|
Home
Archive
March
February
January
Comments
and/or Questions
|
Tuesday, March 3,
2009
Held Accountable
1 Timothy 1:12-15 And I thank Christ
Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful,
putting me into the ministry; (13) Who was before a blasphemer, and a
persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it
ignorantly in unbelief. (14) And the grace of our Lord was exceeding
abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. (15) This is a
faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into
the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (KJV)
Some people join the ministry for a
variety of reasons, some financial, some because their parents were
ministers, some because they just thought it was the right thing to do.
However, there is a big difference between who God calls and who man calls.
God calls those He can trust, those who are like Him, trustworthy, not
those who are here today and gone tomorrow. Those who won’t cut and run
when the wolves circle and try and get the flock, but rather those who will
stand in prayer and support with His people.
John 10:12-13 But he that is an hireling,
and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming,
and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth
the sheep. (13) The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth
not for the sheep. (KJV)
You know what the problem is with
hirelings, those that serve the Lord more out of a love for money than the
flock; yup, when the money runs out, usually the hireling takes a hike as
well. God calls those who He knows will be faithful, those who are willing
and obedient for the sake of love, a true love for the people and not
anything of this fallen world. In this day and age, where the love of many
has waxed cold, would not the verses we see in the above illustration
accurately describe much of what man calls a church, and an unfaithful
servant?
Ezekiel 22:25-27 There is a conspiracy of
her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey;
they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things;
they have made her many widows in the midst thereof. (26) Her priests have
violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no
difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed
difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from
my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. (27) Her princes in the midst thereof
are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to
get dishonest gain. (KJV)
Remember, our adversary is described also
like a roaring lion, seeking who can be devoured. Well as we see again, God
has dealt with many, who rather than be faithful to Him and held
accountable to His standards, have fallen prey to the enemy. How would you
describe your walk with the Lord; are you a go to person faithful to Him,
or have you cut and run chasing something that is not in His best interest
for your walk?
Proverbs 20:4-6 The sluggard will not
plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have
nothing. (5) Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of
understanding will draw it out. (6) Most men will proclaim every one his
own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? (KJV)
Ever hear the term fair weather people?
You know those people, that when the going got a bit tough, well, they were
the first ones to get going in the opposite direction. Remember what our
Lord went through so that we could have access to salvation? How about Paul
the apostle, the opposition he endured from a bunch of cold hearted
religious people? How deep is your well, and is there an abundance of
living waters ready to flow through you, or is it dry and stagnant? God is
a spirit, and He is seeking those who will worship Him in Spirit and in
truth. So what will He find today when looking your way, the sluggard or
the faithful man?
Mark 4:16-17 And these are they likewise
which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word,
immediately receive it with gladness; (17) And have no root in themselves,
and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution
ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. (KJV)
You know, our Lord is willing to take out
that stony heart and give you a new one so that you can receive the things
from above. In closing today, I chuckle sometimes when I listen to people
who claim Christians need to be accountable to someone. Hey, you can seek
man’s approval and fool them, or you can seek the approvable from above and
not deceive Him, or yourself. So if you truly desire to be held accountable
and counted faithful so that you can be used of God and put in a place of
ministry, then why not be accountable to Him?
|
