Before the judgment seat of Christ our service will be judged not by how much I have done only, but also by how much we could have done. In God’s sight our giving is measured not only by how much we have given, but also by how much we could have given and how much we had left over after we gave. The needs of this world and our total ability to minister to those needs decide the worth of our service.

Not by size is our gift judged, buy by how much of “me/us” there is in it. No person gives at all until they have given all. No person gives anything acceptable to God until they have first given themselves in love and sacrifice.

In the work of the church (God’s people, not just the building) the amount one person must do to accomplish a task is determined by how much or how little the rest of the company is willing to do. It is a rare church whose members all put their shoulders to the wheel. The typical church is composed of a few whose shoulders are bruised by their faithful labors and the many who are unwilling to raise a blister in the service of God and their fellow-man. There may be a bit of humor in all this, but it is quite certain that there will be no laughter when each of us give account to God of the deeds done in the body. ~ A.W. Tozer

There is an old adage in church circles that I find to ring somewhat true; “15% of the people do 85% of the work.” I am not sure why this is, I am sure that more learned men could come up with an answer. I firmly believe that if the people of God could get just a glimpse of the mercy & grace that Christ has shown them, their shoulders would be “against the wheel” with joy. Maybe it is because they have not tasted the goodness of the Lord, maybe they are tired, maybe they feel unworthy. But I do know this, the world is darkened by the absence of the light that we are called to shine forth into it.

Paul says in Ephesians 3:8 that he was “less than the least of all the saints”. Paul felt so unworthy of the goodness that God had shown him through Christ that he was constantly amazed that God would/could use him. But that did not stop him from being obedient to his Lord. Divine grace cannot be rivaled by the “worst”. The cross is a glaring reminder that we are all utter & complete failures, it reminds us that we are unworthy. But it also reminds us of the One who IS worthy. Our worth comes from Christ and Christ alone.

Do not rob God of all that is due Him (your ENTIRE existence); put your shoulder to the wheel & push. Do not go into eternity knowing that you will be shamed. Go into eternity knowing that even though you were unworthy to lift a finger for Christ, you found your worth in Him. Will you be able to say like Paul “I have fought the good fight”?

Never forget three things: 1) Who you WERE 2) What Christ has done 3) What Christ has made you (a new creation 2nd Cor. 5:17). Live in the shadow of the cross, but never forget the glory of the empty tomb. Serve Him, He is worthy.

Soli Deo Gloria ~ JR

Reblogged from J.C. Ryle Quotes:

Never be ashamed of living the life of faith in Christ. People may ridicule and mock you, and even silence you in argument; but they can never take from you the feelings which faith in Christ gives. They can never prevent you feeling, “I was weary till I found Christ, but now I have rest of conscience. I was blind, but now I see. I was dead, but I am alive again. I was lost, but I am found.” ~ J.C. Ryle Tract: Come!

Reblogged from Justification by Grace:

“And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable: A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. …

Reblogged from J.C. Ryle Quotes:

I pity those who try to be holy without Christ! Your labor is all in vain. You are putting money in a bag with holes. You are pouring water into a sieve. You are rolling a huge round stone uphill. You are building up a wall with untempered mortar. Believe me, you are beginning at the wrong end. You must come to Christ first, and He shall give you His sanctifying Spirit. You must learn to say with Paul, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13) ~ J.C. Ryle Tract: Christ is All

Reblogged from roger tharpe:

The sticky, melt in your mouth and not in your hands, unless they are wet, fluffy sweet stuff. A summer/winter treat for the kids and adults. The family pet may join in the lip smacking goodness. This good stuff is called cotton candy. In order to begin the process of making cotton candy one needs to know the things that make up the carnival delight. Before we begin with the ingredients, we must make sure we have the correct tools for the task. You will need a measuring cup, a wisk, wire cutters, wooden …

Common sense takes people a long way.  Some folks say you either have it or you don’t.  Some will say that if you walk in the spirit, you don’t need common sense.  I’ve heard charismatic leaders say, “Don’t question this!” or “Don’t try to figure this stuff out… just go with it!”

Trinity Broadcasting Network is probably the biggest “christian” broadcasting channel on the planet.  The money that goes through there is more money than we little folks will ever see in our entire life time.  The network spans the globe; the owners own mansions, leisure jets, and stay in penthouse suites.  They drive cars with a price tag that would be enough to buy a house for normal, hard working people.  But, let’s not question it.

A glitter-dipped minister looks at the tv screen and tells you that if you’ll send in your last dime, God will heal you.  So, a lonely widow who has been diagnosed with cancer, who is feeling desperate, who is feeling forsaken sees that smiling face and she feels hope.  He would never lie to her, he’s a man of God.  She gets what last few dollars she has and she sends it to him.  Two weeks later she dies; but, he takes her money and goes back to his ivory castle.  But, don’t you dare question it.

A cracked out prostitute lays in the ghetto and trembles as her body is wracked in pain.  She hates the drug she’s addicted to but she must have it.  Her body needs it, or so she thinks.  It’s the only thing that will stop the physical pain.  It’s the only thing that will numb the emotional pain, if only temporarily.  The memories of sexual abuse come, but they don’t hurt as bad if she can’t feel.  The more she uses the more it eats her alive… but the memories keep coming, and the pain won’t stay away.  The burning cycle she is on kills her more and more every time.  She checks into a seedy hotel and curls up on the bed.  She turns  on the television just for a little noise and sees that nickel slick preacher staring back at her.  “God wants to prosper you.  All you need to do is to take out your check book and sow into that to reap a financial harvest.  God has promised he will prosper you.”  She stares at the screen and the pain goes deeper.  She has very little money.  How could she possibly afford a blessing from God?  Despair wells up until she feels nothing but hate.  “Where was God when ______ was sneaking into my bed every night?”  Where was His love then?”  She looks at the screen and hears that God wants to prosper her… but there are no answers to the questions that really haunt her.  Instead of the gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation, she hears a message about prosperity, which only has the power to make this preacher richer.  Deciding to take a chance that maybe God will help her, she finds her last five dollars and sends it in.  Two weeks later she dies of a drug overdose, but this man’s coffers just got fatter.  But, let’s not question it.

A heartbroken father holds his toddler in his arms.  Three weeks prior, his child fell into the family pool and drowned.  The medics were able to get a heartbeat, but the brain damage was too extensive.  The doctors have given up hope – there’s nothing else they can do.  In desperation, he checks his child out of the hospital and goes to a healing crusade.  He sits there, rocking his child and begging God for a miracle.  This preacher can heal him.  He’s done it so many times before.  He has donated to this man’s ministry for years – surely there’s a miracle for him.  The preacher with the million dollar smile and $2,000 suit comes to the platform and speaks of all the marvelous things God has done through him – and this will happen to you too, but only if you sow into what the spirit is doing.  The desperate father watches as the money buckets come out – he watches as people donate – he watches as the money overflows – and he watches as the preacher leaves the stage.  He looks down into his child’s face.  The million-dollar preacher walks away even richer – the father walks away and buries his child five days later.  But, no…don’t question it.

If God had never sent us His Word, if He had never taught us the way of righteousness, even common sense would demand outrage at this.  Even as sinful and depraved human beings, we look at that and see the perverseness of it all!  It should sicken us that these men (and even women) preach this abominable doctrine, and scam people in such a sleezy way, and they do it all in the name of God.  Common sense and common sense alone tells us this.  Or at least it should.  Many don’t reason it out.  Many don’t want to.  They believe these lies no matter how perverse it is.

But, don’t question it.  Don’t you dare.

There is all around us, however, a very evident and continuing substitute for worship. I speak of the compelling temptation among Christian believers to be constantly engaged, during every waking hour, in religious activity.

We cannot deny that it is definitely a churchly idea of service. Many of our sermons and much of our contemporary ecclesiastical teaching lean toward the idea that it is surely God’s plan for us to be busy, busy, busy – because it is the best cause in the world in which we are involved.

But if there is any honesty left in us, it persuades us in our quieter moments that true spiritual worship is at a discouragingly low ebb among professing Christians. Do we dare ask how we got to this state?

How can our approach to worship be any more vital than it is when so many who lead us, both in the pulpit and in the pew, give little indication that fellowship of God is delightful beyond telling? ~ A.W. Tozer

Does anyone besides me see the trend in many churches today? You know, the trend where the “worship experience” is designed not with God in mind, but with the wants and desires of those who are to BE worshipping God? What if we stopped everything, unplugged everything, and just got into the Word to see what God wants? It seems that would be a good place to start.

Why is everything based on “personal” stuff? Our personal ”revelations” from God….what’s wrong with what God has already revealed….is not Jesus the full revelation? Or we can say “this is not the type of music I PERSONALLY prefer”…ever wonder what God prefers? The list can go on… but the sad state of evangelicalism will continue on the same road it is on until we realize with full conviction that it’s about God… not us. Many will be surprised when/if they get to heaven and realize this truth.

Next time you worship, serve, fellowship; ask yourself in the back of your mind “is this pleasing to God?”

Soli Deo Gloria ~ JR

Reblogged from The Master's Slave:

You are the thief on the cross. You are dying, and you are looking into eternity. What will YOU do? HT The Rugged Cross

 Picked this up over at Reformedontheweb’s blog here.

Christians are told to “not love the world. But like most children we often say “well why not”. Is it not enough that He said not to? If that is the case for you, here is some more reasons to obey. Please remember what Jesus said in John 14:25 “If you love Me, you will keep My commands.” Just to keep the confusion down, the word “world” means society or cultural mindset.

Because the gain of it is the loss of the soul.—Matthew16:25.

Because its friendship is enmity to God.—James 4:4.

Because it did not know Christ.—John1:10;17:25.

Because it hates Christ.—John 7:7;15:18.

Because the Holy Spirit has forbidden us.—1 John2:15.

Because Christ did not pray for it.—John 17:9.

Because Christ’s people do not belong to it.—John17:16.

Because it will not receive the Spirit.—John14:27.

Because its Prince is Satan.—John13:31;16:11.

Because Christ’s kingdom is not of it.—John18:36.

Because its wisdom is foolishness.—1 Corinthians1:20.

Because its wisdom is ignorance.—1 Corinthians1:21.

Because Christ does not belong to it.—John8:23.

Because it is condemned.—1 Corinthians11:32.

Because the fashion of it passeth away.—1 Corinthians7:31.

Because it slew Christ.—James 5:6; Matthew21:39.

Because it is crucified to us.—Galatians6:14.

Because we are crucified to it.—Galatians6:14.

Because it is the seat of wickedness.—2 Peter 1:4; 1 John5:19.

Because its god is the evil one.—2 Corinthians 4:4.

Reblogged from J.C. Ryle Quotes:

If you are determined to have the world and the things of the world, its pleasures and its rewards, its follies and its sins; if you must have your own way, and cannot give up anything for Christ and your soul; if this be your case, there is but one end before you. I fairly warn you, I plainly tell you, you will sooner or later come to the unquenchable fire of hell. But if anyone is willing to be saved, the Lord Jesus Christ stands ready to save them. “Come unto Me,” He says, “weary soul, and I will give …