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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, October 15, 2005

It's more than your own needs

By Larry Fortuno

That concern appears in what the writer of the Book of Hebrews was exhorting as he declared: "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God." (Hebrews 6:1)

Today we are rightfully dedicated to the historic foundations of our faith as we honor the call to bring all to the foot of the cross, introducing them to the Lord that brings us salvation. But are we pressing on in our faith to become useful instruments of service in our churches and society?

It was observed by one man of faith that as he looks unto the field for laborers for God, it is as though they were self-absorbed members carrying "Jesus dolls" to hug.

It's not a picture of a healed family of believers willing to be used for God's glory, but instead an array of individuals still self-absorbed in that encounter with God's love and preoccupied with their need to hug their security blanket.

This is not the historic display of the children of faith that we see in that scriptural account in the history of the church. It was a dynamic transformation of lives that extended past their own needs and outward.

Are we trying to build our walls of security about ourselves and unwilling to extend ourselves outside of our comfort zones to answer the needs of those all around us?

It is evident that God was speaking to that writer of the Book of Hebrews, not to stop short of the completeness that God has available for our lives but to press on for duty, sacrifice and unconditional love in serving others.

Let us press on to perfection!

Larry Fortuno is ministry leader for the care and share ministry at Mililani Christian Church.