Foreword:

Ever wonder what God might have to say to YOU today? Here are things to ponder, and things to receive into your heart. If you have a question, put it in the comments. I respond as much as I can.

A note for all my readers: I've been experimenting with YouTube videos for Bible teaching, and now I'm working my way through the New Testament. I encourage you to subscribe to my YouTube channel for better coverage. I'm still writing, of course, and my written posts appear here.

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

"All The World."

What a marvelous opportunity! We are not confined to any one place, nation, tribe, or people. Think of the amazing privilege:
"All Creation" (Mark 16)
"All nations" (Luke 24)
"Ends of the Earth" (Acts 1)
"You" (John 20)
The Gospel that Jesus taught us to proclaim is both universal and individual, and is not only for "everyone," but for each one. This is one of the reasons I love the message so much.  "Each" is as important as "All." It's for everyone, but nobody gets depersonalized. Each person is valuable, and each person is equal in his importance as far as salvation is concerned.
That's one of the things that makes the preaching of the message such a privilege--makes our feet beautiful, as Isaiah (and Paul after him) say: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" When I tell the sick man that everlasting life can await him, or the child that God loves him, or the homeless woman that she has a home forever with God.
Too much teaching in our day forgets what Jesus really taught--"whoever believes in Me has everlasting life," and focuses on things that really only matter briefly.  These things are important (social justice, taking care of the poor), but we can't forget that what Jesus wanted people to remember Him for first of all was His death and resurrection, and how that affects us permanently ("This do, as often as you will, in remembrance of Me"--referring to His death for us as represented in the communion service).