Gleanings From The Word

Category: Forgiveness

  • The Call You Can’t Ignore

    The Call You Can’t Ignore

    A bugling Elk - The call you can't ignore

    There are some distinctive sounds. In an urban area, it might be a smoke detector, a police or ambulance siren. In the wilderness, it might be the bugle of an elk, the howl of a timber wolf or the laugh of a loon. There is a call that we must not ignore, the call to repent.

    All of us are sinners in need of God’s grace. None of us can redeem ourselves in God’s eyes. That’s only made possible by accepting the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made on our behalf. We recognize our sins and inability to remedy the situation. Then we repent and accept Jesus’ sacrifice by faith.

    It sounds easy. Salvation is free for the asking, but in truth, the vast majority of people will reject the call. Everyone hears it, but most are willing to walk away. We are without excuse.

    For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, both His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. Romans 1:18-20

    Despite the call to repent.The people of Jesus’ day even rejected Him directly.

    There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens everyone. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to what was His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. John 1:9-11

    That might discourage us from calling people to repent and accept Jesus. Yet the very next line in John’s gospel makes it worthwhile.

    But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13

    For those who will repent and turn, the rewards are both incredible and eternal. We must continue to proclaim the truth even though most will reject it.

    The Holy Spirit transforms hearts, but God has called His church to be beacons of light, evangelists, and proclaimers of truth. He alone is responsible for the results, but you and I are blessed to share in bringing people rewards beyond measure.

    We testify to the truth in word and deed. We testify through our love for those in and out of the church. We proclaim the call to repent and accept Jesus

    We pray for those we love, but we also pray for and forgive our enemies.

    The work the LORD has done in our lives and continues to do calls out to a dark and hurting world. Do not despair, my dear friends, some will hear the call and open their hearts.

    Hallelu Yah (Praise God) 

    Be blessed 

    Kevin 

    Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone) 

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    SUMMARY

    God makes Himself known to every person through creation and conscience, leaving no one without excuse — yet most will still reject the call to repent. For those who do respond, the reward is becoming children of God, making the proclamation always worth it.

    KEY POINTS

    Every person hears God’s call to repent, but most will suppress the truth and walk away 

    Salvation is free by faith in Christ’s sacrifice, yet rejection — even of Jesus Himself — is the more common response 

    The few who receive Him make continued proclamation of the gospel eternally worthwhile

    You might enjoy “New every morning” or ” The gospel, the best news you will ever hear.”

  • Is Christianity Too Narrow? What critics miss about the gospel.

    Is Christianity Too Narrow? What critics miss about the gospel.

    A narrow uphill trail in the woods - Is Christianity Too Narrow? What critics miss about the gospel.

    We hiked up the mountain through the forest. The trail wasn’t very wide, at places almost non-existent.  We had two choices: use the path or scramble up where there was no path. We chose the narrow path.

    Now, if you have been a Christian for any length of time, that phrase narrow way reminded you of a Bible passage (perhaps in whole, or maybe just the idea).

    Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. Matthew 7:13

    In other places, Jesus makes it abundantly clear that the only way is through faith in Him. There is no other plan.

    Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me. John 14:3

    That has led to charges that Christianity itself is very narrow. Those charges have merit; there is only one way, and it doesn’t get any narrower than that. That’s God’s plan. He created everything, and He gets to make the rules. There is a narrow path.

    There are some things that the complainers don’t recognize.

    Firstly, without Jesus, there is no way to be forgiven and reconciled to God at all. He would have been perfectly righteous and just to allow everyone to perish in their sins. That’s fair punishment for rebellion against the king.

    Jesus didn’t have to come to redeem us. He chose to, and that is incredible love and unmerited grace.

    Secondly. While some may claim that the way of Christ is exclusive by its one-way nature, it’s also the least exclusive club in the world.

    The way of Christ is open to people of any age, from any culture, of either gender, from all socio-economic backgrounds, and at any level of sin. You don’t have to be religious enough, righteous enough or good enough. You don’t need lots of money or education to enter through the narrow path.

    You can’t earn your way in by good works. You can’t buy your way in. You can’t be born in. It has one requirement, faith in Christ, and even the worst among us have an opportunity to choose that.

    Christians are not people who have their act together. They are flawed people who are being transformed into the image of Christ. They will let you down. They may be hypocritical. They might look very much like Jesus. Then again, neither do you.

    The difference is that they responded to Christ by faith and were redeemed.

    Churches are messy places, but God will clean them up. The world outside the church is equally flawed, but without Christ, it will never get better.

    Narrow? Absolutely!

    Exclusive? Hardly!

    God calls, and we have a choice to make. Will we respond, take the narrow path, and follow Him ,or will we reject Him?

    Hallelu Yah (Praise God) 

    Be blessed 

    Kevin 

    You might also like. “Enter through the narrow gate.”

    SUMMARY

    A narrow mountain trail becomes a vivid illustration of Jesus’ teaching about the narrow way to salvation — one path, one requirement, one Savior. Though Christianity is rightly called narrow, it is paradoxically the most inclusive invitation in the world.

    TAKEAWAY

    • The narrow way is real and intentional: Jesus is unambiguous that faith in Him is the only path to the Father, and God, as Creator, has the right to set that condition.
    • Narrow doesn’t mean exclusive: The way of Christ is open to every person regardless of age, background, culture, wealth, or depth of sin — the only requirement is faith.
    • Grace, not fairness, is the starting point: God owed humanity no rescue; that Jesus came to redeem us at all is an act of extraordinary love and unmerited grace.

    You might also like “The Gospel, the best news you will ever hear” and “The call you can’t ignore.”