I have chosen him and I will tell everyone about the wonderful ways he rescues me. Psalm 73: 28 TLB
Jesus can sure hand out some tough assignments! Like loving those jive-walkin’, smack-talkin’ dudes, that are perishing, and don’t even believe it.
Man, it’s tough some days to “love” some folks!
(You, too?)
You know the “Dudes” I mean.
Psalm 73 spells out our dilemma by describing these people in some very plain English.
For I was envious of the prosperity of the proud and wicked. Yes, all through their life their road is smooth! They grow sleek and fat. They aren’t always in trouble and plagued with problems like everyone else, so their pride sparkles like a jeweled necklace, and their clothing is woven of cruelty! These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for! [Vs. 3-7]
And Jesus wants me to LOVE these dudes?
It’s one tough assignment isn’t it?
Loving the cruel and arrogant ain’t for sissies! It takes a heart committed to following Jesus anywhere He goes, and I promise you, He will lead you straight to some very tough people to love. People who are perishing and enjoying their fool’s journey.
Generally, souls that are perishing don’t come wrapped up in pretty ribbons—but Jesus wants us to take His view of people…
And God? He is a riffraff-lovin’, enemy-huggin’, God.
God takes the eternal and timeless “whole world” view of mankind. His Gospel puts on shoe leather, saddles up, “and goes” with that view always in His mind.
There is a day coming for all of us.
A day where every person must give God an account for our lives.
Psalm 73 sums up the end for smack-talkin’ dudes.
What a slippery path they are on—suddenly God will send them sliding over the edge of the cliff and down to their destruction: an instant end to all their happiness, an eternity of terror. Their present life is only a dream! They will awaken to the truth as one awakens from a dream of things that never really were! [Vs. 18-20]
Does love celebrate someone’s destruction?
No.
Does love ignore an eternal destiny of suffering and torment for another?
No.
Have we locked The Gospel up inside our churches?
That evening, the disciples gathered together. And because they were afraid of reprisals from the Jewish leaders, they had locked the doors to the place where they met. [John 20:19]
Isn’t this what we have done?
But this isn’t our purpose—to meet, to sing, to celebrate this Gospel for ourselves alone.
But suddenly Jesus appeared among them and said, “Peace to you!” Then he showed them the wounds of his hands and his side—they were overjoyed to see the Lord with their own eyes!
Jesus repeated his greeting, “Peace to you!” And he told them, “Just as the Father has sent me, I’m now sending you.” [John 20: 20-21]
The Gospel pure and simple: “I’m now sending you.”
We have the only antidote to the evil in this world.
Let’s remember the reason we’re here, and keep the main thing, the MAIN THING. Jesus said the “Last Days” would be tough, but He chose us—you and me—for this time and this place, and were here for that purpose above any other.
May our heart’s cry be, “Jesus bring new wine out of me.”
Women With Destiny 