I spend a lot of time looking online for good posts to share. A few years ago, I began collecting pictures to share with a private group I belong to called Back View (thanks Beth Bacod). I’ve posted thousands of these with my “Good News to Share” stories or as part of a captioned series to glorify GOD. I also started sharing the pictures with my stories and the series on my own pages and with other groups to which I belong. Thankfully there are plenty of good pictures available and with a few exceptions my posts were well received. Why do you do that? Because it’s not all about me!
I’ve noticed a disturbing trend appearing in Christian posts and sadly it reflects popular teaching in many Churches. The posts are mostly self-centered. If it’s a prayer, too often they ask GOD to bless them, their finances, their stuff, heal their bodies and their family. If they are thankful, it’s limited to blessings they’ve received. I can understand how new converts might think that way, with the emphasis on how much GOD loves them (John 3:16) and that JESUS died to save them (Rom 5:8) but many of them should be spiritually mature by now!
Isn’t their self-centered gratitude better than nothing? Has “better than nothing” become our standard? Don’t get me wrong. That they are saved (hopefully), praying in faith, and thankful for GOD’s blessings is a great first step, but that’s only the beginning. After you get saved and the blessings of GOD belong to you, they aren’t yours just so you can enjoy your life. They are for you to glorify GOD, defeat the enemy and point the lost to JESUS.
When I hear people say they don’t need to go to Church to serve GOD, I can see they haven’t gotten the heart of GOD yet. Yes, a few people can’t attend regular Church services and still can walk in obedience, but very few. We are told to “consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Heb 10:24-25 KJV). That’s putting others before yourself. That’s why you should be in Church, even if you don’t need it (actually, you do), go to encourage, to give support, and to minister to others. That’s not my job! JESUS told us “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Why?) “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15-16 KJV). Part of that world we are sent to is found in your Church and you may be the difference between them going to Heaven or Hell!
I’m not called to be a Pastor, teacher, or a missionary! There are many ways you can help and support the Pastor, teachers, and missionaries but JESUS called you to “Feed my sheep” (John 21:16 KJV). Once you “receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8 KJV) and that covers your community, and GOD can use you to do some of that through your Church! That’s why it isn’t all about you but what GOD wants to do through you if you will obey and let Him!
Wayne Lance – That’s Good News to Share!