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Gleanings From The Word

Category: discipleship

  • God sees the big picture

    small waterfall, a part of the big picture - a larger waterfall

    We spotted this lovely little waterfall a week or so ago on a drive down a local area forest service road. What you can’t see is the bigger picture. It’s a tiny section on the lower part of a waterfall that probably drops 150 feet or more.

    The area we traveled through has several reasonably large falls, and, because of the rain, dozens of beautiful seasonal falls of various sizes. I always find being near a set of falls relaxing, and seeing the water’s power reminds me of God’s power.

    Just as the image today shows a complete waterfall, but misses the big picture, so it is with our lives. We often live as if we are the center of the universe and if everything that happens is about us.

    In truth, while every one of us is loved by God, we are just one of billions of people alive today, and God only knows how many have come before us and will come after.  The thought that we are one of many shouldn’t cause us to despair.

    God created each and every one of us in his own image. Every single one of us is uniquely crafted and gifted by God. Each of us has a divine purpose to fulfill in bringing about God’s kingdom. Knowing that should bring us joy.

    The person we are today isn’t who we were in the past, and it’s not who we will be in the future. I’m not the man I was 10 or 20 years ago, nor will I be the same in 10 or 20 years from now.

    The big picture of who we are in God’s economy is something we can’t yet see. I hope it will be revealed in glory, but even if it isn’t, we will be able to rejoice in our fellowship with Him, and in the wonder that He chose to love us and adopt us as his children.

    We get a fresh start when we become believers

    “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.” I John 5:1

    …  since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; … 1 Peter 1 ESV

    The Lord will finish the work He started in us. The final big picture will be something more amazing than we can ever imagine, and as believers, we will get to see it.

    That’s a reason to celebrate.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    Created and Being Shaped Into His Image
    Every Member Is Necessary — 1 Corinthians 12
    Tribulation Produces Perseverance
  • Finding a Good Church

    Finding a Good Church

    White rugosa Roses

    As we walked around the lake, I commented to my companion about the roses’ sweet smell.

    He said, “I don’t smell any roses. All I can smell is those flowers over there.”

    It took me a moment, but then I understood. The roses were an old variety, simple rugosa, which looks like a wild rose. They didn’t look anything like the fancy roses you buy at the florists by the dozen. They’re very attractive in their own right, but they just look so different that without knowing, you wouldn’t even think they are related.

    It can be that way with the church. There is such a diversity in practice and in style that you’d never know that they were related. Some are incredibly ritualistic and solemn; others are very free-form and exuberant. Some have only a couple of members, while at the other extreme, the world’s biggest Christian church has more than 750,000 members. That congregation is bigger than many denominations.

    In some, the pastor wears robes and is addressed as father. In others, the pastor wears shorts and a T-shirt and is called by his first name. In some congregations, it’s a man who leads and teaches, and in others, it’s a woman.

    You’ll probably never find a “perfect” church. There will always be something that you don’t agree with, or people you don’t get along with. After all the church is full of people.

    With all the diversity, how do you know it’s a good church? There are lots of counterfeits out there who claim to be Christian or who claim to use the Bible as the source of their teaching. How do you tell the good from the bad? How do you know whether it’s a rose or a noxious weed?

    There are several good indicators.

    Their view of the Bible: a rose recognizes the Bible is truth. If they deny the truth of Scripture they are a dandelion.

    All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.  2 Timothy 3:16-17 

    Their doctrine is sound. Contrary to what many might think, sound doctrine is important.

    Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. 1 Timothy 4:16  

    A good church teaches heaven and hell. It recognizes that the only way to salvation is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

    And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men[a] by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

    A good church recognizes that we are saved by God’s grace alone.

    For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 

    A good church has a passion for the lost, and does more than talk about it.

    Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age Matthew 28:19-20  

    A good church has love.

    A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35 

    Have a look at where you are worshipping. Is it a rose or a dandelion? There are no perfect churches outside of glory, but the basics must be in place.

    Until next time, my prayer is that you find yourself affiliated with a rose.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    Some thoughts on finding a good church

    Find a good church

    Live in Abbotsford? There are many good churches. This is where I attend.

    What is the church? The hands and feet of Jesus.
    Every Member Is Necessary — 1 Corinthians 12