Day 17 ~ The Purpose Driven Life ~ A Place to Belong.
The apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 3:4-6 “In reading my words you will understand my insight into the amazing mystery of Christ. In no previous generation, the time before Christ, has there ever been a more comprehensive and detailed understanding of the full consequence of the grace and gift from God. It is now being uncovered in the Spirit of his ambassadors who have brought the prophetic promise into full view!
Mankind, the inhabitants of Earth, may now realise that the prophetic word is fulfilled in them! Both the prophets of the old Testament saw and prophesied this in advance and apostles who claimed this sanctioned in Christ. The essence of what I, Paul, see reveals the fact that the complete multitude of humanity are joined participants in the same inheritance (included in the heirs of Abraham together with Israel) we are all part of one and the same body in Christ.
The good news is that God’s promise is equally relevant and applicable to all”. Para Mirror Bible
If you were born into a God minded Christian family and grew up in this type of structure it is a real blessing. Unfortunately, most people today enter and find a link into the church not through a singular minded Christian dedicated family but are led there by friends or interaction at different levels with the church of Christ. The problem is that the God inspired life is not of this world.
Jesus is prayer for his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane “.. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. .. “ John 17:16 (BSB)
“If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you,because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.” John 15:18-19 (BSB)
In the perfect DoC world your primary family will have its roots in the biblical core of a father (human and God), mother and siblings all following Christ. This should be your first exposure to the house of God. Not so very common in our modern secular world.
Then you should belong to a small group. People who explore God’s word with you but also form an extended Christ like-minded group of people whom you can call on when life gets tuff. They are the type of Christians that will stop at nothing to be with you in prayer and support, not shunning from helping out where and when ever. The group should also be creating opportunities for you to be able to worship in a form and level that feeds your Christianity.
Your further contact with God should also manifest itself in the church that serves God in an accurate biblical form. NOT praying through Mary, baptising babies, exploring and focusing on prosperity gospels and or working out your salvation based on bastardised Bibles that have been altered and do not resemble the true Word of God.
We are not called into seclusion by Christ. What would be the point of that? As His followers, we are called to live the life of Christ in full view of the world. As the song goes “no turning back”. You cannot be an undercover Christian. That does not serve Christ in the way he intended his disciples to do. Try telling at least three people today that you are a passionate follower of Jesus Christ. Cry out to the Holy Spirit that you live that life you have as an example of this proclamation.
It is our obligation as Christians to proclaim to the world in the way that we love our triune God firstly,
secondly the loving family we form in the Spirit
and thirdly the loving hand we extend to the world
that we are true followers of Christ.
Christ’s law is based on loving our God with all our body soul mind strength, and then displaying our love for one another. Be in no doubt that he left us these commands;
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31 (BSB)
“A new commandment I give you:Love one another. As I have loved you, so also you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34 (BSB)
Your life here on earth ends in many ways when you join the church of Christ in spirit. By receiving the gift of Christ from God you eternalise your full inheritance.
More points to ponder on Day 17 of The Purpose driven Life : http://purposedriven.com/day17/