SPARE ME
by
Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid (May 13, 2015)
“For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee” (Romans 11:21, King James Version [The Gentiles forbidden to boast]).
Greetings In The Holy Name Of Jesus,
My sisters and brothers, most importantly, boasting seemingly presents those of us in Christ Jesus to flamboyantly put our talking points across hoping those we talk to will either laugh at our manner of speaking over-the-top or push us aside with an even more over-the-top talking point-of-view than we presented, in the spirit of competition. However, Apostle Paul in the longest and most influential of his writings---first epistle in canonical order spoke to the Christians in Rome where he soon hoped to visit about “mature convictions concerning the Christian faith”. How difficult is it to say to those who you feel are as wild as the day they were born still yet since grafted in the good olive tree of the family of God: “Cut the crap [crapshooter gambling with God]---stop behaving like a wild heathen when you are in the faith of Christ Jesus---grafted in---taken out of your wild tree and placed in a good tree?” Moreover, Apostle Paul delivered spiritual advise to help Christians imitate Christ as he spoke to them of his own successful labors. (Holy Bible, n.d.).
More importantly, in reflection of friends---good fellows, supposedly that you hold near and dear to your heart, those who are with you as you run your course fighting the good fight in good spiritual warfare and you name them one-by-one [those in high esteem]---left their mark in your heart but their mark however is not greater than the mark that you press towards in Christ Jesus. It helps to spiritually hear the feelings of those who ran before you. Interestingly the severity of the unbelieving Romans towards the believers of Christ Jesus during the time before acceptance [when Christ Jesus---the Godman---the son of God challenged his family---his people with his truth in the spirit of God himself] that the Christians in Rome are noted for their obedience to doctrine throughout the world in spite of that same resistance and rejection of Christ Jesus that was planted in their hearts. Apostle Paul spoke to the Roman Christians:
“Now, I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences
contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned: and avoid them. For they that are
such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and
fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience is come abroad
unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise
unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace shall
bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with
you. Amen.”
My fellows in Christ Jesus, I look to Jesus to walk on water [as Jesus challenged Peter's faith, “Ye of so little faith”], for truly running your course is about doing the impossible---letting God use you in the weakness of your conscious---your flesh life to work miracles so that the people might believe and draw closer to their God. You've heard the saying you can fool some of the people some of the time but you cannot fool all the people all the time. Well, I tell you, you cannot fool God any of the time. May the spirit of Christ Jesus be with you.
God is not a God that He can lie. Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. In The Name Of Jesus. Amen.
