Exile and Restoration

Sometimes we need a good talking to and then sometimes it takes more than that. When I was a youngster, I needed some discipline occasionally. My dad could give me the look, and I would change my actions. If I didn't change my actions, he would give me the voice, and I would stop what I was doing. If I didn't stop what I was doing, then I would experience the belt. The belt never failed to make the change. I know in some circumstances, children have to be sent away because nothing the parent does changes destructive behaviors. I can't imagine the heartbreak associated with watching your child go away.

Parents that love their children, the ones that take the responsibility seriously, know that discipline is a necessary part of parenting. It is never easy and it is never enjoyable. God is that way. He loves all His children. He wants the best for each of us. But when we "leave the farm", He lovingly disciplines and hopes that we learn our lessons and come home. In our reading today, we learn that the children of Israel have been so rebellious that God has sent them away... into exile and captivity. The nation that God is using to exercise His punishment is Babylonia.

In Jeremiah 50, God sends a message to His people letting them know that their discipline will not last forever. He tells them that Babylon will be captured and punished. For the children of Israel, this must have been news that they longed to hear. They had learned their lesson and they would never again worship idols. The God of their fathers would be the only God they would serve. Jeremiah puts it like this...
In those days and in that time, declares the Lord, the people of Israel and the people of Judah shall come together, weeping as they come, and they shall seek the Lord their God. They shall ask the way to Zion, with faces turned toward it, saying, ‘Come, let us join ourselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenant that will never be forgotten.’

God says that when Babylonia is overthrown, His people will turn back to Him. They will, with tear filled eyes, seek the LORD their God. They will want to go home! They will seek God and be obedient to His will and join themselves to Him in an everlasting covenant. Lesson learned. The belt can be put away! The exile has accomplished the desired change and the child is coming home. Restoration is at hand.

Today, multiplied millions live in exile from the LORD. Their sin has separated them from the Father. They don't share in the beautiful life that the kingdom offers. They are living under the rule of an evil king. And just like when His people were living in exile and he sent a savior from the north to rescue His people, He has sent a Savior to rescue those in exile. (Gal 1:3-5)  He sent His Son to free those living in captivity (Eph 4: 8). God loves every person! (John 3:16) He sent His son to die for every person. He doesn't want anyone to remain in exile. He wants everyone to come home. (Matthew 18:14; 2 Peter 3:9)

God loves you. He wants you to come out of exile and enjoy a restored relationship with Him. He paid the price for that restoration, all we have to do is recognize where we are and turn to Him. If you are not His, you are living in exile. He calls us to see our sinfulness and change our direction (repentance) and to be immersed in baptism for the forgiveness of sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16) He adds you to His body, His kingdom (Acts 2:47) and calls you to a faithful life (Revelation 2:10). The choice is ours, the battle has been won, we are free to go home. What will you do with His invitation?
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. (Revelation 22:16-18)

Obedience Is A Choice

(Jeremiah 35:1-19)

It only makes sense... when we are faced with a decision that requires us to obey or disobey, we must choose. The Old Testament is filled with stories of both, obedience and disobedience. The Israelites would disobey God, He would send them a prophet to call them back into obedience. Some would listen and turn from their unfaithfulness and others went on their merry way. But it was always their choice. In the passage that we are reading today, God uses the example of the Recabites to demonstrate that people have the ability to be obedient, even to another human.

This group of people had been faithful to a command of their forefather, Jonadab for generations.
But they said, “We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, ‘You shall drink no wine, you nor your sons, forever.  You shall not build a house, sow seed, plant a vineyard, nor have any of these; but all your days you shall dwell in tents, that you may live many days in the land where you are sojourners.’  Thus we have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, or our daughters,  nor to build ourselves houses to dwell in; nor do we have vineyard, field, or seed.  But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us. (Jeremiah 35: 6-10)
The Recabites had made the decision, each one individually and each generation, to be faithful to the teaching of  Jonadab. They had not built homes, tasted wine, sown seed or planted a vineyard; rather, they had lived in tents and lived as sojourners. I am sure that many a wife had said, "I would really like to live in a  house of my own" and many a man had said, "I would really like to have a garden to feed my family". But because they chose to be faithful to the teaching, they lived differently.

God uses these people to tell the children of Israel that they have the ability to choose to be obedient to Him. If generations of Recabites can live by the word of a man, surely His people can live by His words.
“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, “Will you not receive instruction to obey My words?” says the Lord.  “The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, which he commanded his sons, not to drink wine, are performed; for to this day they drink none, and obey their father’s commandment. But although I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking, you did not obey Me.  I have also sent to you all My servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, ‘Turn now everyone from his evil way, amend your doings, and do not go after other gods to serve them; then you will dwell in the land which I have given you and your fathers.’ But you have not inclined your ear, nor obeyed Me. Surely the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them, but this people has not obeyed Me.”’ (Jeremiah 35:13-16)

I understand God's frustration. He gives them chance after chance to listen and change... but they don't obey. Thankfully, we have a patient God, One that calls repeatedly and gives us chance after chance to listen and obey. Peter puts it this way...But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:8,9) He wants everyone to listen and obey! He wants everyone to be saved! And so He patiently waits. He patiently calls everyone to repent and be be converted. (Acts 2: 36-41) But He leaves the choice up to us... just as he always has. He calls and we choose to hear or we choose to shut our ears.

If you are not a Christian, I encourage you to open your ears to the life saving, life giving message of the gospel. Jesus paid the price for your sins and He calls you to obedience. Hear the message of Christ; believe that Jesus is God's Son and that He died for you, repent of your sins, turn to follow Him, confess His name before men, be immersed in baptism for the forgiveness of your sins, receive the Holy Spirit and be raised to walk as a new creation to live out a life of faithfulness to God. If you are a Christian and have chosen to walk away from God, may you choose to listen again, be restored to the Father and determine to hear His voice once again. God is patient, but He will not wait forever...

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,  looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? (2 Peter 3:10-12) These verses are right after Peter's plea in verses 8 and 9. He makes it clear, God doesn't want any to perish... He is patient... he keeps His promise and He calls us to repentance. Then He tells us that time is running out... what are you waiting for?

I Am A Sinophobe

So I went and ate a chicken sandwich yesterday at Chick-fil-a and found out today that I am a homophobe and a hater. It is becoming more difficult to stand for Biblical truth in these United States. Jesus would have a tough time here and now, just like he did then and there. But as a believer, I am called to accept the teaching of the Bible, all of it and to tell others. That is what a Christian is to do! (Matthew 28:18-20) Along the way, we will be called all kinds of things. (John 15:20)


I understand that the Old Testament was a covenant established between the Jews and God, so I don't keep the old law. Many of them were designed to help  them understand principles that God was trying to teach them, so in our circumstances today, many of those laws don't make sense to us. I listened to a lady speak on television last night and she brought out many old testament laws that seem ridiculous to us today as a demonstration that we should not accept any of the Bible. She demonstrated a complete lack of understanding of God's word, but to the novice her argument probably made a lot of sense.


To that point, as a nation we are very Bible illiterate. While sitting with many folks and discussing God's word, I have found that few know where to find a particular book or why the Bible is divided into two "testaments". Our lack of knowledge causes us great difficulty. In Hosea 4:6. God tells us that "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." When we don't study and learn God's world view, we will accept another world view that is in conflict with our Creator. As a Christian, I have no choice on this matter. I have made Jesus lord of my life and I am His disciple, so what He teaches on a subject is what I will believe about that subject. Period, end of story!


I think it is important to understand that Jesus confronted sin whenever He encountered it and called for people to change their lives. He would tell them to "go and sin no more". He didn't leave them where they were, He called them to leave their sin behind and change. He would be called a hater today. He called on the woman caught in adultery to quit committing adultery... hater! He confronted the "woman at the well" about her cohabitation with a man that was not her husband... hater! To the man he healed by the pool of Bethesda... sin no more... hater! The main point of the Bible is to reveal God's will to us and to enable us to change our behaviors and be restore to Him... if we choose to.


The Bible is clear when it comes to homosexuality. The New Testament is clear that homosexuality is sinful...

Matthew 19:1-8 — Did Jesus say anything about homosexuality? Of course, when asked about marriage, Jesus issued a sweeping condemnation of all sexual relationships outside of the male/female model established in Gen 1:27, which he specifically cited.

Romans 1:18-32 — Though most of the passages deal with the male perspective, for the first time there is a specific mention of female homosexuality. And as the verdict comes in, we discover it too is a depraved condition brought on by a sinful nature.

1Cor 6:9-11—The only passage of scripture that clearly acknowledges former (ex) homosexuals in the church. They are listed along with other ex-sinners who have been changed by the power of Christ. It is certain that Paul knew there were former homosexuals in his local church and he celebrated their freedom in Christ Jesus. With a completely different tone in comparison to the volume of harsh, negative reaction to the unrepentant homosexuality, scripture here ends with the tremendous hope and goodness of God.

Galatians 5:19 — Many areas that the apostle traveled to take the gospel indeed were very accepting of homosexual practices, yet he did not back away from communicating the sinfulness of such practice. Corinth, Ephesus and Rome as well as other major cities of the ancient world, were all too often cesspools of all forms of sexual immorality. Undeterred, Paul drew from sources familiar to him and forged them with New Testament teachings of God’s grace to forgive and cleanse. In the letter to the Galatians, he teaches that the “works [not plurality] of the flesh are manifest. The flesh or sinful human nature is always considered and enemy to God.

Ephesians 5:3-7— Paul repeats his warnings against “uncleaness” to the church at Ephesus.

Colossians 3:5-7 — Paul issues his third warning against “uncleaness” to the church at Colosse. This time he adds instructions on overcoming/controlling the sin. Believers are to mortify or deaden themselves and exercise self-control (a fruit of the Spirit) over such actions. Homosexuals claim that denying the free expression of homosexuality is "suppressing one's true self", but scripture clearly instructs that we are hold our bodies in check and refuse it participation in sexual immorality. This passage further emphasizes that no one should expect to escape the “wrath of God” except they repent.

1 Tim 1:10 — the law was not made for the righteous, but for the “lawless and disobedient.” The law (of Moses) encompassed the ceremonial, judicial and moral components of human interaction. Christ neutralized the ceremonial aspects but upheld the judicial and moral aspects, tendered with grace and mercy. Hence, homosexuality remains a sin "worthy of death" but yet qualified for forgiveness through repentance. The phrase Paul uses “defiling themselves with mankind” is another link of homosexual behavior to disobedience and incompatible to sound or acceptable Christian doctrine.

Titus 1:16 — This is an aggressive attack and exposure of the psychosis of those who are “defiled” and commit “abominations". Again, let us identify the source of the Apostle Paul’s strong condemnation. When one accepts what God has pronounced abominable (by God’s own definition) and rejects the created model which God has pronounced good, a process of hardening and mental perversion begins to take root in the mind. Such is the danger of justifying sin. Sin corrupts the mind and conscience (the seat of individual integrity and morality) rendering it incapable of making spiritually sound decisions.

Jude 1:4,7,19 — Jude reveals that like the Sodomites, certain men in the church had gone after “strange flesh.” I believed Jude was describing contemporary "gay Christians". His choice of phraseology is a combination of two words: heteros and sarx meaning “another flesh with the same quality.” His inclusion of the word flesh pointed to the homosexuality (not the inhospitality) of the Sodomites. Similar to the Apostle Paul, Jude selected strong language to convey the serious of the charge facing the church. Allowing unrepentant homosexuals into Christian fellowship without applying the same standards of admission applied to other sinners would be a spiritual death nail for the church. Repentance is one of the major actions a sinner must take to be accepted into the family of God.

Rev 21:27—The final book of the Bible, denouncements all forms of homosexual conduct. From Genesis to Revelation, the Word of God firmly establishes the sinfulness of homosexuality, but it also provides a wide opportunity for repentance and redemption through Jesus Christ. Homosexuality, as seen through the eyes of scripture is a spiritual aberration and a disease of the soul. It produces nothing life giving, in essence it is the opposite of the nature of God who is life.

As a Christian, my beliefs about all sin is dictated by the teaching of the Bible. I am a sinophobe! I believe that all sin is bad (mine included) and that God calls us from our sinful choices to right choices. If I believe that the Bible is true and that sin separates people from God, the greatest act of love I can show a fellow human is to tell them that and to call them out of sin and into a relationship with God. On the other hand, it would seem that leaving someone in their sin, without knowledge of God's will is better labeled hate.

So call me a hater if you must, but Jesus was a bigger hater than me... if you believe that confronting sin and calling for change is hateful. 1 John 3:16 tells us that  By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. Jesus laid down His life to pay for our sins and we ought to be in the business of laying down our lives to bring others to Him. Jesus tells us that the second greatest command is "love your neighbor as yourself". If you care enough about yourself that you confront sin in your life and make the changes that He calls you to, then loving others means that you want them out of their sins also.

The world is upside down... the lovers of others are called haters and those that care nothing about your eternal soul are call lovers. Do I care enough to tell the person in adultery... go and sin no more? Do I care enough to tell the couple living together outside of marriage... go and sin no more? Do I care enough to tell the liar, the thief, the alcoholic, the prostitute... go and sin no more? Do I love the person trapped in the sin of homosexuality enough to tell them... go and sin no more? Jesus would do it. He would love them deeply; He would love them too much not to call them out of their sinful life choice. In our world today, He would be a hater. May you and I be like Him.

God Can Change His Mind

Today's reading contains some interesting information about our God... He can change His mind! Jeremiah 18 is the location for our discussion. For many people, this is a conflict with their belief system. They believe that God has already determined the outcome of every life and that we can't change anything. Not so according to these verses...

Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:  “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the Lord. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!  The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it,  if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it.  And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it. (Jeremiah 18:5-12)

God says that human conduct can change His plans. What we do impacts what He does. That is a difficult teaching to some. They hold that you are either part of God's elect or you are not and there is nothing you can do about it. Everything was predetermined (predestined) from the beginning and nothing we do can change that. And while there are difficult scriptures that might lead someone to this conclusion, there are many others that make it abundantly clear that God made us with the ability to choose and that those choices will be judged by Him. (more on that at a later date)

I want us to notice the "ifs" in this section of scripture. First, "if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil". This indicates that the people against whom God had spoken had the ability to hear and choose to obey Him. And it indicates that because of the choice they made, God changed His mind. He had one plan, to destroy them, but because the people chose to listen to Him, He acted differently. Secondly, "if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice". In the case where people hear His voice and do not obey, His plan for blessings turn into plans for destruction.

While He knows the end from the beginning, knowledge of our choices does not take away our ability to choose. I know my children well (not nearly as well as God knows us) and I know for the most part what they will choose in every circumstance. My knowledge of what choices they will make does not remove their ability to choose. (not a great analogy, but the best I can do to convey the thought)

The Bible is full of "ifs". They set forth conditions with blessings or consequences.

"if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

"If you love Me, keep My commandments."

In fact the word "if" appears in the Bible some 1600 times. God places conditions where He chooses to place conditions. My response to His word will determine His response to my conduct. May we hear His word and choose to be obedient to His will. When we do, life here is far better and life hereafter is assured. When we turn from our own ways to follow Him, His plan for our lives takes a total turn. While at one time we were destined for destruction, now we are destined for eternal life with Him. As the old guy in Indiana Jones once said... "you must choose, but choose wisely". Our choices matter, they have eternal consequences.

Jeremiah, Reluctant Prophet

Today's reading takes us to Jeremiah 1:1-8 and through Jeremiah 3:5. I want to focus on the first 8 verses as I think we will see ourselves in this scripture. Often when we are confronted with the opportunity to speak up for God, we find ourselves somewhat reluctant to do so. Jeremiah's example should offer us comfort in our feelings and encouragement to speak up.

People are not puppets that God pulls strings and they lose control and do His will. Rather, God made us in His image, with the ability to choose whether to be obedient to His will or refuse His direction. This is often evident in my life as I study His word, see things that I should be doing or not doing and I continue on my merry way. (surely you are not like that also) Jeremiah did not want to follow God's call to be a prophet. Maybe he had seen the way they were treated or maybe he didn't think he was righteous enough. Whatever the reason, when God called, Jeremiah made excuses.

Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
Before you were born I sanctified you;
I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

Then said I: “Ah, Lord God!
Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.”

But the Lord said to me: "Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’
For you shall go to all to whom I send you,
And whatever I command you, you shall speak.
Do not be afraid of their faces,
For I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord. (Jeremiah 1:4-8)

Jeremiah's excuse... I don't know what to say... I am too young. God speaks directly to Jeremiah and Jeremiah makes excuses. Reminds me of a few other men that God talked to... Moses and Jonah for example... oh, and me! God tells him that He knew him in the womb, that he had set him apart for service to Him before he was born. He tells Jeremiah that He selected him to be a prophet to the nations.... and Jeremiah says... "um, I don't think so". He didn't want to do it! But after hearing God's encouragement and His promises, he chose to be obedient.

God promised that He would be with him and that He would deliver him. In the face of persecution and trials, God says, "you will not be alone and I will take care of you". "I will give you the words to speak to those that I send you". Surely by now you are making the connection. You and I are Jeremiah! God knew us before we were born, His desire for us was that we would follow Him and that we would go and teach the nations. Some of us are still saying, "I am too young" or "I don't know what to say". God's call on the Christian's life is pretty clear...

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.  When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matthew 28: 16-20)

Just like Jeremiah, some of the apostles "doubted", but Jesus reassured them that He had all power and authority. Then He told them to go to the nations and speak the words that He had given them. They were to make disciples, baptizing them and teaching them to obey His words. And He told them that they need not be afraid because He was with them. Same God, same story, different people, different time. That is our story... God calls us to speak to the nations on His behalf, some will do it, while others will make excuses. But God says that we have no excuses, that He is with us and all of our reasons for not obeying are without merit.

What's it going to be? Are we going to recognize His work in our lives? He calls us from our "new birth" to be obedient to His will and carry out His mission. He knew you before your "new birth" and He has appointed you for good works. (Eph 2:20) Jeremiah made the right decision and obeyed God. God placed His word in his mouth and Jeremiah couldn't help but speak. God told Moses, "Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say." If God was in the business of giving His spokespersons the right words to say back then, is He different now? He has given us His word, we just have to take it in and then let it out. "For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:20)

Josiah, Example of Obedience

We have been taking a hard look at what it means to keep the first and greatest commandment. (Matthew 22:37-39) I will be the first to admit that it is a daunting task to attempt to fully comply with what God is asking of us. Some days, it just doesn't seem possible. However, sometimes we get  a peek at the life of someone who is commended for their effort. Today's reading includes the story of Josiah, who became king over Judah after the assassination of Amon. (take the time to read 2 Kings 22 and 23)

Our introduction...Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.  And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. (2 Kings 22:1,2)

Take a moment to think about what the LORD chose to record about this young man. He came to the throne at eight years of age. Maybe this is part of what made him the man he would become. He was too young to have wisdom of his own and too young to have accumulate power or prestige. Maybe he had great parents, (we are introduced to his mother) who taught him about the one true God in the midst of national idolatry. We know he ruled for thirty-one years and he did what was right in the sight of the LORD. Whatever it was that made him the man he was, we read that he cleaned house in Judah.

It would appear that God's word had been "lost" for some time. This is hard for me to understand. How do you lose God's word in the temple? (we would never lose His word, would we) The "book" was found in the house of God, yet in some way it had been lost. The high priest, Hilkiah stumbled onto the "book" and passed it on to the kings assistant, who in turn took it to the king and read it to him. The king's reaction reveals a lot about the kind of man he had become. Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes. (v 11) “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, for the people and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the wrath of the Lord that is aroused against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.” (v 13)

His reaction was immediate and forceful. He didn't wait, he didn't question... he repented on the spot at the hearing of God's word and moved to make changes in his life and those around him. God rewarded him for his "tender heart" and his "humble" spirit. He promised Josiah that even though he was going to punish those that had rejected Him, those that had been unfaithful, he would be spared the wrath that was to come on Judah.

What about you? How do you respond when you discover the truth of God's word? Do you respond immediately and with forcefulness? Does God see a tender and humble heart ready to obey His words? Am I ready to do and say whatever God desires of me? What is being written about you, about me in His book now? How will our stories read?

Josiah's story ended with these words: Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him. (2 Kings 23:25) I pray that our stories will end with just such praise from our Father in Heaven and that we will hear Him say..."Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord." (Matthew 25:21)

The Cost of Discipleship

Books have been written, sermons have been preached, lectures have been given and yet most of us still miss the point of discipleship. Jesus call for disciples is not a call that many will respond to. He tells us that to follow Him we must... hate our families, quit our jobs, sell all we have, be ready to die and on and on. For most of us in the USA, following Jesus is an easy lifestyle with few, if any sacrifices. We show up for "church", drop a few bucks in the basket and we try not to commit the really big sins. What we call Christianity today is not found in the Bible... anywhere.

As a matter of fact, what we call Christianity today is condemned everywhere in the Word. (Check out Amos 6:4-6 and Ezekiel 16:49) To be a disciple during the time that Jesus lived meant that you did all you could to be just like your teacher. You were with him day in and day out; your talk became like his, your walk became like his, your thoughts became like his and your life became like his. For Paul, being like Jesus was the most important thing. Those he taught he gave this encouragement, "Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ." (1 Cor 11:1) As their teacher, Paul was leading them to a life that looked like Jesus. He put it this way..."My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you". (Galatians 4:19) The goal of your faith is certainly the salvation of your souls, but Paul says that we are to become like Jesus along the way. (1 Peter 1:9)

My lesson last week at the Wilkesboro church of Christ was on sin and our responsibility to change. I know we will continue to sin, we are human; but we cannot let that deter us form striving for a life that reflects Jesus' righteousness. We are called to growth and change. We are called to have Christ formed in us. In other words, the longer we are Christians, the more like Jesus we are to become.

That takes us back to His radical call. Jesus knew that if we continued to hold onto the things that were important to us before we met Him, we would never make it as His disciples. So He calls us to love our families less than Him. He tells us that if our possessions possess us, get ride of them and help the poor. He tells us that we must be ready to give up everything, even our lives for the kingdom. That is radical and few will accept His call.

A successful church today (in the world's eyes) is one that is big and has huge facilities and lots of programs that meet the "needs" of its' members. In other words, church today is about us and what we want. Unfortunately, our culture has invaded our churches and the worldly definition of success has woven it's way into the fabric of Christianity. The early church had a completely different outlook on life. Read Acts 2, all of it.

 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.  Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.  Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. (Acts 2:42-45)

Does that sound like the church you attend? Does that sound like the church I attend? A total focus on God's Word, a vital and caring fellowship, continual remembrance of Jesus through communion and everyone petitioning the Father. No one in need! the church had no members in need. People sold what they had to make sure that their brothers and sisters had what they needed.

This Sunday morning, I will be examining Jesus' radical call to love our fellow man. Jesus' call to love is one that many of us struggle to deal with. His life demonstrated the kind of love that we are called to live out. It is not an easy call, but it is a call that we are to answer.

John put it this way..."By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.  But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.  And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him." (1 John 3:16-19)