The Scattering of the Sheep

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray, And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.” And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? “Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Mt 26:36–41.

The conduct of the disciples at this crisis in their history, so weak and so unmanly, naturally gives rise to two questions: How should they have acted? and why did they act as they did- what were the causes of their failure? A. B. Bruce, The Training of the Twelve, pg. 464.

In order to take up the first question today, we must begin to look at the teachings of Jesus just prior to this time. If they were to act with like violence, they would be in violation of Jesus teachings just before this time. Would they run away though? When the disciples asked Jesus how they should react to the coming party this is what happened;

When those who were around Him saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Lk 22:49.

It was too late though... Peter already reacted by cutting off the servant of the high priest' ear. 

"He had brought a sword with him, one of two in the possessions of the company, from the supper chamber to Gethsemane  thinking it might be needed, and fully minded to use it if there was occasions; and, coward as he proved himself afterwards among the serving-men and maids, he was no such arrant coward in the garden. He used his weapon boldly if not skilfully, and did some execution, though happily not of a deadly character." Bruce, pp. 465.

Jesus turned to Simon Peter as said;

Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. “Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? “How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?” New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Mt 26:52–54.

He could meet the human force by divine power if He wanted to do so, but we all know the reason Jesus did this was so the Scriptures would be fulfilled. He had to take the cup which the Father offered to Him and drink its contents to the end. 

Many times, we act and don't think. When Peter acted out of self-initiative he violated the opportunity to see the words of Jesus being acted out in their presence (as if they had control over it from the beginning). Many times today, Christians are acting out of their first reaction without considering what Scripture teaches. Will we act when trouble comes? Don't worry, trouble is always around the corner in this world, just wait long enough and you will see for yourself. How will we react when it comes though? Will we take the words of Jesus to heart in our lives or will we simply react without considering what the Scriptures teach? Will you be a Peter or a Jesus?

It all depends on how sold out we are when the time comes. Selling out means being totally obedient to the one you give yourself. And trust me friend the times are coming when it will be necessary to act...

How will you?

What Will We Do With Jesus?

John 17:1-11 Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. “I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. “Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.“Now they have come to know that everything You have given Me is from You; for the words which You gave Me I have given to them; and they received them and truly understood that I came forth from You, and they believed that You sent Me. “I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours; and all things that are Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I have been glorified in them. “I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are.  New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 17:1–11.

We all know the high priestly prayer of Jesus to His heavenly Father, but do we consider the things which Jesus is speaking to God for our good? He sought out our good for our effectiveness with the gospel!

"If Jesus has power over all flesh, is it credible that He will not use it to the uttermost? In reply, we shall not seek to evade the question, by resolving the power claimed into a mere mediatorial sovereignty over the whole solely for the sake of a part, because we know that the elect part is chosen not merely for its own sake, but also for the sake of the whole, to be the salt of the earth, the light of the world, and the leaven to leaven the corrupt mass. We simply observe that the power of the Saviour is not compulsory. Men are not saved by force as machines, but by love and grace as free beings; and there are many whom brooding love would gather under its wings who prefer remaining outside to their own destruction." A. B. Bruce, The Training of the Twelve, pp. 452.

Did you get that? What Bruce is saying is that Jesus teaching, spending time, His love, are all to passed down to the ones whom He wants to send into the world to do His work! He wants to use us to the "uttermost!" We are saved by His love, not as machines are designed to one work and that's it. We are saved by love and grace. This love and grace compels us to take the gospel out and share it out of our love for our Saviour. But Jesus does understand that there will be those who never do so... those who would leave it as Bruce says to, "many whom brooding love would gather under its wings who prefer remaining outside to their own destruction."

This last week I met a very special man of God in Nuremberg, Germany named Andy. It was through the divine providence of God we met. As the causal conversation in my horrible German started, he began speaking English to lighten the burden of communication. He told me throughout the conversation that he was a reasonably new Christian. He asked if we could spend some time talking after we (my wife and I) completed our castle tour, during his lunch hour. After the tour we met on a park bench on the grounds. He explained his burden for Nuremberg Germany's salvation; his hometown. His passion to see souls saved was unbelievable! But there was a problem. As he was a newer Christian, older so called "Christians" (that's being kind) told him he was too crazy about his desire and that it would soon go away... Go Away? My wife and I tried to encourage him to never let anyone pour cold water on his burning faith over the next half hour. You see, some are doing just as Bruce said; "many whom brooding love would gather under its wings who prefer remaining outside to their own destruction..."

As I look back at last week, I have to ask  myself this same question, "Will I hold this thing called Christianity each day to myself or will I go and share it?" I don't want to be average in society today. As I see my country here also in spiritual decline, I too see the need for America become the "One Nation Under God" again. Even in the political arena, we see where in the past Christians had an impact on our country's direction. One speaker I heard said that our impact is less than 10% of the country's whole. This folks is our duty... if we say that we love Jesus.

"It is as if Jesus said: Father, thou knowest that eternal life consists in knowing Thee and me. Looks around, then, and see how few possess such knowledge. The heathen world knoweth Thee not- it worships idols: the Jewish world is equally ignorant of Thee in spirit and in truth; for, while boasting of knowing Thee, it rejects me. The whole world is overspread with a dark veil of ignorance and superstition." Bruce, pp.453.

We have a very important duty, but never let it be clouded by a sense of "duty by works," than "duty for the One I love and want to tell others about." Stay close to your Saviour and He will send those into your path which He has called to salvation; and I'm pretty sure this includes the whole world!

The Little while and the End of the Discourse

“A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me.” Some of His disciples then said to one another, “What is this thing He is telling us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?” So they were saying, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is talking about.” Jesus knew that they wished to question Him, and He said to them, “Are you deliberating together about this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me’? “Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 16:16–20.

"In effect, what He has said is: It is good for you that I go, for not till I become invisible physically, shall I be visible to you spiritually: I must be withdrawn from the eye of your flesh, before I can be seen by the eye of your mind." A. B. Bruce, The Training of the Twelve, pg. 436.

We often wonder what our faith would look like if we were the original followers of Jesus. When I say this, I mean actual followers of Him in His time here on earth. Would we be better Christians if we had? Or would we be just like we are today?

During this time when Jesus made this statement, the disciples had no conception of what He meant when he spoke these words. It was a mere riddle to them which again they did not understand; however the disciples were roused as a result of this saying and it sparked their curiosity. Jesus, looking at them and their faces knew an explanation was necessary. Note though how Jesus never explains the two types of seeing to them. This explanation would only have to be worked out through their own experiences in the future. And that future was fast approaching...

I find the next statement by Bruce to be hugely insightful into the human realm. "... from an ignorant implicit faith to a faith developed and intelligent; their initiation into the highest grade of the Christian mysteries, when they should see clearly things presently unintelligible, and be Epopts (one who is instructed in a secret system) in the kingdom of heaven." Furthermore he states; "It is a great thing to be regenerated, but it is a not less great thing to be illuminated." page 439. 

When Jesus disappears and goes to heaven, the disciples will then receive the Holy Spirit. He will be the spiritual light and life that will permeate their being. This Spirit will give them an enlarged comprehension of truth as He tells them; "In that day you will not question Me about anything."

 New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 16:23.

In the coming days, no longer will they have to ask the questions like a child and their incapacity to understand the answers will be gone. Their childhood spirit will be replaced by the understanding spirit of adulthood. They will have an imparting from the Holy Spirit who give them knowledge into all things. All spiritual things!The mysteries of the kingdom will no longer be unknown to them and Jesus will be more real to them than He ever was when the Spirit of Truth comes.

As we reflect, I re-visit the question posed in the beginning of this blog. Would we be better Christians if we were walking with Jesus right now? Well, the Bible tells us we have the perfect knowledge of God now as the Spirit indwells the believer in this present age. So how to we know all things? We take our Bibles out and we read them each day. Even the disciples didn't have the complete written Word then! We must avail ourselves to the Holy Spirit in prayer and asking for wisdom each and every day. We talk to God each day and ask that He would show us Himself each and every day how to be more like His Son.

Don't allow yourself to go throughout this life without using what God has given to each of us (His Spirit) who know Jesus as their Savior. Then you won't have to ask some of the childish questions that the disciples posed to Jesus as new babes! Then you will possess perfect knowledge!

Tribulations and Encouragements from the Departing One

“These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling. “They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. “These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me. “But these things I have spoken to you, so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them. These things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 16:1–4.

From this time on, Jesus told the apostles they would face some pretty tough tribulations. Their fruit which remained was sure to make them become men of sorrow. Pretty harsh conditions from One who promised them eternity...

"To be hated and evil entreated is one of the penalties of moral greatness and spiritual power; or, to put it differently, one of the privileges Christ confers on His 'friends.'" A. B. Bruce, The Training of the Twelve, pg. 423. 

Imagine with me how harsh this sounds, but consider what else Bruce says; "Hatred is very hard to bear, and the desire is to escape it is one main cause of unfaithfulness and unfruitfulness." Bruce, pg. 423.

Most of us treat our lives as ones that want to live as peacefully as we can with as little turmoil as we can, but does this really line up with the real gospel? Jesus statement, "These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling" is almost said apologetically to the apostles. The apostles face some tough times ahead and Jesus knew it. Would they be good soldiers in the fight, or run for high ground? Would they realize that the Master told them that they would face trials and tribulations for being one of His and face them boldly? Or would they seek to escape the trouble ahead?

Then I read on in Bruce's book. Here's what he had to say next: "Men who suffer for their convictions are greatly tempted to regard their opponents as in equal measure the opponents of God. The wrongs they endure provoke them to think and speak of the wrong-doers as the very children of the devil. Then it gives importance to one's cause, and dignity to one's sufferings, to conceive of the former as God's, and of the latter as endured for God's sake. Finally, broadly to state the question at stake as one between God's friends and God's foes, satisfies both the intellect and the conscience,- the former demanding a status questionis which is simple and easily understood; the latter, one which puts you obviously in the right, and your adversaries obviously in the wrong." Bruce, pg. 426.

This reminded me of something that happened to me a long time ago. It concerns a friend's wrong convictions. Several years back, a friend called me to ask for prayers for he and his family. He told me that he had been facing some really hard difficulties in his life. You see he was about to lose his license to practice medicine. I asked him what was happening so I would know how to pray about the situation. He explained the situation. He stated that he was being persecuted by the devil and wanted me to pray Satan would be defeated in this attack. After more probing, I found that the entire problem was a result of poor decision (a wrong conviction) he had made in his professional and personal life; all brought upon himself by himself! This was obviously his fault, but yet he chose to blame Satan for the trouble. It was more about his personal vanity than his gospel conviction.

Ok, so I know this is an extreme case, but it does allow us to see the difference and how we react to trials and tribulations. I don't think sometime we endure the things we do because Satan is outwardly attacking us. It might be just because those around us don't know Who we know. There was a man who in Acts 7 did the same thing. His name was Saul.

Jesus told the apostles that they would face trials and tribulations as a result of being connected to Him. But He told them not to be surprised of the times when they came. He stated, "But these things I have spoken to you, so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them." (John 16:4). 

Sure, all of us face tribulations from demons (not Satan) throughout our lifetime. If Satan were to directly attack us, most of us wouldn't endure it well... I remember Job's story too well. I think a lot of the time, we are going through these times as a result of those who are not connected to Jesus and thinking they are doing the right thing while attacking us (again Saul springs to the mind). Then again, sometimes we are our own worse enemy sometimes as well. Then it is not the attitude of "the devil made me do it," rather "I helped the devil do it!"

Is our conviction truly for the gospel of Jesus Christ or is it somewhere muddled in what we think this life should contain? 

I challenge you today to think the next time trouble comes as to what is attacking you. Is it a result of what we have done to ourselves or is it because those who attack us do not know the One? Remember, if we are standing alongside Jesus, He will consider us His "friends" as we endure a tiny fraction of what He endured for us!

Dying Charge to the Future Apostles III

"No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you." New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 15:15.

"...the apostles would be partners: the disciples had been as government clerks; the apostles would be confidential ministers of the king: the disciples had been pupils in the school of Jesus; the apostles would be the treasurers of Christian truth, the reporters and expositors of their Master's doctrine, the sole reliable sources of information concerning the letter and spirit of His teaching. What office could possibly be more important than theirs? and how needful that they should realize their responsibilities in connection with it!" The Training of the Twelve, A. B. Bruce, pg. 422.

Consider the truth taught here... Once upon a time, these men, disciples in the training court of the School of Jesus were responsible for learning the truth about the Teacher. Now becoming apostles; they had a greater obligation. An obligation to share His teaching to those around them in the spirit of His teaching. As apostles, they have the duty to pass along the teachings they so diligently studied and listened to at one time as mere disciples. But Jesus gave further stimuli to diligence and fidelity (Bruce, pg. 422). "You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you." New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 15:16.

This benefit was not of their own doing, but of what Jesus bestowed upon them. The benefit they received was all on their side. "He had raised them from obscurity to be the lights of the world, to be the present companions and future friends and representatives of the Christ." Bruce, pg. 422. 

Consider this: In the previous passage (John 15:15) Jesus tells them that the slave does not know what the master is doing.  The slave does not know the king's plans, nor is he important enough to be allowed in the room when they are made known. But now He calls them friends. They no longer hold a menial position in the kingdom as a slave does in the king's house. They now have the benefit of knowing the king's plans and details therein. Note Jesus words though: "all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 15:15. 

"All things?" Yes, all things! Have we also been entrusted with all things? Yes, all things! What an amazing passage!

You and I once were slaves to our sin (before our salvation). Our sin would never allow us access into the King's house. It separated us from Him. Now as "friends, children, heirs of God" how much light are we given by God through our Savior Jesus Christ. We have the luxury of the true Light of knowledge which is given to us from the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! And now we are called to be lights of the world (so richly spoken through the words of Bruce). 

Do you see the calling today? Jesus left His entire gospel to people like 12 ordinary men; just like you and I. He taught them over the course of His lifetime and now left it in His friend's hands. Would they be successful? Yes, they were! Will we be successful in our time and age? It's up to us.

What each of us have within our heart is something very special and given to us at a great cost. It was God's prize to the world we live within. It's called the gospel of Jesus Christ. Don't underestimate it. It cost God everything and you nothing...

I think Christians sometimes go overboard with too many Bible studies...

Wait before you respond first though. My point is this; there is nothing wrong with learning as much as we can about the Bible and God's plan. My complaint is not there. It is with those who take a lifetime to learn it and never pass it along to someone else. This is not a precious treasure to kept to oneself. What good is a precious diamond held by the owner if there is never anyone who knows it exists. 

When God gives to you His Word. Go and give His Word to another. That is design of the Master. A true friend of God is one who goes and shares the Good News! 

That's what reporters do. They report the news! Will you?

Dying Charge to the Future Apostles II

"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 15:4.

"Abide in me, and I in you." These words point to a dependence of the disciples on their Lord under two forms, which by help of the analogy of a tree and its branches it is easy to distinguish. The branch abide in the vine structurally; and the vine abides in the branch through its sap, vitally. Both of these abidings are necessary to fruit-bearing. Unless the branch be organically connected to the stem, the sap which goes to make fruit cannot pass into it. On the other hand, although the branch be organically connected to the stem, yet of the sap of the stem do not ascend into it (a case which is possible and common in the natural world), it must remain as fruitless as if it were broken off and lying on the ground. The Training of the Twelve, A. B. Bruce, pg. 414. 

The first part of this illustration Bruce writes is the common call to all His disciples to go and share the gospel as His witnesses. It the call for us to be those who are active in sharing our faith with those who have not heard and to make the message known to all. This is the call and the structure of the gospel.

The second part of this challenge is the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit within each of us. This Spirit of God which is given to us is the continued "sap" which allows the new life to continue to flow in each of us. This is the vitality. Without it, we would fail to thrive and eventually wither and die; or the same branch would grow moss or be covered with infection, even when it is still connected to the vine. Sometimes it is as if the vine would even try to grow by itself without the life-giving force which allows it to even remain. This constitutes a great departure from the faith, yet many Christians try today to do this very thing.

Furthermore Bruce writes; "The conception of a dead branch, applied to individuals as distinct from churches or the religious world viewed collectively, is not without difficulty. A dead branch on a tree was not always dead: it was produced by the vital force of the tree, and had some of the tree's life in it. Does the analogy between natural and spiritual branches hold at this point? Not in any sense, as we believe, that would compromise the doctrine of perseverance in grace, nowhere taught more clearly than in the words of our Lord. At the same time, to cannot be denied that there is such a thing as abortive religious experience." Bruce, pg. 416.

This statement by Bruce is somewhat startling, but yet truth revealing about those around us who have thrown in the towel of their faith. The towel they used to serve others with has now become one which is folded and placed on the shelf. The power that the towel had to serve others (as Jesus washed the feet of the disciples) has now lost its ability to do what it was created to do. Much like the sap from the branch, the towel loses its ability to absorb and dry that which was needed to be dried.

So what happens when the sap is flowing continuously? I take you back to the story of my little poinsettia plant from last week. On last Sunday morning's service, I recalled how God prunes each one of us throughout our lives so that we might bring forth "much fruit," as I began to pull off some of the old leaves on the little plant. As I noted (while pulling the leaves off) the sap from the plant began to rise (like a creamy whitish fluid) into the area where the plant used to have a small leaf branch. Within the next few days, another chute came forward revealing another leaf. Without the power of the sap rising to the trimmed branch, it would have withered and died. This is the power of the Holy Spirit within each of us... He can and will rise up within our trimmed branches to fill them with a new sense of purpose and life. Something that was better than before; all for the glory of the Savior!

So the question for today is this; are you ready to be pruned? It might hurt. It might leave you bleeding. It might take away the thing you depended upon...

God is in the process of bringing forth "much fruit" if we will let Him. Will you?

The Dying Charge to the Apostles

John 15:1-4 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 15:1–4.

Concerning the disciples... "They must be great actors in the world, and leave their mark permanently on its history: they must, in fact, take His place, and be in His stead, and carry on the work He had begun, in His name and through His aid." The Training of the Twelve, A. B. Bruce, pg. 411. 

Jesus put the duty of the disciples clearly in front of them when He used the parable of the vine. He referred to Himself as "I am the true vine." He also referred to His Father as the "divine husbandman." Note something though: Jesus skips the vine and who they are identified as, but then goes on to mention how the Divine Husbandman deals with the branches which bear no fruit are lopped off, while the fruitful ones are pruned to become more fruitful. This tells us something from the beginning; that Jesus fully intended the disciples to become fruitful. The church's life depended upon it...

"While urgent in His demand for fruit, Jesus does not, we observe, in any part of this discourse on the vine, indicate wherein the expected fruit consists. When we consider to whom He is speaking, however, we can have no doubt as to what He principally intends. The fruit He looks for is the spread of the gospel and the ingathering of souls into the kingdom of God by the disciples, in the discharge of their apostolic vocation. Personal holiness is not overlooked; but it is required rather as a means towards fruitfulness than as itself the fruit. It is the purging of the branch which leads to increased fertility." Bruce, pp. 412-413.

So a key here lies in the spread of the gospel. It lies within the deep realm of the personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We cannot and will not be fruitful in seeing the spread of the gospel without first embedding ourselves within the personal realm of holiness. This is not a half-hearted commitment.

Just as a vine draws its water from the main branches, the Christian must draw their power from the source it is connected. This was the plan from the beginning spoken by Jesus to the disciples. There was no back up plan here. Its original plan was always to be connected to the Savior, the source of life. You ever wonder why we are not seeing souls being impacted by the gospel? Maybe it is because we are not connected to the main branch to where we are drawing nourishment each day!

Over the last few weeks, I have been babying a small poinsettia plant which was given to me during the Christmas season. It came home looking a little puny and dry. It was a gift from someone, so I couldn't just throw it out. We left it in the original pot in the house for a few weeks and watered it regularly. No change. Finally, I went and got some Miracle Grow potting soil and a new pot. I moved it into the new pot, and replaced the old soil (which was really dry with no nutrients). I watered it again and left it inside in a reasonable place for light. No change. Boy, I was tempted to say "that's it, you're just not going to make it!" As I was looking at this little plant, I knew it could be stronger, but how?

Well, I took it outside and placed it within direct sunlight, in its new pot with Miracle Grow potting soil. Over the last week, the little poinsettia has popped back into life. It is now starting to reach its potential!

You see, in our lives, we are trying to make our relationship with the Lord grow with the help of man made steroids like being busy and serving (like the Miracle Grow). These might be wonderful things but they do not replace the personal relationship with Jesus. You see, nothing helped the little plant except to bask in the sunlight each day, where it belonged. It now thrives in the sunlight (its source of life) where it was intended to be from the start. Could we be this stubborn that we are trying to share the gospel without drawing our power from the source? 

I think so; even in my own life. Sometimes we think we have something to offer people. We don't. Our source of strength comes from our Savior! Have a wonderful week!

Remember, Wise men still seek Him...