So good to hear about all of our unique faith stories that were shared last Tuesday. Awesome that no one can tell us that God has not done anything for us -- for we live with and for His changes everyday!
The discussion about Paul's testimony (v.15) revealing something about God's grace and mercy was AWESOME. If He know every hair on our head before we are conceived, why did God allow Saul to persecute His followers and then convert him to Paul? God has some kind of patience.
How zealous are you? Have you lost your passion for Christ, how can you get it back? I shared some tough things that I had been reading in Crazy Love regarding Lukewarm Christians. Francis Chan believes that this saying "Lukewarm Christian" is an oxymoron. Revelation 3:15-18, Jesus says:
I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, "I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing." But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white robes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
Tough words for sure. We attempted to examine what zealousness is. But maybe it our modern understanding of lukewarm that needs correction. Jesus is saying to the church that because they are lukewarm, He is going to spit them out of His mouth. There is no gentle rendering of the word spit in Greek. This is the only time it is used in the New Testament, and it connotes gagging, hurling, retching. Many people read this passage and assume Jesus is speaking to saved people. Why?
When you read this passage, do you naturally conclude that to be "spit" out of Jesus' mouth means you're a part of His kingdom? When you read the words "wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked," do you think that He was describing saints? When He counsels them to "buy white clothes to wear" in order to cover their "shameful nakedness," does it sound like advice for those already saved? (Crazy Love, Francis Chan, pgs. 84-85)
Some things to ponder for sure ... until next week!
Stay Strong
Gal 6:9-10
Rob
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