This Life
How much of our “good news” is left if we remove the religion? Is our invitation to unbelievers an invitation to Sunday meetings? Are we inviting them to avoid the lake of fire? To what do we invite those who are addicted to alcohol and other drugs?
I have become convinced that the only appropriate invitation is to meet Jesus. When He is properly introduced as a King and a Savior and an invitation is extended to meet Him as a family member, other levels of relationship become easier. Becoming His disciple by submitting to His disciplines becomes a love story. His disciplines may be different for different people – some can’t read, some are homeless, some are rich and have no sense of need.
His Spirit wants to become each son’s and daughter’s Tutor, leading them in the way. He wants His people to co-operate with Him as He raises His family in His Life. His invitation is to be translated out of the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of His marvelous light. From Death to Life.
But an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail during the night, brought them out, and said, “Go and stand in the temple complex, and tell the people all about this life.”
(Acts 5:19-20 HCSB ©®)
May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light. He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
(Colossians 1:11-14 HCSB ©®)