ON BEING GHOSTED!

Sunday, March 3, 2019

ON BEING GHOSTED!

John 6:66-67

66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

           I am a bit slow in keeping up with current terms, but I’ve just learned a new one. It is called being “ghosted.” You may not know the term but you know the action. It is being suddenly shunned by friends without any explanation.

           Jesus experienced it when he presented a teaching that was difficult to understand. Huge crowds followed Him when He was distributing food but they “walked no more with Him” when he presented challenging truth.

           Pastors should be immune to the emotions associated with being “ghosted” but we are not. It happens frequently. A couple will have marital trouble and the pastor, and often the church, will be “ghosted” by both parties. The pastor and church are the very ones who can help to provide healing but those who suffer “walk no more with us.” It must be a form of insanity.

           Being “ghosted” is simply being rejected without any indictment and without rebuttal. Christians – church members – are not supposed to act this way. Jesus said:  Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. Matt 18:15

Ps 27:9-10

9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.

Dear Lord, let me be a true friend to my friends and let me not hide myself from you. AMEN

A FEELING OF FUTILITY!

Saturday, March 2, 2019

 A FEELING OF FUTILITY!

2 Cor 2:14-16

14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

           Paul acknowledged that the same gospel which saved some damned others. He uses an illustration of the Roman army returning from a victorious campaign. As the pagan Roman priests burned incense along the way the aroma was a sweet smell of victory to some but a smell of death to the captives. They were on their way to the arena to be killed by beasts for sport.

           In near despair, Paul asks: “And who is sufficient for these things?” I have felt the same way at times. Our calling and our desire is that our gospel herald a sweet aroma but, for those who reject the good news, we have made their lives more miserable by pointing out their doom.

           Moreover, the gospel may save a man but his past sins may have scarred him and marred him. He limps along wearing those scars like a badge and a warning to others. While his soul is saved and secure he awaits “the redemption of the body” (Romans 8:23)

Jude 22-23

22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:

23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Lord, some are so near hell as to smell of smoke! Give me a heart of compassion and let me rely on the sufficiency of Christ. AMEN

IN LIKE A LION/LAMB!

Friday, March 1, 2019

IN LIKE A LION/LAMB!

Matt 16:3

3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring [gloomy]. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

           It is March and, when I was a kid, we had a saying about it. March is a windy month and if it “came in like a lion it would go out like a lamb.” In other words, if the early days of March were very windy then the later days of march would provide gentle breezes.

           Our seasons are about to change. Already some flowering trees are in bloom but those blossoms are in danger due to this morning’s 27 degree temperature and prediction of freezing drizzle. Winter does not surrender so easily even here in the South. We will watch the sky and pray for spring.

           Jesus chastised the religious leaders for their meteorological skills and their theological failures. Signs of the times were all around them but they couldn’t see them. They didn’t recognize Jesus as the promised Messiah so they ultimately killed him as a nuisance. He went out like a Lamb but He will return like a Lion!

Rev 5:4-5

4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

Dear Lord, the signs of your soon coming are all around us. Give us wisdom to navigate the strong winds of change. AMEN