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Thursday, November
29, 2007
How Do You Measure Up?
2 Corinthians
10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves
with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by
themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. (KJV)
What do you
consider your measuring stick, and what do you compare your life with, the
spiritual measure or how man measures themselves with each other? I have
heard this topic come up over the last few years, and for myself can’t
quite come to terms with mans reasoning on who are you accountable to? Mainly
which pastor or organization do you give account to? Many people compare
themselves with other people, and limit themselves to mans idea of how to
live a Godly life in the spirit, which has unlimited potential for those
that choose to follow the Lord and not end up carbon copy, cookie cutter
assembly line Christians. After all, in the end who is it that you are
really accountable to, and who’s judgment seat are you going to have to
stand before you are given access to your eternal home? Wouldn’t now be a
good time to start living up to His spiritual standards and quit selling
yourself short by following mans?
Romans 12:2-5 And
be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of
your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and
perfect, will of God. (3) For I say, through the grace given unto me, to
every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he
ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every
man the measure of faith. (4) For as we have many members in one body, and
all members have not the same office: (5) So we, being many, are one body
in Christ, and every one members one of another. (KJV)
Most of what I see
out there concerning ministries and ministers is based on worldly
standards, rather than holding fast to the truth of God’s word. They bend
with the times; they compromise on certain issues and are more concerned
with pleasing man than God. So instead of taking the measure of faith that
was dealt to each of us, and letting God have His way so that we can see
more and more of the gift of life He gave us, many fall short by measuring
themselves with each other, thinking large numbers equals success with God.
The most important thing for a Christian to know is who they are in Christ,
where the Lord has placed them in the body, and fulfilling this duty no
matter where or what our Father is asking of them. Once you establish this
relationship with the Father, building up a trust and commitment by hearing
the message of faith for yourself, you will find the true path of life is
not that heavily traveled, and the ones that are building up numbers for
the most part are the ones preaching the ear tickling feel good doctrines
of man.
2 Peter 2:1-3 But
there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be
false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies,
even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift
destruction. (2) And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of
whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. (3) And through covetousness
shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now
of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. (KJV)
The Lord considers
His church the pearl of great price worth dying for. Despite all this, those that have put
themselves in a place of teaching and preaching the word of God, are doing
it for personal financial gain, making merchandise of people rather than
building them up and teaching them who they are in Christ, despicable. I
can assure you God does not take too kindly to seeing His children treated
like this, anymore than you would want to see your children treated this
way. The reason many follow their pernicious, filthy shameless ways is
because rather than take the time to listen to God for themselves and hear
the message of faith delivered by Christ, they let someone else dictate
this message for them, then try and measure up to their standards and not
the standard set forth in the word of God.
Luke 6:38 Give,
and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken
together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the
same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. (KJV)
How much of
yourself are you willing to give to the Lord? Is He a priority in your
life, so that the first thing you do in your day is take the time to stop
all that you are doing, so that you can hear His message of love for the
day? The measure you put out to the Lord is what will be returned to you,
so much that it has to be pressed down, shaken together to make room for
more because the living waters are flowing out of you and watering those
around you. There is an old saying, in order to keep it you have to give it
away. How much of this measure of faith have you put into practice in your
life, and what are you basing and comparing your walk with, someone here on
earth or someone seated at the right hand of the Father? Some say the sky’s
the limit, but with Christ I say that is just the beginning. By the way,
give doesn’t just refer to money as so often is taught, but rather how much
of your life are you willing to lay down for the brethren, so that the life
of Christ can manifest through you. Whosoever shall lose his life shall
find it.
Ephesians 4:11-13 And
he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and
some, pastors and teachers; (12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the
work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (13) Till we
all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of
Christ: (KJV)
The purpose of
those that are called within the fivefold ministry is to the build up the Church,
which are the people of God, not the building, and teach them how to
measure up to the stature, maturity of Christ. Those that are able to come
to an understanding of the knowledge of the Son of God will be able to grow
and mature according to God’s standard and not some manmade self serving
one.
Ephesians 4:14-16 That
we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with
every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness,
whereby they lie in wait to deceive; (15) But speaking the truth in love,
may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: (16) From
whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every
joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every
part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. (KJV)
When we were
children we all thought of certain people that we wanted to grow up too be
like, and imitated them. Those that truly mature in the Lord will not be
trying to imitate other people, but rather seek to follow Christ and the
person He intended for us to be. So grow up Church and let’s put away
childish things. Set your standards according to God’s word and seek those
things which are above, and don’t settle for less. It’s time to raise the
bar.
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