 |
| Homemade sourdough bread |
I was thinking about the prosperity gospel that is often preached for the sake of the accumulation of wealth for greed. “You can have your cake and eat it too… Life is supposed to be a walk in the park and a bed of roses…” Such preachers forget that too much sugar rots teeth, parks are not always safe havens and roses have thorns.
Since we are being formed into the image of Christ, then the idyllic picture of prosperity that is often painted in sermons, is not the whole truth. Romans 8 speaks to the Good News and the walk of a Christ follower: verse18 “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us… 21 Because the creature, (us), itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption, (this would be the sin nature and death), into the glorious liberty, (freedom) of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation, (this is everything created from the Genesis account), groaneth and travaileth in pain together… 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities, (pains, problems, issues, setbacks, etc. - you know what I mean - weaknesses, stuff of this life that has the potential to break a person), for us with groanings which cannot be uttered , (sit with that one for a minute or two)… 28 And we know that all things work together for the good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, … PLEASE READ ALL OF CHAP 8
Colossians 3:10 …And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him… Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me. 1 Corinthians 15, (another good chap to chew upon but…) verse 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the Heavenly.
So what is this image of Christ? Isaiah 53:3-6 “He, (Jesus) is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. 4 Surely, He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
This is a paradox. We do have the joy and hope of what’s to come because of all that Christ endured - the suffering; surely it was no bed of roses - but a crown of thorns. Prosperity - yes, but the cost is not free and as easy as some preachers present and the prosperity is not of this world. No, God does not want us to be in bondage to sin, nor to debt… both of these are choices… Yes, there are abuses of wealth. I look at the corruption of many governments who have not released resources to their countrymen. I look at the corruption of large companies who abuse their workers to the point of enslaving them in this 21st century. I look at the choices of people choosing to live beyond their means because they believe they should have all that they want - now - and so become enslaved to credit card debt or worse, they use people to get their cake, to eat now.
Sigh!
My point with this thought/question: As Christ followers - what are you expecting that walk to be like, especially when Father God’s Word states clearly we are to be transformed into the image of Christ?… That Image, (Jesus), knew sorrow, but also JOY because of what was set before Him - the cross and what IT meant - Glory, Heaven, for us - sinners who reject Him going and coming, dropping our cross daily…
Father God gave me a lesson, so here’s a little story:
I’ve had opportunity to do services, things; for someone who has absolutely no appreciation for what I’ve done, (it’s a bit like being a parent, because sadly, children rarely have an appreciation for what is provided until they become parents and/or simply mature - whichever comes first). But this someone is not a child of mine… just a person. This person seems to intentionally turn a blind eye to services I provide and oftentimes seems to hold me in utter contempt and disregards me. I continue to provide services irregardless, because others benefit as well - there is a bigger picture and I know this, so I continue to do as I do… And for those wondering, “Well if others weren’t benefiting, would I continue to serve?” Yes, until Father God says to stop, because I know He does not call us to throw our pearls before swine, Matthew 7:6; and “…there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven…” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, (read it, please).
Father God gives us all resources to use for His Kingdom. And resources aren’t just treasured - time and talents are surely undervalued and overlooked resources - these are indeed precious commodities. Give them.
The Lesson: This is being conformed into the image of Christ. Because it does hurt being not appreciated, nor regarded and dare I say hated… With tears I say, beloved, we, (me too), do this to Jesus everyday.
Taking up the “The Cross”, our cross, everyday, submitting to being conformed into the image of Christ, 24/7; is not easy. There is suffering in the cup, there is bitter gall in that cup, (I once was so ill because of gallstones, so I’ve literally tasted this bitterness). This is what Christ followers are called to: See others through the eyes of Christ and so serve and walk as Christ did: JOYFULLY FORWARD INTO HIS KINGDOM!
Soli Deo Gloria
Nina
No comments:
Post a Comment