"For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness." 1 Cor 10:1-5
It seems that more and more these people are concerned with appearances. Perhaps it is human nature to wear a mask and protect that which is behind it with all of one's might. Sadly, we are not nearly as consumed with having the inner man and woman and the outer man and woman be reflections of one another or better, of Jesus. Sometimes the masks we wear are made up of the religion in which we clothe ourselves. Far too often however, it is just that, clothing.
Beloved, there is no such thing as salvation by association. Each of us must develop our own relationship with the Lord and cultivate it as no other. Showing up at worship on Sunday, dropping large sums of money in the collection, quoting scripture and the like, are all useless and fruitless displays without the inner love, obedience and truth of Christ. Jesus himself said, "Not everyone that says unto me 'Lord, Lord' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" Matt 7:21.
This may appear to be a judgment of others. In fact it is a call for each to judge self. The word surely does. The Lord surely shall. Let us all endeavor to be what we have been called to be: true children of God.
Rejoicing in the Lord,
Lee
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