Many people don't agree with the Message version or any other version than the King James because they say that other versions aren't correct, but technically the King James version is not the original either. Anyways, I absolutely love reading my HSCB and then comparing it to the Message version because it puts it in terms I understand, and if any of you have tried studying Hebrews you know how complicated it can get!! As I was reading Hebrews 13 these verses popped out to me and took me into deep thought.
The altar from which God gives us the gift of himself is not for exploitation by insiders who grab and loot. In the old system, the animals are killed and the bodies disposed of outside the camp. The blood is then brought inside to the altar as a sacrifice for sin. It's the same with Jesus. He was crucified outside the city gates- that is where he poured out the sacrificial blood that was brought to God's altar to cleanse his people. So let's go outside, where Jesus is, where the action is- not trying to be privileged insiders but taking our share in the abuse of Jesus. This "insider world" is not our home. We have our eyes peeled for the the City about to come. Let's take our place outside with Jesus, no longer pouring out sacrificial praises from our lips to God in Jesus' name. Hebrews 13:10-16 MSG *underlined favorite parts
Ahhh! How awesome was that!! So first off, what is the church? The church is every follower of Jesus. In todays world we view the word "church" as a building, however that is not the biblical definition of the word. The word church comes from the greek word "ekklesia" meaning an assembly or called out ones. The church is the body of Christ and then there is the local church where you go to apply the principles of the Bible. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ then you are in the church, the body of Christ and there is only ONE church. Religion does not matter. Religion is man made not God made!
I am all the time trying to get comfortable, and I love to be comfortable, I'm sure you do too, but the one place that we shouldn't get comfortable in is in the local church, the place that you go to to worship Jesus and to learn more. Why shouldn't we get comfortable?? Simply because when we get comfortable we settle, we are content, we don't need more. But guess what! As a follower of Jesus I WANT MORE. If you don't want more then figure out what the problem is and fix it because God wants YOU and he wants you to want Him more than anything in the world. If you are comfortable then you aren't opening up to the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to change you, and we all need change, it doesn't matter how old you are there is still room to change. The church (the body of Christ) needs to grow! You can't grow without change, and you can't change if you are comfortable! If you don't water a flower (change) then it won't grow. We can't get comfortable! We have to go outside where Jesus is.
I hear so many people talk of how this world needs God etc. etc. etc. But my question is, what are you doing to give the world God? We get so comfortable in church that we neglect to go outside of the 4 walls and share about God. When we read the bible we see that Jesus WENT to them. He went to the ones who hated Him and he made time for little children. PEOPLE we are supposed to strive to be just like Jesus!! He didn't sit around waiting for people to come to Him, He went, He healed, He loved, and He shared! This world is not our home!!! Stop being comfortable and have FAITH! Step outside your comfort zone today and do something for God! It will change your life and the way you see things. And to the local church, stop waiting for people to come inside and go outside to them and show them Jesus. We aren't guaranteed tomorrow! Don't wait!!
you are loved, you are forgiven, you are blessed
His daughter,
Starla Conroy
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