Sunday, March 10, 2013

How many of us REFUSE to believe enough to OBEY?!


Chapter 3 -Single-Minded Obedience  (continued)

Bonhoeffer- 'When He was challenged by Jesus to accept a life of voluntary poverty, the rich young man knew he was faced with the simple alternative of obedience or disobedience.

When Levi was called from the receipt of custom and Peter from his nets, there was no doubt that Jesus meant business.

Both of them were to leave everything and follow.

Again, when Peter was called to walk on the rolling sea, he had to get up and risk his life.

Only one thing was required in each case-- to rely on Christ's word, and cling to it as offering greater security than all the securities in the world.

The forces which tried to interpose themselves between the word of Jesus and the response of obedience were as formidable then as they are to-day.

Reason and conscience, responsibility and piety all stood in the way, and even the law and "scriptural authority" itself were obstacles which pretended to defend them from going to the extremes of antinomianism (((Antinomianism in Christianity is the belief that under the gospel dispensation of grace, moral law is of no use or obligation because faith alone is necessary to salvation.))))  and "enthusiasms."  But the call of Jesus made short work of all these barriers, and created obedience. That call was the Word of God himself, and all that it required was single-minded obedience.'

My thoughts--

'Only one thing was required in each case-- to rely on Christ's word, and cling to it as offering greater security than all the securities in the world. '

TRUTH!

Mat_6:20  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal

No treasure here on earth offers us any security at all.

We are under the delusion that we can amass great riches and we'll be security but you know what, you will only be secure in things that ultimately mean NOTHING. 

There is only ONE thing that matters in THIS life- LOVE- and the result of that TRUE LOVE- Eternal life with Jesus Christ our Savior.  We cannot have LOVE without knowing Christ's forgiveness.  This is the ONLY thing that matters- JESUS.   Jesus is the ONLY security we have and yet Satan has convinced us that we can find security in this world, in things of this world. 

The rich young ruler was told to give up his wealth but to him the wealth was his security in life and in all.  He couldn't give up that security even for eternal life! He was speaking with the SAVIOR, he was speaking with God's SON and he refused to obey Him. Face to face with GOD and he refused to believe Him! 

How many of us REFUSE to believe enough to OBEY?!

How many of refuse to truly believe the SAVIOR is our ONLY SECURITY?

The Apostles were mostly martyred - does this mean their faith failed them? That God let them down because they suffered?  NO! 

THIS IS TRUTH- Php_3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ

ALL THINGS but Christ mean NOTHING!

Truly ALL THINGS- even our own LIVES!

Bonhoeffer- 'Only one thing was required in each case-- to rely on Christ's word, and cling to it as offering greater security than all the securities in the world. '

TRUTH!

Bonhoeffer-'That call was the Word of God himself, and all that it required was single-minded obedience.'

TRUTH!

By the Grace of God my we TRULY make Jesus our ONLY security.

Money will tempt us!
Food will tempt us!
A roof over our heads will tempt us!
Safety will tempt us!
Pain will tempt us!
Contentment will tempt us!
Others will tempt us!
Loved ones will tempt us!
Our jobs will tempt us!

So much will tempt us to put it/them before JESUS, telling us all the while that Jesus will understand.

Jesus calls us to OBEY Him! OBEY! And when we FAIL to obey and continue in a life of willful disobedience then we are turning our backs on CHRIST'S LOVE!

Oh, how tragic it is going to be when millions of people see Jesus Christ and because they've lived a life in direct disobedience to Christ and His Word, they hear Him tell them He never knew them. They've deluded themselves into believing that they don't have to obey just because they believe. They forget these verses-

Jas 2:17  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jas 2:18  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Jas 2:19  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Jas 2:20  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

The works with faith are OBEDIENCE, they go hand in hand, one without the other does NOT work.

Please LORD, help us to make this a reality when we are confronted with all the things that would tempt us away from YOU!

By YOUR LOVE, YOUR GRACE!


No comments: