Friday, April 18, 2008

The Bottom Line

"Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

"And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs" (Mark 16:20)

“And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven. Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. So they worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy. And they spent all of their time in the Temple, praising God." (Luke 24:49-53)

"Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written." (John 21:25)

For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense. He welcomed all who visited him, boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him. (Acts 28: 30-31)

These are the "bottom lines" of the Gospels and The Acts as recorded in the New Living Translation.

What is the bottom line, you may ask? For some, it is the last line of a sheet of ruled paper. For others, it is the monetary value that describes profit or loss.

Read the scriptures and meditate about what each is saying to you. This is what I saw as the bottom line. Spiritually, sometimes I feel like the skit from Saturday Night...here is my beautiful eloquition of thought, "But, what do I know....I'm just a caveman."

Isn't it amazing that if the pattern of:
1. Obedience to the instruction of Christ
2. Application of that instruction.
3. Placement of yourself in the world
4. Willingness to share scripturally and personally about Christ.

will give the Holy Sprit the window to allow the transformation of hearts and lives for the glory of God.

The bottom line is that we are all called for worship and witness.

-But, what do I know....