OK, these churches all had problems back in their day. What does this have to do with any of us?
Although there are many preachers that maintain that these letters were meant only for the individual churches, I am very aware that much prophesy in the Bible is current in more than one time setting. Just because the letters were written to a particular church does NOT mean that it cannot apply today.
Look at a very brief description of each church...
Ephesus - Lost their direction. They think that membership in their church is more important than God's Word.
Smyrna - Satan is trying hard to mislead them. Jesus warns them to hold fast to His word.
Pergamum - They are being distracted by sexual sin. Jesus promises blessings for being faithful.
Thyatira - Doing good work, but too accepting of "alternate lifestyles."
Sardis - Mostly dead and lazy
Philadelphia - Strong in God, poor in money
Laodicea - Complacency
Can you think of even one Christian church that is not affected by one (or more) of the problems listed here? How many churches have you run across that claim membership in their church is all that is needed to ensure you get to heaven? How many have made allowances for "pretend" witchcraft (halloween celebrations and/or fortune telling) and promiscuous lifestyles of their members (including homosexuality)? How many churches do nothing, except go to service on most Sundays? Worst of all, how many have the attitude of "I'm saved. My future is secure. Leave me alone."
Few anywhere are willing to devote their all to giving God His due, and spreading His Word.
I daresay that the greater majority of us will see our churches within this listing of "problem churches." Jesus reminds us that He disciplines us out of love, as would any parent with a much-loved child. Are we willing to put aside our preconceived notions, hear Him knocking at our doors, welcome Him back into our lives and listen to His well-deserved reprimands?
Remember, a crown awaits!
Showing posts with label problems. Show all posts
Showing posts with label problems. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Stand Together or Fall Apart
At one time, or another, all married couples experience a situation wherein strain within the marriage threatens our stability. It is very important that we recognize such problems and not let them come between us.
How do we prevent this? It is very important that we each see our spouse for what he or she truly is; the one who really is our "other half."
Marriage ceremonies commonly use the phrase, "the two shall become one." We tend to think it is symbolic, just a "part of the package." But why use these words? What do they imply? Why are they in the ceremony at all?
From Genesis, we know that God made Adam. God then said, "It is not good that man should be alone." He "caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep." While Adam slept, God removed a rib from Adam’s side, from which He formed Eve. At this point, we have the first man and woman. Obviously, Adam and Eve were both originally one. Each was the other’s "other half." Made from the same stock, each completed the other. Adam was Eve’s complement, and she was his. Were they exactly equal? Of course not! That was never God’s intent!
Since then, men and women have often looked at each other, and wondered, "Why can’t he/she see things my way?" or "Doesn’t she/he understand how much this will hurt me?" Questions like this illustrate the fact that men and women do think differently. It helps to understand that we were intended by our Creator to be different from each other.
Women have been especially blessed by God to hold a tiny part of His creation. Within them, human life can start, and grow. But, because a woman is nearly defenseless during the last of her pregnancy and childbirth, her spouse MUST be her defender. This requires him to think linearly. He must see problems and solutions as a line with discrete steps along the way. Since he has to think this way to ensure her survival, she has been better equipped by God to be able to keep track of home, kids, supplies, etc, the things for which most men are usually not as well suited.
Our God has arranged all this most marvelously well. With man as the defender, and woman the caretaker, we stand as two of the three legs of a tripod. God is, and must be, the third leg. We cannot allow anything to pry us apart. If you pull one of the tripod’s legs away from the rest, it will collapse. If we allow either of the human legs to pried away from the other, or from God, the "marriage tripod" will likewise no longer stand. If there is an irritant between yourself, and either God or your spouse, you must get that irritant out from the center, so that you have God and the strength of the marriage to help you deal with it. Take all problems to the Lord in prayer, and rely on His guidance.
Stand together or fall apart. The choice is ours!
See you again soon, in Paradise!
Mr Mike
How do we prevent this? It is very important that we each see our spouse for what he or she truly is; the one who really is our "other half."
Marriage ceremonies commonly use the phrase, "the two shall become one." We tend to think it is symbolic, just a "part of the package." But why use these words? What do they imply? Why are they in the ceremony at all?
From Genesis, we know that God made Adam. God then said, "It is not good that man should be alone." He "caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep." While Adam slept, God removed a rib from Adam’s side, from which He formed Eve. At this point, we have the first man and woman. Obviously, Adam and Eve were both originally one. Each was the other’s "other half." Made from the same stock, each completed the other. Adam was Eve’s complement, and she was his. Were they exactly equal? Of course not! That was never God’s intent!
Since then, men and women have often looked at each other, and wondered, "Why can’t he/she see things my way?" or "Doesn’t she/he understand how much this will hurt me?" Questions like this illustrate the fact that men and women do think differently. It helps to understand that we were intended by our Creator to be different from each other.
Women have been especially blessed by God to hold a tiny part of His creation. Within them, human life can start, and grow. But, because a woman is nearly defenseless during the last of her pregnancy and childbirth, her spouse MUST be her defender. This requires him to think linearly. He must see problems and solutions as a line with discrete steps along the way. Since he has to think this way to ensure her survival, she has been better equipped by God to be able to keep track of home, kids, supplies, etc, the things for which most men are usually not as well suited.
Our God has arranged all this most marvelously well. With man as the defender, and woman the caretaker, we stand as two of the three legs of a tripod. God is, and must be, the third leg. We cannot allow anything to pry us apart. If you pull one of the tripod’s legs away from the rest, it will collapse. If we allow either of the human legs to pried away from the other, or from God, the "marriage tripod" will likewise no longer stand. If there is an irritant between yourself, and either God or your spouse, you must get that irritant out from the center, so that you have God and the strength of the marriage to help you deal with it. Take all problems to the Lord in prayer, and rely on His guidance.
Stand together or fall apart. The choice is ours!
See you again soon, in Paradise!
Mr Mike
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)