There’re many things in the past weeks which trigger this thot. So it’s quite hard to go through all the background details and arrive at the point without losing more than half of interested readers :p
But here some the traces:
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
– 1 Thes 5 : 16-18 –
The world classifies sin as big, medium, small, and perhaps insignificant. And often times, we buy the idea (thinking some sins are very serious and some others doesn’t really matter), including which sins belong to which category. And unless one really look hard into the Bible, we will never think that idolatery is a very serious sin to God. And God’s standard is even stricter than simply committing wrong thigs. For James writes:
So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. – James 4 : 17 –
Hence, not doing the right thing / omitting right things to do, is also sin. With the above passage, to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and giving thanks in everything, which clearly stated as the will of God …….. how far can one really go wrong in God’s eyes?
It’s Fri nite talk by Carson that hit me hard on my face (even now still finding it hard to swallow and yet sweet to my soul). He reads from Nehemiah 9 and then drew up application from it for both personal and corporate level. The theme is simple ones, which is repentance. And yet he explained in such powerful way that it’s so clear that everyone is in such bad shape before righteous and good God. The righteousness and goodness of God shows the wickedness and terribleness of our sins….which affect all areas of our life without we notice most the time … and therefore eluding the need for humblying ourselves in truthful repentance.
And if the recent months / year issues is love in the church. Do we take it so lightly? The exhortion to bring this matter in prayers are sounded insignificant to many. The prayers itself is not regarded serious. There are many more bigger and more fantastic things/projects/campaigns to think, to do and to focus on. And even more about the lack of love. What’s the big deal? Lacking of visitors, lacking of man powers, lacking of helpers seem to be more urgent and bigger than the lack of love ….
Meanwhile verses after verses seem to suggest this lack of love is not the right direction to go ….
…, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. – 1 Thes 1:2-3 –
Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love – 1 Thes 3:6 –
may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you
– 1 Thes 3:12 –
Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more,
– 1 Thes 4:8-10 –
and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. – 1 Thes 5:13 –
Definitely it’s not easy to love. It’s a hard work, or as it’s described above, it’s a labor. Yet it’s not an excuse to say no. For it’s a sin by not doing it. A church without love? It’s unthinkable. It’s unbelieveable. Could it be because after 5-6 years, the first loving Thessalonians church has now become the unloving Corinthians church? Could it be because the years taking the affection and fondness away? It shouldn’t be and it must not be.
As Nehemiah prayed in the beginning of the book (lesson learnt with tjel, cok, and abe), may individuals begin with taking the shame and guilt personally. Not blaming the others and escaping the wrongs. But obey the commands, without reservation, and ask, plead, and pray without ceasing … God will work, and things will change. I am a part, and do have a role to play. I’d like to start with me first.