In The Study

2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. Wuest v. 2 pg 154 “There is no place for clowning in the pulpit of Jesus Christ” We must herald the message of the King with the dignity and authority that says we truly have the King’s message. If we cannot approach the pulpit with the weight of the King’s message on our hearts then maybe we should not approach the pulpit at all! Do we have a commission from God to fill a time slot with talking or preach the message of the King? Far too many times we stand in pulpits to display our ability rather than to declare the King’s message. We must have at least as much time with the King as we have with the people. Pray tell me how we can speak for the King for an hour and we have only listened to the King for a few fleeting and crowded moments.    

As my thoughts are settling and my mind is calming down and focusing on tomorrow, the Lord's Day. I am reminded of a conversation I had while soul-winning this week. A dear lady said that she was looking for a church that she was "comfortable with" and during the conversation I explained to her that church is not going to make me comfortable but a church should make you feel welcome. I explained that the closer I get to the Lord the more I see my weakness and my sin and that is not comfortable. However there is never be a time on this earth when God will not welcome me into his arms as a humble child.  We all seem to have a hidden fear that if our closest friends really knew all our sins and all our hidden motives and all of our evil thoughts they would not remain our friend. They would avoid  me or even reject me. I would be alone! We also fear the same thing of God. If God really knew all my thoughts and all my sin he would disown me. According to Psalm 139 ...