Reach the Reachable!...the Wayfarer 12/18/15

Reach the Reachable!
12/18/15

¹³ And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.

¹⁴ And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.

¹⁵ And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.

¹⁶ And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?

¹⁷ When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

(Mark 2:13-17)

Although I chose to open with this passage from Mark, the same statement made by JESUS is covered in Matthew chapter 9, and in Luke chapter 5 as well.

Reaching the reachable, teaching the teachable that repentance was to be given for salvation was a key point in my Lord and Savior’s ministry, and he didn’t care who criticized him for doing so!

It should also be a key point in the efforts of those seeking to increase the number of those who will find their way to the kingdom of God… eternal life despite any criticism or hindrance that is still proliferated among men who would only share that precious message with those who have already heard it!

This is not to say that we are not to be a separated, and unique and peculiar people as was stated by Paul in his epistle to Titus, but that as that peculiar people we need to be a light to those most in need of that light.

Matthew 5:14-18 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁴ Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

¹⁵ Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

¹⁷ Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

¹⁸ For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Reaching the reachable entails the necessity of being among those reachable, as repugnant as it may be, without compromising one iota of what is required to be taught in hopes of teaching the TRUTH to the teachable… That very TRUTH may not be withheld while among them if it is to be taught, again without regard to the criticism of any, and without regard to their reception of that TRUTH, should it be found offensive to those hearing it!

We cannot be less than zealous in our efforts, nor can we compromise our faith and belief…compromise on either faith or belief denies both, and once more I state, either you is or either you aint… you truly hold belief and faith, or you do not hold it.

Example to be followed must not be taken from man, clique, division or denomination, but must be taken from the MASTER Himself!

Matthew 10:24-25 King James Version (KJV)

²⁴ The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.

²⁵ It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?

Reaching the reachable requires stepping out of a comfort zone, but doing so without compromise. None may be reached if not in the proximity to reach them… and none will be reached with silent assent of actions, which in fact is enabling those actions through that very silence which is then taken as acceptance of those actions.

Our own actions should show the love demanded of us for each other in all things, both in positive acts, and in reminder of the requirement of repentance for salvation.

We cannot be less than that Samaritan who chose not to pass by the wayside, as did the “religious” of the time, disregarding the needs of our fellow human beings because it is unacceptable to any to choose the love demanded of us if it means reaching the reachable… no matter how leprous that one in need may appear.

Light is not extinguished by darkness, but extinguishes the darkness itself when that light enters.

James 4:10-17 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁰ Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

¹¹ Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.

¹² There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

¹³ Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:

¹⁴ Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

¹⁵ For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

¹⁶ But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.

¹⁷ Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Humility was shown by our Master, who chose to sit in the lesser seats, chose to sit among those in need, teach those in need, heal the sick, the lame and the leprous outcasts among the society instead of languishing among the “righteous” who forgot the meaning of God’s love, and in turn chose to be judges of the law instead of doers.

Boasting of anything other than the absolute righteousness of CHRIST JESUS is vain, a vanity that reaches none.

Failing to do what is required is as inexcusable as doing what is known to be inexcusable.

As we attempt to reach the reachable and teach the teachable the only righteousness to be boasted of is that of Christ Jesus. It is after all only He who may pass final judgment, and only He who may give final pardon.

Acts 4 King James Version (KJV)

4 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,

² Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

³ And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.

⁴ Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

⁵ And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,

⁶ And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.

⁷ And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,

⁹ If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;

¹⁰ Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

¹¹ This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

¹² Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

There is no salvation in any teaching of mankind, no salvation available to any without the faith that grants the grace given us by God through the birth, life, crucifixion and death, burial and resurrection of CHRIST JESUS!

Ephesians 2:8-10 King James Version (KJV)

⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.

¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

That precious grace is not given by man or men, but by God alone and that faith must be in Him, not in man or man’s opinions.

Again, boasting must not be of ourselves, but of our Savior, what He has done and is doing, Who He IS not who we are. What He wants of us, not what we want of each other, His love, His promise, His promised Life, HIS Light that can shine through us if allowed to do so and not be extinguished by compromise of any sort.

That precious promise is still there, still available to all and needs to be preached to all, taught to all, along with the warnings also given to all by HIM of the necessity of repentance in exchange for redemption.

It is HIS promise, and is HIS to deliver to those willing to hear, understand and accept it and cannot be denied by any man.

Revelation 22 King James Version (KJV)

22 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

² In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

³ And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

⁴ And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

⁵ And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

⁶ And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.

⁷ Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

⁸ And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.

⁹ Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

¹⁰ And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

¹¹ He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

¹² And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

¹³ I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

¹⁴ Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

¹⁵ For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

¹⁶ I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

¹⁷ And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

¹⁸ For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

¹⁹ And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

²⁰ He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

²¹ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

 Let us, please, therefore reach as many as are reachable, and teach the absolute TRUTH of salvation, allowing them to accept that precious grace, to as many as are teachable, and again, come quickly Lord Jesus!

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

AMEN and AMEN

the Wayfarer