Tony Kummer does an excellent job of creating social networks. He is the founder of SBC Voices, and he is at it again with Devotional Christian. His hope with this site is to help people read devotionals online. To spread the word about this site Tony is offering a $400 Giveaway to help generate traffic. Just go to here…fill out the form…and do what I just did.
Have you noticed in the story of The Rich Young Man (Mt. 19:16-30) that Jesus does NOT lower the bar, and does NOT go chasing after him?
Does this story teach us to not lower the standards to get someone to follow Jesus? I think so. Jesus told the man the entire truth and was unwilling to lower what it meant to follow Him. We must never neuter the gospel. Point taken.
So, does that mean that we do not “go after” people? I have certainly preached it that way before. And I think there is some truth to that statement. However, I missed something. The very existence of the conversation is proof that Jesus goes after rebel sinners. It’s not in heaven where this conversation is taking place. The incarnation is when the holy Jesus invaded the rebellious world.
Granted there are times (like in this story) where we should not go running after people. But the incarnation teaches us that as a general principle we are to invade the rebellious world and not stay in our cozy bubble.
Where do you need to take the gospel today?
Warning*** If you are a member of Child Services please do not read this post.
Last night around 2:00 am I was woke up by glass shattering. In a sleep-drunk stupor I fumbled my way into Isaiah’s room just to make certain that someone didn’t break out his window to steal him in all of his amazingness. To my enjoyment he was still sleeping soundly, and no windows broken. I made a quick look around the house—saw nothing broken—then just went back to sleep.
This morning our son woke up a little earlier than normal. And it was obvious that he was not going to go back to sleep no matter how much of the Mickey 
Mouse Clubhouse he watched. I could tell that my wife was tired, so I offered to watch Isaiah for a little while before I went to work.
I sat down on the couch to check my e-mail’s and Google Reader, while Isaiah was playing. It couldn’t have been but a couple of minutes that had passed. I looked over and Isaiah is gleefully playing with glass shards. The glass that I heard last night was a drinking glass that my wife had put a flower in; stupid cat (whom we’ll call Battle-axe until my wife notices).
Now before you put us on the prayer chain (which might be needed for various other things) you should know that Isaiah only cut himself on his thumb just a little. And I seriously mean a little. He didn’t even cry or really even notice it. He was more ticked off about having a band-aid on his thumb than the cut.
It could have been much much worse. He was waving a huge chunk of glass in front of his face. So, I am very thankful for the Lord’s protection even in the midst of my ignorance. (By the way Isaiah is 16 months old so I’m not quite as bad for letting him play by himself for a few minutes).
Two questions.
1) How does this illustration relate to the gospel?
2) What are some stupid things you have done as a parent to your child’s detriment?
The preaching notes for the series on Ephesians (at least what has been preached thus far) are now available online. As always they are the rough copy that I take into the pulpit with me and it always ends up being a tad different than I have originally written. May the Lord bless you through these. Here are the sermons and their links:
Ephesians 1:3-14 The Cure for Broken People and a Broken World Part One
Ephesians 1:3-14 The Cure for Broken People and a Broken World Part Two
Ephesians 1:3-14 The Cure for Broken People and a Broken World Part Three
Ephesians 1:15-23 You’ve Already Got It: Living in what Christ has purchased
Ephesians 2:1-5 How Broken Are We?
Ephesians 2:4-6 The Cure for Brokenness, No Matter How Broken
Ephesians 2:7-10 Are You Different? The Gospel Changes You
Ephesians 2:11-22 Don’t Forget to Remember
Ephesians 3:14-21 Life Shattering Prayer
Ephesians 4:7-16 Unified or Unstable?
Ephesians 4:17-24 What Does a Christian Look Like?
Ephesians 4:25—5:2 Living Out Redemption Part One: Lying v. Truth