I was reading a recent article on website called Shamah-Elim about the purpose and scope of preaching. The Lord used it remind me that, as much as salvation is to our benefit, its true purpose is for His benefit. All that He does draws our attention to His glory. All that He does is for His pleasure and to serve His will.
You will bring them in and plant them
In the mountain of Your inheritance,
In the place, O LORD, which You have made
For Your own dwelling,
The sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established.
Exodus 15:17 [NKJV]
When we miss this critical truth, we end up evangelizing in error; we end up preaching a half-gospel. If we encourage people to answer the call of Christ just so that they will be able to live a better life, we have completely missed the point. In the worst case, some will mistakenly believe that they have been reconciled to God. Their heart was not for the Kingdom, but for themselves... and it remains that way today. Tragically, some will come to the end of their days never having been taught to truly give up their lives, to truly die to self, and to genuinely live for Christ.
Sisters and brothers, this is an urgent time. The days are no doubt growing short. The Lord has redeemed us so that we would become His dwelling place. Make Christ the one and only desire of your heart, that He might find that heart an acceptable and welcoming dwelling place.
Be encouraged,
Jose
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