10/05/11

Being part of the Wedding

Hebrews 2:1-4[Italic text removed]
1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let slip.
2 For if the word spoken by angels [messengers] was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard;
4 God also bearing witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will?


Among the Epistles (letters) of Paul I just love the ones he wrote in the latter part of his life. If one puts his letters in the order he wrote them and scrutinise Paul in them, one would find a great change in character and spiritual maturity in Paul and how he overcame the thorn in his flesh. The letters vary so much that it has made many theologise to believe that the latter ones were written by another person imitating Paul.

Hebrews and Galatians are among those letters which were written in the later part of Paul's life. His last letters was his letters to Timothy.

In today's message Paul is talking about the Lord's salvation which was known to only a few and how people were punished when they did not abide by the instructions given by those few. How the Lord confirms His Word by great signs and wonders, miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit.

An interesting thing I noticed today was the Greek word 'soteria' used for salvation. This word is just the feminine of the word 'soter' which means saviour. It gives a new depth to the understanding of being bride to the Lord Jesus Christ Who is our Saviour.

Pursuing salvation in simple terms means pursuing to be soul mate to our Saviour. Unless we do not abide in Him and become one with Him we are not recipients of His Salvation. And we know by the parables which Jesus gave those who reject or are not part of the wedding of the Son were killed and burnt but the worst was to those who accepted the invitation but did not abide by the instructions of the Groom's Family it is written they will be tied hand and feet (meaning will be made helpless) and thrown in the place where there is only sorrow and pain.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, You are our God and Saviour. You desire man to be part of You eternally. You desire man to have eternal life in You and be inheritor of your Nature having power and authority in your Name. You do not compromise but believe in only perfection but knowing man who will never be perfect You came as man to give an example and to be a way to reach perfection in You. Lord, help us to abide by your Word and be part of your bride so that we receive our salvation in You...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scripturesr ]
Matthew 21:1-14
1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

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