BIBLE IN A YEAR: Neh. 10-13
RELATIONSHIP COMPARED.
Monday February 4th, 2008
MEMORIZE: "For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother" (Matthew 12:50)
READ: Matthew 12:46-50
If you love God, when you come into His house and find the chairs dusty, you will look for a piece of cloth and wipe them clean, without necessarily blaming the ushers or sanitation people. As you take a stroll within the camp, and you see a piece of paper on the floor, you will pick it up because of love in your heart. It is wrong to litter God's house as He expects you to keep it clean always. Do you have supreme love for the Master?
"Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren" (1 John 3:16). Many of us are yet to obey this scripture. God expects us to reciprocate the love of Christ for us, by us loving our fellow brethren. That means we should demonstrate our love for Christ by the measure of love shown to the believers. Earthly relatives are bound by human blood. Heavenly relatives are bound by the blood of Jesus Christ. While the duration of the former is short lived, that of the latter is eternal. This is why Galatians 6:10 says the greatest beneficiaries of our help and love should be those of the Household of faith.
The spiritual family is superior to the earthly family. The Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated this in the gospel. While preaching, someone brought news that His mother and brothers had come to seek His audience. He clearly told them, "For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother" (Matthew 12:50). He was not denying Mary and His blood brothers of their relationship, but was trying to establish the superiority of the spiritual over physical relationships. It is possible that that was what contributed to the conversion of His family.
Very soon, the trumpet shall sound. The Lord will take anyone who is blood washed and living right according to Heaven. The Earth will face its worst moment of distress. For seven years, brothers will not know brothers. Families will turn against themselves as they face God's wrath. Finally, during the Great White Throne Judgment, family members will be parted along two eternal destinies. All right living believers will unite with others in Heaven to form the heavenly family. If you love your earthly family, lead them all to Christ, before you are eternally separated!
ACTIONPOINT: One reason you have a means of livelihood is to afford you the resources with which to mobilize members of your extended family into God's Kingdom. How well are you doing this?
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The Household of Faith
The Household of Faith, a ministry of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), was established in Chicago, Illinois in 2004.
The Pastor in Charge of the church is Pastor Akin Gbenro.
This ministry has over 250 members within the the Chicago and Indianapolis Area.
The Pastor in Charge of the church is Pastor Akin Gbenro.
This ministry has over 250 members within the the Chicago and Indianapolis Area.
The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG)
The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has a vision to spread the Word of God to the ends of the earth. It is a Bible believing church, where the teaching and a missionary approach emphasize the proper conduct and moral behavior of people. The church has an appeal to all types of people worldwide, with a determination to teach people in their various geographical areas, stages of secular life and levels of spiritual development.
The General Overseer of the church is Pastor E.A. Adeboye.
The church was founded in 1952 and since then, the church has grown to over 5,000 parishes worldwide with a total congregational strength of over one million people.
Presently, there are established missions in many African countries, as well as Europe, Asia, the United States, the Caribbean, Canada, South America and Australia.
RCCG has also been involved in establishing schools, rehabilitation centers, child care and support centers.
The General Overseer of the church is Pastor E.A. Adeboye.
The church was founded in 1952 and since then, the church has grown to over 5,000 parishes worldwide with a total congregational strength of over one million people.
Presently, there are established missions in many African countries, as well as Europe, Asia, the United States, the Caribbean, Canada, South America and Australia.
RCCG has also been involved in establishing schools, rehabilitation centers, child care and support centers.
4 comments:
What strikes me the most when reading this is that if we knew for example that our relative, friend, acquaintance or co-worker is going to be hit by a bus, we would most likely rescue them but given the reality of hell for those who are not saved, we shy away from telling these same people about Jesus. Is this a reflection of our own inherent unbelief in the reality of the danger involved in not serving God? I wonder.
You're absolutely right about the hit by a bus point. I'd do anything to protect my younger brother (I call him every time it snows or rains to tell him to drive carefully) yet every Sunday when I get up to come to church...I don't bother waking him up or wake him half-heartedly. I rationalize this by thinking "oh I'm tired of all his excuses." Excuses, which include but not limited to "You go way too early, you come back way too late, I am attending another church". After reading this, I realize now that I can't afford not to do everything in my power to change things.
I pray for God's help on this matter
Another thing I wanted to know is this...with children, you can drag them into the car without giving ears to their protestation...but what do you do with adults?
I'm throwing this out there for suggestions.
yea...God Help us, again! lol..we do need God rite?
i like b.Mike's point tho...
but sis. shola....hmm i really dont kno...i think d only thing u can do for him is to keep praying and TRY not to get tired of his xcuses and keep talking/telling him abt going to church. Prayer does wonders..it could take forever, but patience is d key.
Pray fervently..and God in His infinite mercies will have mercy on Him.
and i really cant put my finger on y its so freakin hard to tell ur family member abt dem going in d path of destruction. i mean, yea, devil will do alot to get many people in his domain but...God will help us is all i can say.
Prayer, prayer, prayer...and a lil bit of talk..and God's WISDOM.
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