Category: Gospel

  • Running Late

    Come to Jesus while there is still time

    A man looking at his watch with a panicked expression, he's running late

    The sound of the alarm going off this morning  reminded me of a morning many years ago. That morning, too, started with the sound of the alarm.

    I was a little tired, so I hit the snooze button. And again. Now, I was running a few minutes behind, but things were still manageable. I spilled the coffee as I filled the pot. Another minute gone. So it went. There were more annoyances here and there, but I managed to get ready. 

    I headed for the doors. Darn! Where were my keys? I searched frantically, overturning everything in my wake, and finally found them. Now, I was really late and stressed, too.

    I stepped out the door to find snow. I had to brush and scrape the car off. Where was the scraper? Another few minutes lost. Finally, I was on the road. 

    Red light at the first intersection and the second. By now, my stress levels were getting high, and I was mumbling very unchristian and unking words at traffic lights and crazy drivers.

    I pulled into the parking lot just in time for the day, but I was stressed and grouchy. My entire day was off-kilter.

    Can anyone relate?

    Jesus told a parable about being late. It’s well worth reading.

    “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. Matthew 25:1-13 ESV

    He is coming back. That won’t be the time to be scrambling and running later. Are you ready?

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

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  • Building Bridges

    Christians are called to be bridge builders.

    a plank bridge over a rushing stream
    Plank Bridge

    It had been a steep hike down into the valley. At the  bottom, a stream blocked our way to the tiny Southeast Asian village. The water was cold, and the current strong. 

    It was too wide for even our group’s youngest and most athletic to jump safely. There is no way that those of us who were less than that young and athletic would ever have made the jump, at least not without getting very wet in the middle of the stream.

    There were two spots where a trail of rocks made it appear relatively easy to cross, and several of us made a go of it. A couple of us got across (including me, which surprised me. I usually managed to get wet feet in a situation like that), but several of us got wet feet or fell in. 

    About that time, someone from the village saw that we had arrived and brought out a long board that they laid across the stones and allowed the rest of the group to cross on.

    Apparently, they just put out the bridge when they knew someone was coming. When no one was coming, they brought it in to keep unwanted visitors out and the bridge from washing away when the seasonal rains raised the river level. Since we arrived a little early, the “bridge” hadn’t been set out yet.

    A simple bridge made a huge difference.

    Christians are called to be bridge builders.

    We are to tell others about Jesus to aid in bridging the gap between them and Jesus. Holy Spirit does the work of conversion; we simply help lay down the bridge timbers by sharing the truth and the way we live our lives.

    We are to build bridges of peace and reconciliation. We are to build bridges of love. We are to build bridges into a hostile world and self-centered culture in order that people might find the truth.

    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

    Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:20-21

    For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?[And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” Romans 10:13-15

    If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Romans 12:18

    Preaching is more than standing behind the pulpit declaring the truth. All of us are preachers. We proclaim Jesus by the way we treat others and the way we live our lives. 

    When our witness is loving and consistent, we preach well. We are poor preachers when we are less than loving or no different than the world.

    We build bridges to a hurting world when we preach, either by word or deed. Some bridges are safe and inviting and some cause people to look toward alternate routes.

    Until next time, what kind of bridges are you building?

    Kevin

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