What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice
Read backwards the line “A man a plan a canal panama” and you get what you started with. It is called a palindrome. I cannot think about a plan without that line coming to mind. It is called senility. The year 2015 is upon us and we need a plan, a goal, a resolution, a five year schema with several annual achievable objectives. The Kingdom of God does not operate like any kingdom of this world. The twelve disciples and I try to force fit it into achievable resolutions, but Jesus puts it succinctly, “He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal” (John 12:25). In his Kingdom, to save your life you loose it, abundant life comes when we die daily, to gain bread, cast thy bread upon the water, to gain riches, give away all that you have. My plans are more attractive. But he still insists, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit” (vr. 24) His plan does not have a “Purpose Driven” Church, Life or Anything! It is like, “He must increase and I must decrease!” I dare not belittle resolutions, but this year I want to hear Paul beseeching me by the mercies of God, that I present my body a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God. (Rom 12) May I “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil 2:5), and let that corn of wheat die, as I quote “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” (Gal 2:20). Happy New Year.
An Essay for week #1 Jan 4, 15
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