SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 10/15/2017
6:53 AM
My Worship Time Focus:
PT-3 Purity
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference:
Acts 5:12b-14
Message of the
verses: “They were all with one
accord in Solomon’s portico. 13 But none of the rest dared to associate with
them; however, the people held them in high esteem. 14 And all the more
believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to
their number;”
John MacArthur writes the following about the commitment
to holiness that this early church had: “Uncompromising
commitment to holiness characterized these believers—not the fearful commitment
of self-righteous legalism but on springing out of love for the Lord. They were a fearful group, and that kept
those who loved their sin away, and those who wanted forgiveness for sin
near. That stands in sharp contrast to
the masses of uncommitted, even unsaved, people that feel comfortable in the church
today. The failure of churches to preach
holy living, and to discipline those who don’t live that way, allows sinners
and hypocrites to remain in the church, convoluting its direction, sapping its
power, robbing it of purity and marring its testimony. Men may build their churches with a tolerance
for sin, but the Lord builds His among people who love holiness and hate and
expose sin.
“Jesus demands a high level of commitment for those who
would follow Him. In Luke 9:57-62 He had
the following dialogue with some would-be followers:
‘57
As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, "I will follow You
wherever You go." 58 And Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and
the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His
head." 59 And He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said,
"Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father." 60 But He said to
him, "Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and
proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God." 61 Another also said, "I
will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at
home." 62 But Jesus said to him, "No one, after putting his hand to
the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."”
“In Matthew 10:32-39 He
added,
‘32 “Therefore everyone who
confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in
heaven. 33 “But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My
Father who is in heaven. 34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the
earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 "For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS
FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER
MOTHER-IN-LAW; 36 and A MAN’S ENEMIES
WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD. 37 “He who loves father or mother more
than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is
not worthy of Me. 38 “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is
not worthy of Me. 39 “He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has
lost his life for My sake will find it.”
“The Lord Jesus Christ
wants total commitment. Only those who
are willing to forsake all, including sin, and lose their lives in submission
to Him, are worthy to be His followers.
A church made up of such people will be a pure church, with a powerful
testimony to the world.”
Answer to yesterday’s Bible
question: “Philippi.”
Today’s Bible
question: “How many wives did Solomon
have?” (Way too many)
Answer in our next SD.
10/15/2017 7:08 AM
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