Big D little d

We just got back from an amazing week at Senior IMPACT on Saturday. I wasn’t sure what to expect from a theme like “The Day of Reckoning” but lives were changed and I pray that our family will be blessed because of it. The worship was simply incredible this past week and I am blessed so much by getting to worship with young people. God did amazing things this week.

The Day of Reckoning is mentioned often through scripture. You will find days of Reckoning with a small “d” and then there is the Day of Reckoning with the BIG “D.” Jesus often challenges us with the small “d” days of Reckoning to prepare us for the BIG “D” Day. My views on Judgment Day have changed so much this past week as we were challenged to dig deep into its meaning. My understanding of different passages has changed as well.

In the Gospel according to Matthew, Jesus has a run in with the Pharisees (as He often does) and they claim that He is casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub. Jesus goes on to preach to them about the words they use in regards to God’s work through the Holy Spirit. Matthew 12:30-32, Jesus speaks about blaspheming against the Holy Spirit, that it is forgivable for them to speak against the Son of Man but not against the Holy Spirit. Jesus then challenges them to look deep within themselves, “…for a tree is recognized by its fruit.” How can a bad tree produce good fruit? Search deep within yourself and see if your roots are good for producing fruit for the Day of Judgment is coming. Out of the heart the mouth speaks Truth in this world.

The last speaker this week spoke about being a light in this dark world. He stood in a spotlight and kept sweeping the area where the light was to keep up his Christian cosmetics. His challenge to us, and my challenge to you, is to find the areas where you are simply maintaining your Christian cosmetics and see how you can become the light that illuminates this world and isn’t simply maintained. Hide it under a bushel? NO! I’m gonna let it shine! Go deep to your roots and take care of the deeper parts of the tree and become healthy and fruitful.