"....To the pilgrims of the Dispersion..., elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you and peace be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:1-5, KJV)
The NASB says, "that you may obey Jesus Christ." This is foundational, house-building Christianity. Our text is only two sentences, but in those two sentences is the Gospel, the Good News, "concerning his Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead (Romans 1). Just reading our text made my day.
I read an article earlier this morning which said that the "Millennials" (those born after 1980) are "unplugging from religious institutions at a rate unprecedented in U. S. history," at a rate far greater than the "Xers," or the "Boomers." (I recommend reading the complete article on our Blog.)
The article gives reasons. I offer a familiar note, and, you may stop reading, because the thought may emerge, "Same old stuff."
The reality is that modern expressions of whatever you want to call "Christianity" have departed from the Word of God. He says, "If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." Forget, for a moment, that new car, that new house, and overflowing retirement account. What if the modern church just began to apply this promise of Jesus to revival, to reaching the lost Millennials, Xers, Boomers, lost, period? Consider the possibilities if the modern church took seriously, "Brethern, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning."
Father, in Jesus' Name, keep me a student of "the old commandment." Amen.
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Article Referred to above @: www.apf327.blogspot.com
When 18 year old Peter Torjesen "heard the call to evangelize China, he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
