I just finished up a bible study group called, “Open Your Bible.”
Mostly “the basics” but I enjoyed the coffee and fellowship time we had together at our local Starbucks.
(Which was the real point for me.)
I really didn’t think this study could hold many surprises, but I was wrong. The writer positively stunned me with her last “lesson” for us. It was so good I wanted to share her thought with you.
She said and I quote,
“… the truth I have come to believe is this: Sometimes, the very best thing a Christian can do is close her bible and do what it says.”
I spend a lot of time behind a desk reading my Bible, reading books about the Bible, and writing books about the Bible…So much time, in fact, that I missed an entire season of my close friend being so sick from Lyme disease that she couldn’t get out of bed.”
She goes on to say, “You guys, I was too busy reading my Bible to go visit my sick friend.”
She finished with this, “Sometimes I’m more comfortable living IN the pages of Scripture than living them OUT.” (emphasis mine)
Oh, yeah… out there. In the real and messy world.
Their bibles are where I think most of the Western Church lives out its spiritual life.
We like “the safety” our nice clean, air-conditioned, padded seats provide us.
I believe most of us are supremely content to “live” in the pages of our Bible, rather than out there, where the world is hostile to our beliefs.
Our fears and insecurities make us impotent.
What was it Jesus said about Salt…
And Light?
Yet, we appear to do little but criticize and complain about a world intent on destroying itself.
We shake our heads in sad dismay, as we turn away, running back to the safety of our meetings, singing along with all the ones just like us.
Look, I know no one likes looking foolish. No one likes being ridiculed or rejected. Yet, I can’t help remembering a sermon I heard many years ago, and all the uncomfortable questions the guy delivering it asked me.
- If not YOU—then, who?
- If not HERE—then, where?
- If not NOW—then, when?
This is not a time for passing the buck! This is OUR time. We are His Church. We are charged with delivering His message. And lest any of us forget, we will give a full account of ourselves to Him someday—face to face.
So, yes, you might blow it.
Yes, you might get it wrong sometimes.
Yes, you will definitely encounter ridicule and rejection.
But, didn’t He tell us?
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If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. John 15:18 KJV |
Here’s another thought. You might fall flat on your face, but you just might score! You might get it right. And, “Oh my goodness!” you might just make a huge difference in someone else’s broken world!
Out on that breezy limb, that’s where the best fruit is…
Just think of it! You… bearing fruit; becoming a harvester; for Him.
He’s given you gifts!
It’s time to share them with this big ‘ole muddy, bloody, hurting, mudball!
Yeah—you were born for THIS!
Time to rock out for the Kingdom…
Until the whole world hears!
Women With Destiny 