A Letter from Jail

In Honor of MLK Day:

T. S. Elliot said,

"The last temptation is the greatest treason: To do the right deed for the wrong reason."

Are the disciples of Jesus around the world too comfortable today?

Are we too passionate?

Are we too passionate about the wrong things?

What is the quickest way to get Christians committed to Jesus for the right reasons?

 

Letter From A Birmingham Jail

Whenever the early Christians entered a town, the people in power became disturbed and immediately sought to convict the Christians for being "disturbers of the peace" and "outside agitators."' But the Christians pressed on, in the conviction that they were "a colony of heaven," called to obey God rather than man. Small in number, they were big in commitment. They were too God-intoxicated to be "astronomically intimidated." By their effort and example they brought an end to such ancient evils as infanticide and gladiatorial contests. Things are different now. So often the contemporary church is a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound. So often it is an archdefender of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the church, the power structure of the average community is consoled by the church's silent--and often even vocal--sanction of things as they are.

But the judgment of God is upon the church as never before. If today's church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century. Every day I meet young people whose disappointment with the church has turned into outright disgust.

Perhaps I have once again been too optimistic. Is organized religion too inextricably bound to the status quo to save our nation and the world? Perhaps I must turn my faith to the inner spiritual church, the church within the church, as the true ekklesia and the hope of the world. But again I am thankful to God that some noble souls from the ranks of organized religion have broken loose from the paralyzing chains of conformity and joined us as active partners in the struggle for freedom.

Martin Luther King

Intensive Daily Bible Reading

If you have ten minutes, read Jesus from the Gospels.

(Read prayerfully seeking guidance from Jesus for your personal situation.)

If you have thirty minutes, read Jesus and the New Testament selection.

If you have forty minutes, read Jesus, the New Testament and a Psalm selection.

If you have an hour, read all the readings.

Think of this time as an intimate conversation with your Father in Heaven.

Listen for something of His love from His heart to yours today.

 

Date:

1/19/13

 

Read a chapter of Jesus :Matthew 19. 

Read a chapter from Acts:19.

Read a chapter from this New Testament Book:1 Corthinians 4.

Read a paragraph from a Holy Spirit inspired older teacher to a younger teacher:2 Timothy 1.3-14

Read a verse about the beauty of the Word of God:Psalm 119.19

Read a couple of chapters from the Old Testament:Genesis 36,37

Read a chapter from Wisdom Literature:Job 19

Read a Psalm:17

Read a few verses from Proverbs:19.1-4