WHEN AN APOSTLE IS CONCERNED Devotion 1 of 29 How serious is it when a church does not "grow up into" Christ "in all things" (Eph 4:15)? What can be said in favor of dawdling in spiritual infancy, never advancing beyond the toddler stage? What about remaining unable to receive "meat," and having to remain on a diet of "milk?" What can be said of a church that is not capable of edifying and admonishing one another? What of a congregation that is taken in by false teachers, being brought to the point where they embrace false views of Christ, the Spirit, and the Gospel? What does Jesus expect from His church – all of it? Or is it even necessary that the church be measured at all? Is it a kind of end of itself, with nothing more expected from it than mere existence? --Tomorrow:
"Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him." (2 Corinthians 11:1-4)
We know from Scripture that the church IS assessed by Jesus – while it remains in this world. Anyone or anything that is represented as being associated with Jesus is subject to Divine measurement and assessment. This heavenly manner was revealed to John on the isle of Patmos. "And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein" (Rev 11:1). Notice what is said: "given to me." The measuring rod was given to John himself. He was to perform the measurement with this Divinely supplied media. God had purposes and expectations for what was to be measured. The angel would not perform this measurement, or assessment, but will demand that John get up and do it.
"A reed like unto a rod." This was a fixed standard of measurement – "like unto a rod." It was not subject to variation, whether reduction or enlargement – "like unto a rod." What was measured with this "reed" might vary, but the standard of measurement would not.
"Rise and measure the temple of God." This is where God is intended to dwell, and is a depiction of the church in its entirety. As it is written, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are" (1 Cor 3:16-17). Again, it is written concerning the people of God, "In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit" (Eph 2:21-22). This is a call to measure what calls itself the "church," wherever it is found. God Himself has no need to perform the measurement, for "the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity"(2 Tim 2:19). This is a measurement that man will be asked to accomplish, and the means by which it is to be measured is supplied from heaven. No human measurements are allowed! What is the church? How do men define it? What is its purpose? Measure the temple!
"Rise and measure . . . the altar." This is the means of atonement, the basis for reconciliation, and the means for the expiation of sin. What is being presented as the means of Divine acceptance? What kind of altar is used to feed the people and sustain their souls? What is the declared ground of their acceptance? What are they being told is the reason for God receiving them – or have they even been told that He does receive them. Measure the altar!
"Rise and measure . . . them that worship therein." What about the "worshipers?" the people – individual members of the church? What kind of individuals are they? Do they measure up to the Divine standard? Are they"washed," "sanctified," and "justified?" Are they separated from the world, living by faith, and seeking the things that are above? Are they born again, and do they live by every word of God? Do they have new hearts and new spirits, and do they conduct themselves in the world as Jesus did? Measure the people!
"Leave out" the "court which is without the temple, and measure it not." John is told NOT to measure the outer court – the place where people milled about, close to the temple, but not actually in it. That part of the professed church represents those who "know not God" – the Gentiles. These have a form of godliness, but deny its power (2 Tim 3:5). They "profess that they know God, but in works deny Him" (Tit 1:15). Such people are left out of the measurement because they have "neither part nor lot in this matter" (Acts 8:21). Their religion is nothing more than chatter. They have neither interest in, nor access to, the things of God. They are excluded. Do not measure them!
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, grant me grace to pass the test of Your measurement.