What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice
“Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it” (Jer6:19). In Jeremiah the prophet's day, God had a grievance with his chosen people, Israel. In our day God has the same grievance with America. A preacher of righteousness will not be popular. Jesus tells us that the world will hate those who abide in him, and gives love and hate in stark contrast (John 15). There is no room for straddling the fence. He pleads that you continue in his love, assuring that we have the ability to step out of it. “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love” (15:10). Christ's plea to abide in his love is followed by three sobering realities. First we will be his friend, not his servant. He has intimately shared everything with us in the Holy Bible; all of his plans and wishes are written down for us We can be a friend of God, like Abraham, Moses or Daniel. Second is that the world is going to hate God's friends. It is not about you, it is about Christ. He has uncovered the sins of the world, and they are not going to like your candle. Thirdly, his friends have a Comforter and Spirit of truth dwelling in them and are commissioned to bear witness, as they bring forth fruit. There is a tremendous promise associated with these three sobering realities. “That whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you” (15:16). Two things, the promise is only for those abiding, as witnesses, with fruit, and the word “may” is different than the legal term “shall.” Abide in him.
An Essay for week #5 Jan 29, 2017
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A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit
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