“Lack of interest in mission is not fundamentally caused by an absence of compassion or commitment, nor by lack of information or exhortation. And lack of interest in mission is not remedied by more shocking statistics, more gruesome stories or more emotionally manipulative commands to obedience. It is best remedied by intensifying peoples’ passion for Christ, so that the passions of his heart become the passions that propel our hearts.”
― Tim A. Dearborn, Beyond Duty: A Passion For Christ, A Heart For Mission
9Then in the nations where they have been carried captive, those who escape will remember me—how I have been grieved by their adulterous hearts, which have turned away from me, and by their eyes, which have lusted after their idols. (6:9)EZEKIEL 4-6
HEBREWS 10:1-23
19Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Placed by the blood of Jesus, 20by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body,e 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
23Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.
JOURNAL
The verses in Ezekiel are exhaustingly depressive. It's all about how God is going to bring about death, destruction and suffering to the tribes of Israel. On and on the verses state how grieved God is and how his anger is to be carried out against the Israelites. Then moving over to Hebrews I read how Jesus, the perfect son of God forever pays the price for this sin and stands in our place.
God coming into our life, redefines our basic emotional brain in order that we would be able to love and "spur one another on toward love and good deeds". This is the purpose of our redemption, this is the reason that we are "born again" and redeemed. It is for this purpose, to share God's love and to bring the Kingdom of God into our communities and into our world.
That means that I am to see every moment, every action through this lens of transformation. My obedience and passion is fueled directly from this amazing miracle. This is my motivation for waking up each morning...this is the reason and purpose of suffering through frustrations and difficulties and bad breaks. Upon this rock...this foundation, I have the reason for pushing through every struggle as well as the discipline to seek God in every circumstance. Whether rich or poor, whether in sickness or in health, whether in celebration or despair. I have my reason for living and living abundantly.
16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
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