This weekend at Calvary is a very exciting and important one. It’s our “INGATHERING.” For weeks, we’ve been digging into biblical truths about receiving from God everything we have and managing it according to His intended purposes for His glory. Many of us have read “The Treasure Principle,” by Randy Alcorn. His sixth principle is: “God prospers me not to raise my standard of living but my standard of GIVING.” This week we’ve been wrestling with the concept that Generosity is the antidote to Selfishness. Do you see how these two truths work together in God’s design for how His people should live in our world? In Mark 1:17-45, four guys leave their fishing business in response to Jesus’ invitation to follow Him and be transformed by Him into men who can make a significant difference in our world. Look today at one more “lesson” they learn in Mark 1:40-45. If we are honest, we all have limits to our generosity. Jesus broke the mold. Lepers were to be avoided at all costs. Unemployable, discarded from their families, only friends with other lepers, they were totally rejected by society. Look around. Who are the “totally rejected” in your world today? What about those who consider themselves total rejects? Do you see the man’s question to Jesus, “if you are willing…” ? God is ALWAYS willing. His generosity with His healing, helping, unconditional love power is always available… the problem is with us, for we are the ones who block God’s reach of hope! “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us” (2 Cor. 5:20). And when the ambassadors refuse to reach out, but rather focus the King’s resources on themselves, their personal agendas… do you see the disaster? Again I ask, what is God saying to you about the building project and the resources He is providing you and all of us for its accomplishment? This weekend we’ll bring our “final commitment cards” and join together as a Calvary family in our obedient and joyful response to His invitation to trust Him as He provides THROUGH us what He knows the mission He has called Calvary to will need for accomplishment. Notice what happened after the leper was cured by Jesus. In these early weeks of Jesus’ mission, He didn’t want the big crowds. He was quietly building His team, looking for those who would “come and follow Me” so He could transform them into “fishers of men.” The crowds complicated it. Question: are we doing anything that complicates what Jesus is trying to accomplish in our day? Digging Deeper ~ Pastor Doug Anderson
Posted on: Fri, 14 Mar 2014 12:00:00 +0000
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