"A Price To Pay"

"They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land." (Psalms 74:8) Not that is matters, but do you really think this is the end, or what? I mean, we really can't get much closer to the edge of our seats than we are right now, on almost every single topic and area of life; be it the economy, the climate, ballistic air strikes, earthquake's, plagues and global sickness, technology running our lives; it's all pretty much coming to a climax in almost every area of life. Not to mention the social and physical areas, such as family structure, sexual identity, and even mental stability. There is more reason for people to turn to God now than there was ever before; if they would just listen; if they could just see; but the devil has blinded their eyes and filled their minds with strange sounds, so that they cannot see God nor hear His appeal. We might not understand everything that is happening, but we cannot keep looking the other way when it comes to caring for the lost. Just in case you might not know this, but we have a job to do when it comes to spreading the Gospel. Each and every believer has been given something that they must share! "Living Water" is water that flows, it does not become stagnant because there is life within it. That is more important than any building to assemble in, or any temple to worship in; we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, each and every one of us that have been washed in the blood of Christ. You cannot keep silent! You cannot keep Jesus all to yourself! You must share what you have been given, or it does not count for anything! I know that might be hard to swallow and it might sound legalistic or like faith based upon works; but it is really not about doing anything to earn our salvation, it's more about living out our salvation. It goes back to that story about the "Wedding Garment" and how the master of the house was offended that his guest did not put the garment on. The garment was a way of respecting the wedding party and it's host; to not put on the garment showed great disrespect; more disrespect than those that refused to even show up! Please don't misread what I am saying, because it's a lot like tithing. Tithing is not a law that is written, as in, "Thou shalt give ten percent," but it's an obligation of respect and worship. But everyone that does not tithe uses the law to justify their freedom to not tithe, saying, "We are not under the law, so we don't have to do it if we don't want to." Sure, you don't have to do anything, but you get left out of many blessing if you don't! Maybe you don't understand what the Bible means, saying, "God loves a cheerful giver;" because the word 'cheerful' does not just mean joyful or hilarious, it also means ready or prepared at a moments notice...
 "So then, Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. You won't spend the rest of your life chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy -their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols. Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you. But remember that they will have to face God, who will judge everyone, both the living and the dead. That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead -so although they were destined to die like all people, they now live forever with God in the Spirit. The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it will all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen." (1 Peter 3:1-11) NLT