Who has benefited the most from your salvation?
I do not mean here your justification by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the fact that you will live forever in the presence of the Risen Lamb, but those you know and love, the people that you meet occasionally, or perhaps only that stranger you meet once. Who has benefited from your salvation?
“I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.” (Psalms 40:10)
The pinnacle of course would be that you were blessed to lead another to His cross and they also became hid in Christ, there is, as far as I can think of at this moment, no greater joy or excitement than that moment besides our own salvation.
I have brought this to your attention before, but I believe it bears repeating here. My lovely wife has lived in this area for essentially her entire life, where there are perhaps thirty or more churches and many who attend them. Yet not once has anyone ever asked her, “Who do you say Jesus Christ is?”
Not once has anyone ever asked her if she might have a few minutes to listen about the Scriptures, about the cross.
I am also fairly sure that there are some who have been born-again around here, so, who has benefited from their salvation?
“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Heb. 10:25)
Christians on the inside of the church building, the profession of their faith perhaps questionable outside of it? I cannot say, and in some ways it is not my place to say so, but I do know we will be judged, give our account, in accordance with our actions, and many times that supposed fruit within the assembly is no more than window dressing, plastic fruit with no substance.
We must not be so my friends, “go ye into all the world” does not mean a once a week drive to the church, where songs are sung, messages are given, and then going back into the world for self-centered pleasures and needs, meeting no one with the message of eternal hope.
What word shall I use in reference to the following verse? Some, many or most?
“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” (Matt. 15:8)
And that profession rarely if ever passes their lips outside of the congregation.
Are they embarrassed? Do they use the excuse of not knowing enough of the Scriptures? Do they believe that it is not their place to bring up His Word? Or perhaps they are fearful of losing friends and family, that some would no longer desire to be in their company?
“And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.” (Rev. 22:4)
But for now, we can only ask the proper questions, and from past experience, that rarely is accepted by them very well.
Who is, or has, profited by your salvation, what deeds, words or actions, have you performed solely for the glory of God and informed those that was the reason you did so?
“For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.” (Mark 9:41)
“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” (Matt. 7:20)
Calling it a worship service when those present do not take that praise and adoration outside of that building benefits who? Does it make them feel better about themselves, as if they are part of the family of God?
Please, pay close attention to this verse if you believe not forsaking the assembling is the epitome of service to the Almighty, if you are embarrassed for His name in public, if you believe the Lord loves you, yet you do not profess Him openly, for the benefit of others, for His glory.
“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?” (Matt. 7:22)
