Our normal, ordinary view of
salvation is hopelessly and ridiculously inadequate.
Our trouble is that we always start with ourselves instead of starting
with God. Instead of going to the
Bible and looking at its revelation and discovering there what salvation
means, I start with myself and certain things that I want and desire, certain
benefits that I always want to enjoy in this life and in this world.
I
want forgiveness of sins; I want peace of conscience and of mind; I want
enjoyment and happiness; I want to be delivered from certain sins; I want
guidance; I want this and that; and my whole conception of salvation is
reduced to that level. ...
The
most wonderful thing of all is not that my sins have been forgiven, nor that I
may enjoy certain experiences and blessing as a Christian.
The thing that should astound me ... is that I am a child of God, one
of God's people. -- D. Martyn
Lloyd-Jones in Safe in the World. Christianity Today, Vol. 34, no. 7.
Scriptures Text:
Exodus 19:1 (NIV) In the third month after the Israelites left
Egypt--on the very day--they came to the Desert of Sinai. 2 After they set out
from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in
the desert in front of the mountain. 3 Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD
called to him from the mountain and said, "This is what you are to say to
the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 `You
yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles'
wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my
covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although
the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy
nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites." 7
So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them
all the words the LORD had commanded him to speak. 8 The people all
responded together, "We will do everything the LORD has said." So
Moses brought their answer back to the LORD.
Do This in Remembrance of Me
Remember who God is.
He is the only true living God
who owns the whole earth.
Remember who you are. You
are a treasured possession.
Remember what the Lord has
done. Remember
how the Lord has saved you and brought you out of Egypt.
How He carried you on eagle’s wings.
Remember the Lord’s
covenant. Don’t forget the
Lord’s promise to you.
Remember the New Covenant. He has first loved you
and forgiven you.
Remember who the Lord has
made us to be.
Rev.
1:5 And from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, [and] the first
begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that
loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us
kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him [be] glory and dominion for
ever and ever. Amen.
Chosen by God.
You have been chosen by the Lord
to be uncommonly good. You will not be like the rest of the people of the earth.
Treasured Possessions.
You are treasured by the Lord.
You are valuable. He died
for you.
Kingdom of Priests.
You will represent the people to
God. You will represent God to the people. The Bible says, "Now it is required
that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful" (1 Cor. 4:2).
A Holy Nation.
As a holy nation you will stand
apart from all the others and you will live for the Lord.
People’s response.
Will you do everything the Lord
says? Will we obey the Lord and follow his desires for our life?
Remember who the Lord is and his desires for our lives.
It is required of a man that he be faithful, not successful.
-- Howard Hendricks, Leadership, Vol. 1, no. 3.
Sure we believe in freedom of speech.
You've got the right to say anything
you like.
But others don't have to listen!
They're under no obligation to tune you in; when they do, they can also tune
you out anytime they wish.
Your right to speak is
guaranteed--but you must earn the right to be listened to. It depends solely
on your integrity. Integrity is the prerequisite to acceptance.
If you expect to be paid attention
to, back it up with your life. Let your walk correspond to your talk.
This is fundamental to your witness
for Christ. Many so-called Christians listen too little, talk too much, and
live lives that contradict what they say. Their "witness" betrays
Christ-and alienates those to whom they speak.
Jesus said, "Why do you call
me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46).
-- Richard C. Halverson in No Greater Power.
Christian Reader, Vol. 25, no. 1.