CWW Week 27 - Day 5 - Keeping Church Simple
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Scripture.
Luke 23:39-43 (NIV):
39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?
41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you today, you will be with me in paradise.”
This passage captures the moment when one of the thieves acknowledges Jesus’ innocence and asks for mercy, and Jesus assures him of a place in paradise.
The subject for this week has several applications. Here I want to emphasise the point that helps to keep my journey in perspective.
So you yourself have started this journey late in life. You have been wondering how you will ever get your head around all this with the time you have left.
You feel like your report card has too many red marks on it to even contemplate this new way of life. Then this scripture is written to grab your attention.
Jesus used the final scene in His physical ministry on Earth to drive this important message home. He also spoke in parables that reflect the same intent. Look at the story of the prodigal son. Luke 15. 11-32
The parable of the eleventh hour workers in the vineyard. Matthew 21. 1-2
Then we have Matthew 20:16 (NIV): “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
All this and more gives us hope that it doesn’t matter so much where you start the race but how we get to the finish line.
When we start late in life, a journey that many started in their childhood, we need to consider how much time we have left before it’s too late. We may not have time to unpack the whole story but with the infilling of the Holy Spirit and a huge dose of prayer we can get the basics squared away and come back and refine it all as we are led by the Spirit.
When we start off it’s important not to get hung up on the minutia of faith and equally to make sure we don’t try to major in the minors. If you feel stuck somewhere in God’s word, move on and come back to it when you’re ready. Satan wants nothing more than for you to get discouraged in the “I’m not good enough or don’t know enough” swamp.
The other important aspect of this walk we are on is that we can expect to change. This work has a noticeable effect on your life and relationships. Some will want the old you back again.
When I became a Christian a few of my friends drifted away. It bothered me so I called one of them and enquired as to why they had moved on from me?
The reply was “we just want the old Hoody back.” ‘Oh you mean the one that was addicted to porn and wanted to kill himself? You want him back?” “No sorry to break it to you but he’s dead and gone and good riddance to him.”
But what is evident is that you changed because you realised that something was missing in your life. That you had a God shaped whole in your sole that you tried to fill with everything but God. You wanted to change and you were ready and so was Jesus.
So the answer is simple. Just go with it being prepared to learn and change in the process. You may lose some acquaintances but you will discover a family that will remain with you into eternity.
What could be better than that?
Keep it simple.
Questions
- Do you feel like it’s too late for you?
- What if you knew that it’s not too late? What would you do differently?
- Do you trust Jesus as the great promise keeper to get you home?
Prayer.
Dear Lord, Papa God.
Thank you for keeping the door open for a sinner like me. Papa help me to strengthen my resolve to walk with You and be answerable to You as the author and finisher of our faith. May I always stay close in behind you to follow Your will for my life for my eternal joy. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Have a great day with Jesus.
Graham Hood.
