Jason Sneed Quotes From My Reading

A Christians Responsibility

Quotes from my readings banner

Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

In the book “Multiply: disciples making disciples”, Francis Chan makes the following statement:

In Exodus 19:5-6, God told Israel that they were to be a “kingdom of priest” and a “holy nation.” These two titles are extremely important for understanding Israel’s calling. A priest has two responsibilities: to represent a holy God to sinful people, and to represent a sinful people to a holy God. As a kingdom of priests, Israel was meant to represent their God to the nations around them. Collectively, they were to show the world who their God was and what He demanded of the world. On the other side, God meant Israel to represent these nations to Himself.

Chan went on to say,

These concepts are also present in the title “holy nation.” They were meant to stand out, to be clearly different from other nations. They were set apart for God’s purposes. They were to minister on God’s behalf, to show the holy character of God to the world around them and be a light to the nations.

Before you begin to say that these verses were for the nation of Israel let me say, you would be correct. We can see, as we continue through the Old Testament, that the nation of Israel did not fulfill their responsibility as a “kingdom of priest” or a “holy nation”.

So how is this relevant to us today? I Peter 2:5, 9 explains,

You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. – I Peter 2:5

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. – I Peter 2:9

If we know Christ as our Savior, we are a royal priesthood and a holy nation! We have a responsibility, just as the nation of Israel had. We are to represent a holy God to sinful people, and to represent a sinful people to a holy God!

Points to Ponder:

  1. Are you a Christian? If not, please contact me because I would like to talk with you more.
  2. If you are a Christian, are you doing what we were saved to do?
Jason Sneed Quotes From My Reading

Four Directives

Quotes from my readings banner

In the first chapter in the book of Jeremiah, God says,

Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you (vs. 7-8 ESV)

God continues in verse 9,

Behold, I have put my words in your mouth…

Then God clear give Jeremiah four directives for him to follow:

But you, dress yourself for work; arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them. (v. 17 ESV)

Four Directives:

  1. Dress yourself for work – literally means to “gird up your loins” or prepare yourself for work
  2. Arise – he was told to get up and get ready
  3. Say – he was only allowed to say those things that God told him to say
  4. Do not be dismayed – as he works, God told him to not be troubled or to lose heart

Chapter one closes with some powerful words from the Lord,

They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the Lord, to deliver you

POINTS TO PONDER:

  • Are you preparing yourself each day to do the work of the Lord?
  • Are you willing to get up and go to work for Him?
  • Do the words you say show you are allowing God to speak through you?
  • Are you allowing other people or circumstances to trouble you or to cause you to lose heart?
Jason Sneed Quotes From My Reading

Quotes From My Readings

Quotes from my readings banner

This is my very first “Quotes from my Readings” and let me start off by saying that I completely stole this idea from a pastor and blogger, Casey Lewis. Casey is a pastor in Texas and writes at Christianity Matters. Please take the time to go visit his blog!

Over the past five years I have actually started to enjoy reading. I have come across some great quotes in these books that I would love to share on Twitter or Facebook but there is just not room enough to expound on them, so I wanted to start sharing some of them on my blog.

So here goes…

Do You Think Of Yourself As A Sheep?

“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want” – Psalm 23

Tony Evans writes in the book “God Is More Than Enough” the following,

Of all the sins a person can commit, at the top of the list is self-sufficiency, for it is fundamentally the sin of pride.

He goes on to say,

If the Lord is your Shepherd, He will meet all your needs. By allowing Him to freely do this for us, we can  rest assured that whatever possible need arises, our Good Shepherd is sure to be there.

He goes on to list three character traits of sheep:

  • Dumb – sheep are extremely stupid animals
  • Defenseless – they are animals that can not take care of themselves | They are vulnerable animals
  • Dirty – willing to stay dirty forever unless the shepherd gives them a bath

He closes with this,

“The good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep” (John 10:11). The superior shepherd is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice – he puts it all on the line for the sheep.

And so when selecting a shepherd for your own life, the proof of a good one is whether that shepherd has given his life for you. And you have that proof. This is exactly what Jesus has done for you. You know He loves you as no one else possibly can.

But then he makes this statement,

But in order for Him to be your Shepherd, you must first recognize yourself as a sheep. And if you don’t think of yourself as a sheep, you’re not qualified to receive Him as your Shepherd”.

THINGS TO PONDER:

  • Is the Lord your Shepherd?
  • Are you willing to start acting like a sheep in order for Him to be your Shepherd?

RESOURCES: