Tonight's Blog for Tuesday Night, May 7, 2013
Tonight I am including a graphic that looks a little different, because it is on the back of an envelope. I wrote it down, so I wouldn't forget the quote. I don't know where I first heard it, or wrote it down, or saw the quote. This quote speaks to an opportunity for MCC and for me and hopefully for you. Sometimes, we need to be reminded that the faith we follow began with an open Door. Remember, John helped us to start searching for "3-Deep" statements, but He also used multiple, such as the number seven, as in the "7 I AM's in John" or the "7 Miracles" that his gospel is built around as well. Just searching for these and other's will help in our study and in our memorizing of the bible.
Anyway, back to the graphic, the envelope with a quote tucked away in my Bible. The quote goes like this: "The greatest problem of the Church is NOT the people on the outside trying to persecute us, to shut our doors, but it is the people on the inside with a "closed door mentality," trying with all their might to hold the door shut… from the inside." The quote has me thinking about my motives and fears and methods and philosophy of ministry. It also reminded me that the church, as a building isn't mine or ours or a fortress or anything else. The church is people, hurt, dirty, afraid and desperately needing love. We model Jesus best when we create ways to bring those folks to Jesus, the Door. Remember what our verse says? "I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture." Please open your life, open yourself to His love and let Him come in! God Bless you tonight. big marv
Tonight I am including a graphic that looks a little different, because it is on the back of an envelope. I wrote it down, so I wouldn't forget the quote. I don't know where I first heard it, or wrote it down, or saw the quote. This quote speaks to an opportunity for MCC and for me and hopefully for you. Sometimes, we need to be reminded that the faith we follow began with an open Door. Remember, John helped us to start searching for "3-Deep" statements, but He also used multiple, such as the number seven, as in the "7 I AM's in John" or the "7 Miracles" that his gospel is built around as well. Just searching for these and other's will help in our study and in our memorizing of the bible.
John includes the statement by Jesus that He is "the Door" to the safe place for his sheep. The word that is quoted here is used 40 or so times, and includes some great teaching about the LORD and His flock. Here is what we read in John 10:9. "I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture." There is no "pasture" in the fold, or the safe place for the sheep. They are safe, but will starve if they stay inside. Jesus didn't save us to get us into the safe place of the church. The activities and education and worship and fellowship aren't the goals. Each of these is given to us to help us to grow and to become more aware of the needs of the other sheep. Please note that He didn't save us to hide us away but to be available to find other lost lambs. Isn't that what He said about Himself and His purpose in Luke 19:10.
Anyway, back to the graphic, the envelope with a quote tucked away in my Bible. The quote goes like this: "The greatest problem of the Church is NOT the people on the outside trying to persecute us, to shut our doors, but it is the people on the inside with a "closed door mentality," trying with all their might to hold the door shut… from the inside." The quote has me thinking about my motives and fears and methods and philosophy of ministry. It also reminded me that the church, as a building isn't mine or ours or a fortress or anything else. The church is people, hurt, dirty, afraid and desperately needing love. We model Jesus best when we create ways to bring those folks to Jesus, the Door. Remember what our verse says? "I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture." Please open your life, open yourself to His love and let Him come in! God Bless you tonight. big marv
posted by Unknown @ 9:48 PM
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