Father, I ask that You calm my mind and my spirit. I am struggling with components for Sunday’s service. I know You have the answer and trust You to guide me. Amen.
Luke 9:18-20 (<<click to read the passage)
As I read through these couple of verses, a saying, about the Church, came to mind and when I Googled it, I discovered the saying in a different context, but it was still very powerful.
On January 5th, 1967 the newly elected governor of California gave his inaugural address. Actor-turned-politician Ronald Reagan stated, “Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation…”
I have heard it said that the Church is never more than one generation away for extinction. Now while I do not believe that will ever happen – for the Church is the body of Christ and it is eternal! – it is still unnerving to see the Church’s ebb and flow over time.
The second sentence in that quote is very applicable to the body of Christ, as well. [The Church] is not ours by inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation
Jesus pressed his disciples, when they finally had a moment alone together, who they thought He was. He asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
And without the slightest hesitation, Peter replied, “The Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) of God!”
All of us who believe Jesus to be the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed of God have had to come to that point where we own that belief for ourselves. Our parents might have pointed us in the right direction…but that belief was not ours by inheritance.
And as the old song goes, It’s Not an Easy Road. Following Jesus is the most fulfilling, most satisfying, most comforting thing we could ever do with our lives but is far from easy…it must be fought for and defended constantly.
And I’m not even hinting at taking a stand for our faith against forces from without… I truly believe, if we are honest with ourselves, that the fight is most fierce against the forces from within.
The devil and his followers have so warped and distorted this world and have done everything they can to twist the Truth to fit their degenerate mindsets. And we…and every generation that follows…are in the thick of it.
Is it not a challenge to keep ourselves pure as we sludge through the depravity all about us? I tell you from experience…it is not possible! Only as we allow ourselves to be enfolded into Jesus and His power, His love, His strength, can we have hope to be victorious
So, the question remains. Jesus looks us square in the eye and asks, “Who do you say I am?”
Apr 9th, 2020, Thurs, 9:23 pm
