August 10
Jeremiah 16:1-18:23, 35:1-19
Oswald Chambers wrote: "We must get rid of the plague of the spirit of this religious age in which we live. The central point of the kingdom of Jesus Christ is a personal relationship with Him, not public usefulness to others." We read in John 18:36, "Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world." Christianity is about relationship, not religion, but it is hard to measure relationship, so most prefer religion. The church at Ephesus in Revelation 2:1-7, was noted for their many works, but Jesus criticized them stating in 2:4, "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love." Our time on earth is relatively short when compared to our time in eternity. There is certainly nothing wrong, in fact, it is a good thing to serve others. But this cannot be our endgame. If in a relationship with Jesus Christ, we must be about Him and His kingdom, and we must be about seeking to plant seeds of the gospel message to others, so their focus will be less about joining some religious "club" and more about seeking the Kingdom of heaven".
We read about the Rechabites in Jeremiah 35. They were religious and deeply obedient to the traditions of their fathers which were implemented 300 years before this writing in Jeremiah. They were commanded to be bedouins: not to drink wine, build houses, sow seed, or plant vineyards. This they did faithfully for years. The people living in Judah at the time were still religious: going to the temple, engaging in sacrifices, following the Sabbath, etc. They looked great. Many were also probably very kind to one another. But we read the words in Jeremiah 35:14-15, "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." They might have looked the part, dressed the part, but from God's standpoint they were guilty of spiritual adultery.
How about us? Ministries are good. Service is good. Church attendance is good. These are all benchmarks in which we like to compare ourselves to one another. But how is your relationship with Jesus? Have you spoken to a person this week, not about "church things" but about the Kingdom of Heaven? Everything on this earth will remain here, except souls. We need to be about planting seeds of the Good News which is only in Jesus Christ. This is Jesus' Great Commission to the church in Matthew 28:18-20. Now if you have not spoken to someone this week about Jesus, why not? If you are cloistered away, all alone, that is one thing. But such is not the case for almost everyone. We work, have families, have friends that we engage on the phone or social media, go to stores, stand in lines, etc. This is our mission field, and we all need to be planting seeds and watering seeds planted by others. This is why we are here, this is why we are called His Ambassadors.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: