Challenge to the Church
Matthew 6:23
I might be close to the Kingdom but not in it.
I can make a choice to change what God wants me to change. I can’t change others. Am I listening and paying attention to God when he speaks to me?
1 John 1:1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8
John was close to Jesus. He knew Jesus intimately. He saw when the Gospel began to be perverted or used for personal gain or to deceive. He was seeing things that would break fellowship. He said, “I’m not just bringing you another religion. This will put you in fellowship with God.” When we have true fellowship with the Father, we can have fellowship with the others. It will produce joy.
Am I willing to be obedient in every aspect of my life? Am I willing to walk in all the light God shows me? As the church, we have to be willing to move forward and walk in the light.
I have the ability and choice to be disobedient. I should be able to still be convicted. This is not just for the sinner. I can offend God if He talks to my heart and I hide behind religion.
I can’t change someone else or force someone else to consider this, but I can move up if I see something in myself. I need to be willing for God to cleanse me from everything. I can’t override God's conviction and expect Him to bless me.
Am I walking in the light God has shown me? If God shows me to make changes - tradition or lineage doesn’t matter - he cleanses from all unrighteousness. If God talks to me and I resist, it is as if I make God a liar. I must be humble.
At times it’s hard to look at others who have offended me; I may question if they are godly. Instead, I must consider - have I ever offended anyone? Can I make that right?
Am I harboring something in my heart that I can’t let go? Situations will not heal until I let God get rid of things. Friction between brothers affect those inside and outside the church. If we all listen to God and walk in the light, much can be fixed.
The devil loves accusations. Did God tell me I did something wrong? God doesn’t play games. He will make it clear.
1 John 2:1,2,3
When God talks, make the move. I cannot make it on my own. Jesus can’t be a propitiation for sins if I am not walking in what He’s shown me. I know Him if I keep His commandments.
John 8:8
The religious people who brought the woman in were convicted by the words of Jesus, but they all left. They felt they did not need Jesus; their own theology and traditions were good enough. When Jesus talks to me, do I walk out when my heart convicts me?
After his vision on the rooftop, Peter refused to “eat,” even when it came from God. But, in the end, he was willing to change his religious attitude. Be careful what you say to God.
Revelation 3:17
This describes lifting up men rather than God. And a people who have need of nothing. God says they were the total opposite of what they thought they were. He wants me to be humble and realize my dependency. The rich young ruler also felt like he didn’t need anything. We’ll receive nothing if we think we don’t need anything.
Don’t be stuck in a time or a doctrine. Don’t ignore what Jesus taught or disobey His words to support a religious practice. Be willing to be humble and walk in the light as He is in the light.
