The Congregation of The Dead
“It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead. He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.” (Proverbs 21:15-17)
Today’s Morsel: One of the things we find in scripture is that when Jesus brings us out of darkness and into the marvelous light, and we become born-again, He expects us to remain in that straight and narrow pathway of understanding. We have now been chosen to fulfill a purpose. And that is to show others the way more perfectly. If we backslide or walk away from that truth and way of understanding, we will remain in the congregation of the dead. You see, before we came to Christ, we were dead. What does that mean? It means that those who do not know Jesus are spiritually dead. And if they do not repent and come into a relationship with Him, they will someday die without Him and will have no hope for eternal life.
As Paul stated: “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” (Ephesians 2:1-6) You see, the gospel in designed to bring us out of darkness and unto His marvelous light. But Paul said that if the gospel is hidden, which is what Satan wants, folks are lost and blinded by Satan, the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:3-6). And this is why many are still in the congregation of the dead. They are blinded to understanding. But Jude said that our goal is to: “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” (Jude 1:21-23) The great commission is to get people out of the congregation of the dead and to teach them how to remain in the congregation of the righteous. There are many today who have wandered out of the way of understanding and who are now back in the congregation with the dead. But you, beloved must “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1).
Sing: I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.
Thought For Today: “Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3)
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