"He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters." (v30)
These words are incredible to me. They strike such a strong warning and such a powerful rebuke. Everything in our lives need to be for Jesus, for the Kingdom of God (Matt6:32), a living sacrifice (Rom12:1-2), to His glory and praise (1Cor10:31; Col3:17,23).
But if we are not for Him, as that verse, as the words Jesus spoke say, we are against Him. There is a dichotomy here. There is no middle ground. Well, there is, but it says in Revalation that God would rather we were one or the other and because of this 'lukewarmness' He is going to spit them out (Rev3:15-16). The goats, although not wolves, will still be sorted out (Matt25:31-46). Those who did great things in His name, yet did not know Him will be sorted out (Matt7:21-23).
So really, it's either for Him or against Him and the next part is even more frightening. If I am not gethering... I am scattering.
Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Lk19:10).
To gather those who are afflicted and injured, weary and scattered (Ezk34).
But this is a very real reality Matt25:46: "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
Either we are for Him, gathering others as we have seen His great love and justice through the cross.
Or.
We are against Him, scattering even those who had been found, insulting His every deed done to save us and spitting in His face only to be spat out into punishment.
And it is far too easy to slip back into our sinful nature, but by Christ, anyone who calls upon His name can claim the gift of forgiveness and redemption through the blood on the cross. They can ask for God's Spirit to indwell and sanctify, guide and make new that which had been broken; empowering them to live lives reciprocating God's love.
So, ya, are you gathering or scattering?
These words are incredible to me. They strike such a strong warning and such a powerful rebuke. Everything in our lives need to be for Jesus, for the Kingdom of God (Matt6:32), a living sacrifice (Rom12:1-2), to His glory and praise (1Cor10:31; Col3:17,23).
But if we are not for Him, as that verse, as the words Jesus spoke say, we are against Him. There is a dichotomy here. There is no middle ground. Well, there is, but it says in Revalation that God would rather we were one or the other and because of this 'lukewarmness' He is going to spit them out (Rev3:15-16). The goats, although not wolves, will still be sorted out (Matt25:31-46). Those who did great things in His name, yet did not know Him will be sorted out (Matt7:21-23).
So really, it's either for Him or against Him and the next part is even more frightening. If I am not gethering... I am scattering.
Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Lk19:10).
To gather those who are afflicted and injured, weary and scattered (Ezk34).
But this is a very real reality Matt25:46: "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
Either we are for Him, gathering others as we have seen His great love and justice through the cross.
Or.
We are against Him, scattering even those who had been found, insulting His every deed done to save us and spitting in His face only to be spat out into punishment.
And it is far too easy to slip back into our sinful nature, but by Christ, anyone who calls upon His name can claim the gift of forgiveness and redemption through the blood on the cross. They can ask for God's Spirit to indwell and sanctify, guide and make new that which had been broken; empowering them to live lives reciprocating God's love.
So, ya, are you gathering or scattering?
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