Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - "The Diving Accountant" Sunday, 30 November 2014 - Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7

Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - "The Diving Accountant" Sunday, 30 November 2014 - Scripture: Revelation 2: To Ephesus
1 Write this to Ephesus, to the Angel of the church. The One with Seven Stars in his right-fist grip, striding through the golden seven-lights’ circle, speaks:
2-3 “I see what you’ve done, your hard, hard work, your refusal to quit. I know you can’t stomach evil, that you weed out apostolic pretenders. I know your persistence, your courage in my cause, that you never wear out.
4-5 “But you walked away from your first love—why? What’s going on with you, anyway? Do you have any idea how far you’ve fallen? A Lucifer fall!
“Turn back! Recover your dear early love. No time to waste, for I’m well on my way to removing your light from the golden circle.
6 “You do have this to your credit: You hate the Nicolaitan business. I hate it, too.
7 “Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches. I’m about to call each conqueror to dinner. I’m spreading a banquet of Tree-of-Life fruit, a supper plucked from God’s orchard.”
"The Diving Accountant" by W. Talmadge Johnson
Because of state and federal law, not to mention scriptural teachings on taxation and stewardship, I have an annual appointment with our certified public accountant. Our tax returns have been prepared by the same person for approximately 25 years. She knows virtually everything there is to know about our personal finances.
However, she works with the information that I give her from records, statements of income, and stewardship to the church and related ministries. Our accountant is a professional and we trust her implicitly. However, the divine accountant does not depend on data I provide.
The heavenly accountant has known me from the time I was formed in my mother’s womb to this very hour. He knows my every thought, word, motive, deed, and act: “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain” (Ps. 139:6).
The heavenly accountant praises the Ephesians for their intolerance of wickedness and false prophets. Furthermore, he honors them for their endurance and hard work. Nevertheless, He calls not only for an audit of their faithfulness, but for careful maintenance of their first love. May it be so today with both you and me.
Hymn for Today:

"Jesus Calls Us" by Cecil F. Alexander
1. Jesus calls us o'er the tumult 
of our life's wild, restless sea; 
day by day his sweet voice soundeth, 
saying, "Christian, follow me!" 
2. As of old the apostles heard it 
by the Galilean lake, 
turned from home and toil and kindred, 
leaving all for Jesus' sake. 
3. Jesus calls us from the worship 
of the vain world's golden store, 
from each idol that would keep us, 
saying, "Christian, love me more!" 
4. In our joys and in our sorrows, 
days of toil and hours of ease, 
still he calls, in cares and pleasures, 
"Christian, love me more than these!" 
5. Jesus calls us! By thy mercies, 
Savior, may we hear thy call, 
give our hearts to thine obedience, 
serve and love thee best of all. 
Thought for Today: 

“With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don’t hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort."(1 Corinthians 15:58).
Please Pray:
For the new churches orgainized as a result of evangelism efforts in Mesoamerica.
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