I have travelled to several of the largest cities in the United States including, New York, Los Angles, Miami, and Atlanta. One time I got turned around driving through downtown Atlanta looking for Turner Field. My mom, Sarah Grace and I were meeting up with the guys to see the Atlanta Braves play. A times, after turning either left on this street or right on that one, we could see the stadium in the distance. We just couldn't figure out how to get there. It was almost comical! I even stopped at one point to ask a stranger, who said he lived in Atlanta, how to find the stadium. He looked at us like we were crazy. But he couldn't tell us. I thought that was weird. How does a resident of Atlanta walking down the sidewalk in downtown not know how to find Turner Field? That is a challenge many in the church are facing today. So many of us are going to church, walking around the downtown of our spiritual existence and have no idea how to find the main attraction. It doesn't have to be that way. God's desire and expectation for His children is so much higher.
God's promises have been shared in this blog in an effort to remind us of our strength in Christ: To encourage us not be afraid to follow our calling -- and we all have one; to see Christ for who he is and be empowered to give our entire life to be used for His purpose, even unto death; and to be the advocate for the lowly and weak, the champion for orphans and widows, and offer comfort to the broken hearted. It is such a challenge because we can see where Christ is, like Turner Field in downtown Atlanta. He is where the broken hearted are. He is in the orphanages and is comforting the weak. I have found myself wandering around the downtown of my spiritual walk, comfortable knowing where I am going in my day-to-day activities, able see where Christ is and what he is doing but not having any idea how to get to Him. Dear friend, after praying and searching God's word in a effort to find the way to Him, He revealed the directions. They are in the familiar verses we have heard a hundred times. "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse you hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded." James 4:8. All we have to do is draw near to Him. "Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord Almighty." Malachi 3:7. It is very simple actually, but do not confuse simple with easy.
We are told in the Sermon on the Mount the attributes of this life that are blessed. Those are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, who are meek, and hunger and thirst for righteousness, those who are merciful, pure in heart and are peacemakers, and lastly, who are persecuted for righteousness' sake. That is the road map to where Christ is, not only showing us where He is but how to get there. These are not virtues which come as second nature. It is possible with Christ, however, to develop these traits by leaving the streets on which we wander daily, where we are comfortable and familiar, and follow the manual to Christ. We must come away from where we are and separate from the ways of this world. "My beloved spoke, and said to me: 'Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away." Song of Solomon 2:10. Christ desires for us to come away with Him, but by the very nature of that thought tells us we cannot come away and stay where we are at the same time.
We are to come away to do the work Christ is doing. We are to have the heart of God, as well as His hands and feet, to be about His mission. "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep." Romans 12:10-15. This is how we get there. We leave our old familiar surroundings and habits to where Christ is, to be about what is important to Him. This looks different in each of our lives but has the commonality of virtues listed in the Sermon on the Mount. If we want to be closer to Christ the directions are simple but the road is often rocky. It is just a matter of if we have the desire to get there.
For more information about this ministry please visit our website at http://closertochrist.today/
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