Matthew 16: Disciple Qualification, God's Work
For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
Matthew 16:26-27 (NKJV)
Specifically, what is the Lord's work? Is it going to Earth's poorest people? To see, feed, clothe, house, teach, tend, and love them?
YES, and praise God for all the action-saints, whose missions are live, not simply “a trip.” Praise God for those know KNOW they work for HIM! Because…
When the time is right, our work WILL BE judged!
'For the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work' (1 Corinthians 3:13).*
Two necessary questions to ponder:
What kinds of work may quickly burn away? Our acquisitions and status symbols? Every hard-won work that brought us glory?
What kinds of work may survive holy fire? Love, kindness, helping hands, and sacrifice? Every single thing we gave to others?
Actors, models, and talent for Christ:
Have the star-struck fans of entertainment become Earth’s most impoverished people? They may not look lost, naked, or hungry, because their distress is spiritual.
Consider them sheep, seeking a shepherd: aching for hope, purpose, and family.
Our Captain’s Letter to the Lukewarm Church disturbingly describes modern culture. Even better, it offers remedies.**
Actors, models, and talent for Christ:
As you rise and shine in media's fields,
As you act on the stages God assigns,
As you model the kindness of Jesus,
As you sing loving notes of harmony,
As you step out in the footgear of peace,
As you gently reveal the One True Star,
You’re also leading lambs to the Shepherd!
I believe your shining performances that point sad eyes and hearts toward Jesus WILL SURVIVE THE FIRE. Stay encouraged that your hard work matters!
Matthew 16: Qualification, God’s Work (Part 25)
* The Judgment (Please note this passage on the criteria for mankind's final judgment comes directly after The Parable of the Talents): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mat+25%3A31-46&version=NASB
** The Lukewarm Church: Revelation 3:14-22 NKJV - The Lukewarm Church - “And to the - Bible Gateway
** See MacLaren's Exposition, Christ's Counsel To A Lukewarm Church re: Revelation 3:18 (mid-way down the page): http://biblehub.com/commentaries/revelation/3-18.htm, including...
'Whether there be any truth or not in the old idea that these letters to the seven churches are so arranged as, when taken in sequence, to present a fore-glimpse of the successive conditions of the Church till the second coming of our Lord, it is at least a noteworthy fact that the last of them in order is the lowest in spiritual state. That church was 'lukewarm'; neither cold--untouched by the warmth of the Spirit of Christ at all--'nor hot'--adequately inflamed thereby.
That is the worst sort of people to get at, and it is no want of charity to say that Laodicea is repeated in a thousand congregations, and that Laodiceans are prevalent in every congregation. All our Christian communities are hampered by a mass of loose adherents with no warmth of consecration, no glow of affection, no fervor of enthusiasm; and they bring down the temperature, as snow-covered mountains over which the wind blows make the thermometer drop on the plains...'
NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God! We’re ALL called to be actors (action stars) for Jesus. We’re ALL called to models of Jesus, and we ALL have gifts, talents, and callings from God– to multiply them in the world for His glory.
P.S. NO DEVOTION, PREACHER, or SERMON… can begin to replace personal time in the Bible. I wholeheartedly and clear-headedly recommend READING THE BIBLE DAILY.
WARNING: Don’t focus on favorite verses, because out of context, they’re often misinterpreted. I plead with you to READ AT LEAST 1 BIBLE CHAPTER DAILY. How long does it take? An average of 5 to 10 minutes!