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GOD-TRACKING IS CHOOSING TO PUT ON CHRIST
by Dudley Anderson GodTracker 741 Romans 13:14 Jesus taught in a parable that the gospel is free to all who would respond to it. Sadly, however, not everyone who is invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb, responds to the invitation. In the parable, Jesus implies that those who are nominal believers ignore the true call to salvation, because they think they are privileged. Then he implies that those who are outside the fence of faith, readily respond to the call of salvation, because they have nothing to prove. By this I see that true faith in Christ is not as a result of privileged birth or religious upbringing; it is as a result of a sincere humble response to the call to repentance. However, even of those who respond to the invitation to attend the wedding feast, some are refused entry. Much has been debated about choice, predestination and election in response to the gospel. I believe the key to this debate is found in the word, foreknow. Those whom God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son. You see, God is eternal and omniscient. He knows all things, past, present and future. Therefore, by God’s foreknowledge, if you respond to the gospel by your choice today, you are saved. He knows who will and who won’t respond to the gospel, but we don’t. Therefore, by God’s grace, we have the option to choose. Faith comes by hearing the gospel. One can only make a choice on what he hears. Yet, what of those who are refused entry? In this parable, Jesus said that there was one guest at the wedding feast who was not dressed for the occasion. He was repelled by the Master because he had taken undue advantage to call himself a wedding feast guest without true compliance. He was a fraud; an imposter. Sadly, the Church is packed with imposters. Listen to God’s word: “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ.” I don’t know about you but when I get dressed up to attend a wedding feast, it’s a major ordeal. You see, I don’t often wear ties and it takes me ages to decide which one to put on. Yet, after a hard day’s work, I have a bath, remove my old work clothes and get smartly dressed for the occasion. The Scripture says: “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” True response to the call of God unto salvation, by his foreknowledge, requires that we make the choice to change out of our attire of sin and dress up in Christ’s righteousness. True response to the call of God unto salvation requires that we heed the call to repent and be baptised and live the new life by faith in Jesus as new creations. God-tracking is choosing to put on Christ. READ ALL ABOUT IT SO, DON’T GIVE UP, LOOK UP & PRAY Forgive me for ever taking advantage of simply being a churchgoer or nominal Christian, without making a cognitive choice to surrender my life to you “Dear God, I desire to make a real and truthful choice today to accept the Lordship of Jesus Christ. I know and understand that he died in my place – he was dressed in my filth garments so that I could be dressed in his righteous robes. I repent of all my sin and acknowledge Jesus as my personal Lord and Saviour. Forgive me for ever taking advantage of simply being a churchgoer or nominal Christian, without making a cognitive choice to surrender my life to you. I boldly and affirmatively believe that Jesus died for me and rose from the dead to pay the ransom for my sins. And I boldly and affirmatively confess you as my Lord and put on Christ. Amen.” IF YOU PRAYED THAT WITH ME TODAY, I WOULD DEARLY LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. PLEASE E-MAIL ME, [email protected] ---------------------------- Listen to GodTracker podcasts by Dudley Anderson at, godtracker.co.uk/godtracker-podcasts Born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa Dudley Anderson began writing for radio in 1994. Dudley currently writes a weekly e-mail Christian motivational thought called GodTracker and has complied 2 devotional books based on GodTracker. More information at surereaity.net Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |