Years ago, Carol and I were visiting my grandparents in Seattle. I LOVE Seattle, Washington! Fisherman's Wharf, Space Needle, Pugent Sound, Mt. Ranier, and a wonderful climate (when it does not rain).
I remember we were looking for a church to attend one Sunday. We pulled into the parking lot of a church and saw a sign that said, "Closed for the summer." What? A church that is closed just because it is nice weather outside? I have heard of churches that close because of threatening weather, snowy weather, power outages, and even severe cold weather, but not because the weather was TOO good!
I cannot imagine a church shutting down so every one could go camping, boating, picnicing, or go to the beach. I'm not old fashion or legalistic but I do want to be a serious follower of Jesus Christ who is intentional...on purpose...deliberate. Taking the summer off from the Body of Christ and ministry is not the action of a deliberate, on purpose, intentional follower of Jesus. Rather, it seems like the action of just a nominal religious church member. There is a huge difference between the two.
Satan and his cohorts do not close for the summer. Darkness does not postpone till the fall to resume ruining lives. The Great Commission negates the luxury of closing for the summer. The Lost...hurting...addicted...angry...hungry do not close for the summer either.
So, are you an intentional deliberate follower of Christ, or are you closed for the summer?
I'm thinking of believers and whole churches who are shutting down for lack of fresh oil. I wonder what God is saying to us through the Gulf Coast Oil spill. Is He telling us that once again we fail as stewards of our natural resources? Or is He inviting us to look deeper at the loss of our supernatural resources? Oil in the Bible it is used for anointing, cooking, consecrating, and light. It is a symbol of the Holy Spirit.
ReplyDeleteHow is it that crude oil is flooding onto the shorelines of America when we desperately need it? But we are incompetent to harness or use it. I wonder if this is a self portrait. Am I skimming up little traces of God so everybody can see that I’m trying? Or do I really long for an outpouring and an overflow of God’s Spirit? Do I want to tap into the well of His grace and His holiness no matter how messy it gets, and how dangerous it might be? Am I willing to risk everything to have even a few drops of fresh oil one more time? What kind of life would I have if I were to be a channel of the overflowing, refreshing Holy Spirit of the Living God?
What an interesting analogy Bob. Fresh oil in our spiritual life is serious business...anointing by His Spirit is so needed. I am afraid our churches are only seeing dabs of oil wash up in our church when what we need is a well tapped and have it flow in then out making room for more so we constantly channel and operate under His influence
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