TODAY?
God’s Word speaks to us—
“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God,
(Romans 12: 1 NASB)
to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice,
acceptable to God,
which is your spiritual service of worship.”
(Way Back When) GOD KNEW TODAY WOULD COME TO US!
Today is Sunday, the day we typically “go” to church, and we are so proud that we do “go” to church. This pauses me to wonder: Are we “going” to church OR Are we striving to “BE” the church in our neighborhoods, in our workplaces, in our shopping areas, in our homes, & to our family members?
Now, don’t hear me say that we should not “go” to church, BECAUSE WE WHO BELIEVE SHOULD “GO” TO CHURCH TODAY. We need the constant edification of our church to encourage us, to teach us, & to prepare us for the upcoming week. Nonetheless, what then? After we “go” to church & as we “attend” church today, are we “being” the church to those we will encounter on this day the Lord has made?
Let me ask it another way.
Anytime God offers us the opportunity to place others first before ourselves, to love as Jesus loved, are we? Do we? ARE WE LOVING OTHERS AS MUCH as we love ourselves?
AND
Even before we love others as ourselves, are we—
LOVING GOD & PLACING GOD 1ST IN OUR LIVES?
JESUS HIMSELF SPOKE God’s Word to us—
“One of the scribes came and heard them arguing,
[The scribes heard the religious Pharisees & Herodians & some Sadducees questioning, trying to trap Jesus.]
and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him,
“What commandment is the foremost of all?”
“Jesus answered,
“The foremost is,
‘HEAR, O ISRAEL!
THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD;
AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WILL ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’
“The second is this,
‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’
There is no other commandment greater than these.”
(Mark 12: 28-31 NASB)
- We (the church) have been called to be energetic in our Faith.
- We (the body of believers) have been called to be the hands & feet of Jesus.
- We (the Christ-followers) have been called to work until Jesus comes.
- We (the local church) have been called to live like Jesus—until our time here on earth is complete.
We are to love people—as JESUS CHRIST taught us to love.
- Our brothers & sisters-in-Christ sitting next to us in church today.
- Our brothers & sisters-in-Christ sitting in other houses of worship just down the street.
- Our brothers & sisters-in-Christ sitting across the globe who are also walking in ministry.
- Our next door neighbors.
- Our workplace neighbors.
- Our students sitting in our classrooms & in our schools.
- Our neighbors who live in others towns across the globe.
- Our extended family members.
- Our enemies who constantly oppose us.
- Our ‘those’ who sin differently than we (do).
LIVING, BREATHING PEOPLE.
We, the Body of Christ, are to walk in God’s will, to live on purpose—God’s Purpose—to share the Gospel of Christ with people who we will meet TODAY.
GOD KNEW (Way Back When HE Created Us) TODAY WOULD COME TO US
Consider that for a moment.
Consider how God’s hands actually took our body & specifically placed us in a place on earth
WHERE HE DESIRED FOR US TO LIVE & BREATHE!
CONSIDER HOW—WE SERVE A GOD WHO HAS THE POWER & AUTHORITY—WHO DID JUST THAT!
In writing a “Thanksgiving” for the believers living in Thessalonica, the apostle Paul wrote these words.
The Word of God says—
“For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything.
(1 Thessalonians 1: 8-10 NASB)
For they themselves report about us what kind of reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God,
and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead,
that is Jesus,
who rescues us from the wrath to come.”
JESUS IS COMING AGAIN—FOR EACH OF US!
- Maybe today will be my day to go home to heaven to be with the Lord.
- Maybe today will be your day to meet Jesus.
- Maybe today will be the day the prophets of old spoke of throughout the generations.
- Maybe today will be the day Jesus Raptures the church.
- Maybe today will be the day a lost neighbor will face his own demise.
- Maybe today will be the beginning of the Great Tribulation.
- MAYBE TODAY IS THE DAY THAT ONLY GOD KNOWS! Are we 100% ready to meet the Lord?
JESUS IS COMING AGAIN—Let us be confessing our sins & Let us be evangelistic, energetic, on-fire, bold, courageous, Gospel-focused, transformed & audacious in our ‘calling,’ for that is exactly what—JESUS HIMSELF COMMISSIONS HIS DISCIPLES TO DO!