Skip The Good
For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on
doing. Romans 7:19
Several years ago, the London Transit Authority had a problem.
Customers were complaining their bus wasn't stopping to pick them up. When they
were questioned, the passengers all were sure they had been in the right place
and they had been there at the right time. In spite of their prompt presence,
their bus just flew on by.
The LTA investigated the claims.
After some serious evaluations they had to admit the passengers were indeed
telling the truth. They were at the right spot at the right time.
But ... you're going to love this.
The London Transit Authority explained to all the irate non-riders: "It is
impossible for the bus drivers to stay on schedule if they are always having to
stop and pick up passengers."
Told you, you wouldn't believe it. The LTA and the drivers had all forgotten
that getting people from here to there was their first job. Schedules, although
important, were inconsequential unless passengers were being delivered.
There are times when I've seen churches and congregations like that. They were
so involved with owning this, and building that, and procuring something else
that they forgot the first purpose of the church is to help move people from
here to there.
If we aren't helping move souls from hell to heaven -- from lost to saved -- if
we're not moving them from not knowing Jesus to receiving Him as Savior, we are
forgetting our purpose. And we are hardly worthy of the name "Christian church."
On the other hand, I've seen congregations -- some financially challenged
congregations -- do some pretty amazing things in the Lord. Keeping their eyes
fixed on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of the faith, they did everything they
could to share the word: Jesus Christ lives and because He lives, we shall also
live.
Now, if you belong to a congregation in that second group, I hope you are saying
a lot of thanksgiving prayers. And if you're not a member at such a church, then
the process of change at your present congregation can begin with you. Do your
best to make sure your church hasn't forgotten its job of moving people from
here to there.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, You have instructed Your Church to do what they can
to share Your story of salvation. For those faithful congregations and clergy, I
give thanks. Now I pray that the Holy Spirit may be given to those who have
forgotten -- or never known -- the job of God's people is to move souls from
here to there. Let them be awakened with the Gospel's fire so the Holy Spirit
may do great things through them. This I ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Pastor Ken Klaus Lutheran Hour Ministries
http://www.lhm.org/ all rights reserved; not to be
duplicated without permission.