John 3:30
King James Version
30 He must increase,
but I must decrease.
Found that sign on a parking lot fronting a Christian church.
A sign not for just one pastor.
Another pastor had a similar sign.
RESERVED parking for two pastors.
Like two privileged CEOs.
The frontage was good for only four to five cars.
That means, the "pastors" already got two of those prime spaces.
And all I could think of was, "Hmm...not very CHRIST-like".
Self-importance usually isn't.
JESUS never called attention to Himself.
He was King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and yet he was born in a manger.
Luke 2:7
King James Version
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son,
and wrapped him in swaddling clothes,
and laid him in a manger; because there was
no room for them in the inn.
As prophesied through Isaiah, the LORD JESUS was going to be this:
Isaiah 53:2
King James Version
2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant,
and as a root out of a dry ground:
he hath no form nor comeliness;
and when we shall see him,
there is no beauty that we should desire him.
And yet:
Colossians 1:18
King James Version
18 And he is the head of the body, the church:
who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead;
that in all things he might have the preeminence.
So, when I see how the world conducts itself, I know our ways are not godly, not CHRIST-like, and definitely unchristianly.
JESUS was specific:
Matthew 18:1-4
King James Version
18 At the same time came the disciples
unto Jesus, saying,
Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him,
and set him in the midst of them,
3 And said,
Verily I say unto you,
Except ye be converted,
and become as little children,
ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore
shall humble himself as this little child,
the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 20:16
King James Version
16 So the last shall be first, and the first last:
for many be called, but few chosen.
Perhaps, the two pastors can share one space.
Take turns, if you will.
And please, no need to announce names.
Just have a sign that says "for church elders" maybe.
But I've noticed how young pastors in my country enjoy their "status".
Right there you already know what kind of church they represent.
A church I would never go to.
I always look to how church leaders conduct themselves.
The Catholic church is also notorious.
Consider these --
The Vatican has a bank.
Our local archdiocese has a mall.
Nuns are normally enterprising and have shops.
They sell mostly foodstuffs now.
But there was a time, in grade school, I bought the Belgian nuns' pretty stamps, and bookmarks.
Nuns are known to be thrifty, creative, industrious, and ingenious.
Only thing, where I live, they also built a cafe.
An offshoot from their very successful souvenir food shop.
A very pricey one, too!
Where a slim slice of cake costs an equivalent of at least US$3.00.
That may not be much to others, but I live in a developing nation.
Even Starbucks has better prices than that nun-run cafe I saw the other day.
And yes, it's conveniently across the church!
So, in that compound, they have a mall, a better-priced, fresh-produce grocery, the pricey cafe, pay parking, and the church, too.
Now, in that multi-story mall are lots of shops, and topmost is the pay-parking.
Imagine the monthly income generated by the archdiocese.
As my pastor-friend said, "Holy Jehoshaphat!"
Another smaller, supposedly more private church, has vendors right outside its premises.
CHRIST's enemy is really smart, and devious.
He positioned vendors "outside the temple".
But now, that place looks like a marketplace; not a church.
It's lost its sanctity, and solemnity.
And I recall how JESUS got really mad one time:
Matthew 21:12-13
King James Version
12 And Jesus went into the temple of God,
and cast out all them
that sold and bought in the temple,
and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers,
and the seats of them that sold doves,
13 And said unto them,
It is written,
My house shall be called the house of prayer;
but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Everything that JESUS is, is what the enemy will defy.
But I only look to my LORD JESUS.
He rode a donkey.
He walked among the poor, and the sick.
He was where the forgotten people were.
He fed them, healed them, taught them, and saved them.
He didn't even have a place to rest.
Luke 9:58
King James Version
58 And Jesus said unto him,
Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests;
but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
He called no glory to Himself, but to the FATHER alone.
John 17:3-4
King James Version
3 And this is life eternal,
that they might know thee the only true God,
and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
4 I have glorified thee on the earth:
I have finished the work
which thou gavest me to do.
But man, deluded man, always calls attention to himself.
No thanks to social media, which proliferates self-absorption.
No thanks to man's pre-occupation with face, fame, and fortune.
In contrast, Scripture reminds us what to focus on:
Colossians 3:1-2
King James Version
3 If ye then be risen with Christ,
seek those things which are above,
where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above,
not on things on the earth.
Hebrews 12:2
King James Version
2 Looking unto Jesus
the author and finisher of our faith;
who for the joy that was set before him
endured the cross,
despising the shame,
and is set down at the right hand
of the throne of God.
1 John 2:15-17
King James Version
15 Love not the world,
neither the things that are in the world.
If any man love the world,
the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world,
the lust of the flesh,
and the lust of the eyes,
and the pride of life,
is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof:
but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
JESUS must have pre-eminence.
He is all that matters.
His WORD is all that matters.
Matthew 24:35
King James Version
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away,
but my words shall not pass away.
Let not Satan cloud your thinking.
Let not his ways make you lose your way.
Stay on the path with JESUS.
He, alone, is the way back to GOD.
John 14:6
King James Version
6 Jesus saith unto him,
I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
In these end times, it doesn't matter what brand you don, drink, or drive.
The Rapture could really happen any moment.
Would JESUS care about worldly stuff you have?
He only cares we loved, as He taught us how to love.
Have you given your heart to CHRIST?
Have you sought Him?
Have you a heart for GOD?
Have you repented of your sins?
Have you a love for His Word, and His gospel?
Have you this desire to be with Him forever?
Have you lost all self-importance, and love for money?
Ah, you're finally getting it.
Focus on the right things, and it is always JESUS.
You can never go wrong when your heart belongs to JESUS.
The things of the world, the ways of the world, the lord of this world, have no stake in you.
In JESUS lies your peace, joy, security, and salvation.
And you can surely count on that.
Of course, all these I came to know through SPIRIT.
The day GOD made me born again.
It's refreshing to be one.
You begin to know what matters most.
And it was never about self.
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