Praise the Lord.
Faith works with love- without love it is not true faith, without truth at its center it is not done in real faith nor can it be carried in love. It is love that prompts someone to speak the truth. As Paul said to the Galatians have I now become your enemy because I tell you the truth? If we make enemies because they are offended by the truth so be it. We may become dismayed at the outcome but it is better to do what is right in God’s eyes and suffers the consequences from man, than to do what is right in man’s eyes and suffer the consequences from God!
Jesus did say we are to confess him before man. This does not mean just saying His name but standing up for what He said. If we can only have the boldness that the scripture states is ours, for “we have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.”
We have accepted the world’s view of love that one must be tolerant and even silent in the face of something that is wrong- a lie or even blatant evil. We are so careful not to OFFEND our neighbors, friends and family with THE TRUTH, so that we can love them. But to do this means we not loving God, nor do we really love them. Are we so unwilling to endure any rejection that we have become ashamed of God’s words?
Jesus does say “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.”(Luke 9:26) Paul also writes that we should be “ a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”(2 Tim.2:15) In other words make no hesitation make every effort to know what the word of God actually says so it can be used to benefit you and its hearers.
The bible teaches there are two churches just as there were two Israel’s. One is called the Israel of God, and the Israel in unbelief. After Paul speaks about his preaching the gospel and suffering in persecution for it Gal 6:16 “And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.” Only the Israel that was of faith made it through the trials of the desert and entered the promised land. Only the Church who has genuine faith will walk through the trials on earth to enter the promised land, heaven. Those who disdain trials want the things of the earth as their reward. They have their reward now.
Rom. 9:31-33 “but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.” Gal 3:7 “Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.” These are the gentiles who believe. Both of these are now part of the body as Christ broke down the middle wall of partition to make one new man. (Eph.2) We are one “IN Christ”, Scripture is clear we must abide in the vine to be IN Christ as well as to be fruitful.
Watching for His appearance, the other bride uses the word for its own advancement and looks not to His coming but to the things of earth. They by default will not. There will be two brides, one married to Christ the other will be married to the one who looks like Christ but is a fake substitute. One bride follows the Word of God and is be ready for His coming.
There is the Church married to the lamb and is willing to follow Him anywhere He leads, even into suffering. Then there is the Church that is not willing to give up anything of the world but long for good life they have been taught they deserve. They know the lamb but are not willing to wholeheartedly give up the world and all the attractions in it, and they see nothing wrong with it.
As with the 10 virgins, we are told while the bridegroom delayed 5 were filled with the oil and had their lights shining, they were busy doing the work of the Lord. The other 5 slumbered and slept.
Till next week,
God Bless
