I start off with a story. I was in high school and was allowed to bring in my private reading material I could read in class once I was done with my homework. It was one of those testimonial stories of how Jesus came in and changed their world. This one was really dark though. The stories they told in the book were all true and how they kidnapped babies, skinned them alive and burned them alive as an offering to satan. It was the most awful book I had ever read. The stories of the baby/ animal sacrifices were quite appalling and gruesome and the only thing that kept me reading was knowing Jesus would eventually come in transforming and changing lives. My classmate asked me what I was reading….

I told him how horrific it was and how awful. He asked why I kept reading and I told him because I knew Jesus was going to transform and heal him in the end. He asked me if he could borrow it and promised to return it and said sure. Hoping and praying that as he read that Jesus would reveal himself to him and make himself real to him in an intimate way. Why am I telling you this story? I shared that book with the intent and motive to save his soul and bring him closer to Jesus.

Over the years, I have prayed wondering what his motive and intent was to want that book? I have repented to the Lord of even giving him that book praying nothing transpired from it in the wrong hands.  I got the book back thank God but only God knows what he did with that information. I was very naive and believed the good in everyone. I learned my lesson to never toss my pearls amongst swine. We find that in Matthew 7:6 “do not toss to dogs what is holy and do not cast your pearls amongst swine. Jesus was addressing the people about not judging others with self righteous judgement. All of our judgements are not all out spoken but nothing gets by the Lord. Any judgement even in our feelings and thought life God knows them all. God sees God knows God hears.

I thank God for His mercy, His unending graciousness and we are all still here not having to face the wrath of God if we accept it and if we receive it as ours making a covenant with Him. Some may be thinking, I know the marriage covenant and I know the covenant God made with Noah with the rainbow but what do you mean my covenant with God? I’m glad you asked! First, let us state that a covenant is an agreement between two people. 

People that made covenant with God in the bible were Abraham, Israel, David and Jesus.In Gen 17 God asked Abram to walk with him and be trustworthy. Abram fell on his face in fear of the Lord and reverence. Telling him he will be a father of nations and El ohim will be their God.  Abram part of the covenant to circumcise them.

David’s covenant was that God would secure the promises of the land, descendants and blessings. That’s in 2 Samuel 7. Getting back to Jesus’ covenant. Jesus was the new covenant as a new relationship with God and humans mediated by Jesus upon sincere declaration  as they believe in Jesus as Lord and God. When Jesus walked on this earth He called the leaders of the church white washed tombs and broods of vipers!  Calling them hypocrites and stiff necked people. We are saved by God’s grace but we take that grace and sacrificing His life for us and what do we do?

We judge people by their actions yet justify ourselves by our motives! We leaders look at the Pharisees of Jesus day and even Judas and think we would never! But before we make this self righteous judgement let us look within! How did that make you feel when she came at you sideways? If we are honest, open and transparent we will be real with not only ourselves but with one another.

Us leaders have abused grace justifying our behaviors and actions with grace saying things like well I’m not in heaven and Gods not done with me yet.  But like all the other conversions we read and know in the bible, which one Jesus ever said I love you I forgive you I understand so keep on sinning purposely? None! I hear you when you say, but I do try. He doesn’t ask the adulterous woman to try harder but He tells her He doesn’t condemn go and sin no more. What are we willing to do? What things do we need to re release to Him?

What things have been lying there dormant  the Lord waiting for you to trust Him and hand it over to Him completely? Everyone wants Jesus as Saviour but not even the leaders are willing to make Him Lord over all! I am not perfect and never claim to be. I have made assumptions , held on to hurt too long and allowed Him in 99 percent. We are called as leaders to lead by example. To be God’s representative and be willing to be a repairer of the breach.

To look at the dry bones and speak decree, declare and believe with all our hearts that they can and will live again. Trust and believe not only with our lips but in our hearts that He can and will heal, restore, mend ,renew and reconstruct if we are willing to relinquish the towel of control! Let us stand up today with a repentant heart, re submitting it back to Him allowing Him in every crook and cranny. Every dark place. We don’t have to have it all figured out but to be willing so we can stop being the self righteous hypocritical pharisees unite as one body on one accord. And for some out there thinking the church made it?

All you need to do is search our hearts. Our feelings and the condition of the church! As we go forward in discussion and in prayer time to be still in the Presence of God allowing Him to search us and when He reveals to be willing to repent surrender get back in line and go at it again. I hear leaders saying God knows my heart lol which He does then why is it so hard for us to let Him in truly to heal?

Even with the pandemic the church as a whole have allowed it to distract depress and distort rather than to stand up unite and come together Let’s stop playing church and try behaving like one with one random act of kindness letting the ripple effect so much that the world will be talking about those christians as a good thing and not derogatory term.  Getting back to what the church was originally intended to do….

Save the lost, heal the sick, cast out devils and edify the body. What we are posting is it for saving a soul or gratifying our flesh? Is it for correction where the sword cuts and stings but also heals?  Is it to unite, grow, develop and come together? As we go forward today let’s be mindful of the things we are allowing to take up residency and control in our heads, hearts and behavior! That is when we will see true healing in the body. God bless you