July 13
1 Chron 15:1-16:36 | PS 10:1-15 | Prov 19:6-7 | Rom 1:18-32
What does this walk of faith mean to you? Is it cloistered conversations below the level of detection? Perhaps, being part of a secret club, that only yourself and a few others, all of whom remain below the radar, acknowledge one another when in public settings. Of course, the exception being when you are part of a big group when at church, in which case you can speak loudly and boldly, wear a convicting shirt or hat, etc. Is this what we are called for? We live in a cesspool. We are God's ambassadors, yet how often we walk around as though we are embarrassed to be seen as such. I'm not talking about walking around with a sign, but more and more I find Christians and people of faith raising a hand of caution to comments said concerning God, for fear that we may shed light, that we may offend, or get into trouble, be reported, etc.
We read in Romans 1:16-17, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”" Does anyone believe that Paul's scenario was less hostile than our own? God was revealing then, and He is revealing now, as we read in 1:18-19, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them." No one wants to admit it, but like Paul said, we care much too much about the creature, and not enough about the Creator, as we read in 1:24-25, 32, "Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen...who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them."
So, we can continue to walk through this life as though this is all a game. We can continue to watch our nation and our world plunge into further darkness, all the while believing and winking to one another quietly below the level of detection. We can continue to justify why we choose to remain silent, choose to remain below the radar, yes, choose, to remain silent concerning the things of God. We need to be in His Word, in prayer, but we also need to stop being ashamed of standing privately and publicly for the things of God, come what may. We are either His ambassadors, His vessels, or we are not. We can't ask for it and reject it in the same sentence.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: