I believe with all my heart that God is trying to bring our attention back to him. We sing the song “I will not be idle…”
There are too many who are leading lives that will bring them to destruction, thus God has certainly placed accountability on the shoulders of those who hearken unto His word (Christians).
We are very accountable to this dying world:
Proverbs 24:11-12
11 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;
12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
Philippians 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Christ set the example: Philippians 2:5-8
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
Someone might say, “Well I’m not Jesus.”
What is the second commandment?
Mark 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
John 15:12-14
“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”
What shall happen to the man who puts his own life above the will of God?
Matthew 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
In what way should we lose our life?
Ephesians 4:23-24
“And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
It is through the giving of our old life that we shall find the blessings of the new life; which is a life “created in righteousness and true holiness.” The bible is very clear on how the Christian should lead their life.
Titus 2:11-14
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
We cannot even begin to do the works of God until we have first given our life unto Christ Jesus. For if we cannot keep the first commandment (Mark 12:30) how shall we be about the second (Mark 12:31)?
We should also be mindful that:
Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Once we know for sure that our life is in Christ and not in this world (Eph. 2:1-4) then can we begin to be fruitful for God.
John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
We can never bear the fruit of God if we keep the old root; our life, and not allow God to make that cut and thus are without the spiritual grafting to the vine of Christ.
How shall we know if we are on the vine?
We shall sin no more for if we are grafted to Christ’s true vine then shall our fruit be of Christ.
John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
So here is a good thought to be had; “Do I know the will of God for my own life?”
Ephesians 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
God does not excuse ignorance where there is opportunity for knowledge and wisdom:
Proverbs 1:20-32
“Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.”
“Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.”
Here it is that we then know the purpose of our life:
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”
We should ask God for wisdom every day so that we can be certain that we have not become deceived.
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
And if we know what we ought to do we should then do it:
James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
The ministry of God is not left only to those in positions of authority (Heb. 13:7, 17) yet is dealt out across the entire body.
1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
When we look at God’s will; that all men should be saved, we must first be sure that we ourselves are living free from sin. Once we our saved then we our within the liberty of Christ to help others (Matt 7:5) – beginning with whole hearted prayer for all men.
1 Timothy 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
Let us not be idle saints
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