This is an interesting thought I find myself wrestling with over the past 24 hours. Most of my week is spent collecting thoughts and scriptures for the lesson I will end up teaching on Sunday. I am not sure how other pastor's do this but I find the longer I let God's Word rest in my heart the more it teaches me and in turn gives me insight in teaching others.
This week we will be looking at a topic that is a tough pill to swallow. As I read the passage that we will more than likely be crawling through I have had to expose a side of me that wishes to soften it up or make it more "acceptable" to people at large. The challenge I face is that there is a great reason why Jesus says the words that is recorded. When I choose to soften it up I am acting as a buffer saying things like "He didn't really mean all of you for all of Him, what He was actually saying is..."
This is a very dangerous place for a pastor to venture. Peter writes about a time that is coming with men will only hear what their itching ears want to hear. I am not so sure we don't live in that time.
This morning while reading chapter three of Colossians I was slapped with these words "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And WHATEVER YOU DO, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (v. 16-17)
I realize there is a tendency to be a people pleaser inside me and more than likely inside you. When we let our desire to be popular over ride our calling to reflect Christ we have taken the redemptive power of the Cross out of our story. Go back and find for me any time when Jesus tells us to only stand for Him when it is the popular thing to do.
I don't think you will find it.
Heart and Soul,
BAG
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