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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue # 773 April 4, 2003 BAGZEND BELIEVERS If you read this morning’s title, you are probably wondering what in the world a Bagzend is and how it can relate to you. Let me explain. To begin with, Bagzend is pronounced bags-end. When I'm cooking, and I go the freezer, I frequently find the ends of several bags of vegetables or other goodies. That night, I'll combine the left over bags of vegetables and we'll have them with supper. It has become a running joke around here that when I'm asked what we'll be having for supper, it might include "Bagzend" brand veggies. The other night bagzend veggies were peas and a stir-fry mix. There have been some very eclectic combinations but they always seem to work. I'm never quite sure what they'll be until I open the freezer. Bagzend can also apply to things other than veggies, it might be bagzend fries (usually shoestring and curly mixed), or it might be the meat course (some chicken wings and some ribs or whatever). In many ways the church is made up of bagzend people. Throughout the Old Testament we see God using the wise and powerful, but also the oddballs, misfits and unqualified. Who else but God would use a prostitute (Rahab) to save his people? Who else but God would use a frightened man from a small tribe (Gideon) to win a huge military victory with only 300 soldiers? Jesus’ disciples were a misfit lot that would never have "qualified" for church leadership in the first place. The Apostle Paul started out as a fanatical persecutor of the church until his conversion. Who else but God would use a Jewish tax collector, hated by Jew and Gentile alike, to write one of His gospels? I'm so blessed to know that God can use the leftovers, the bagzend. You see I’m one of them. I come from a non-Christian home and lived an ungodly life until I found Christ. If He didn't love bagzend as much as the rest of the bag, there would be no hope for most of us. The lost ones He came to find are often the bagzend of the world. Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." Then Jesus told them this parable: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, `Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. Luke 15:1-7 NIV After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and `sinners'?" Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Luke 5:27-32 NIV Until next time, if you're one of the bagzend who has found Jesus, rejoice. If you're a Christian who looks down on bagzend people, check your heart, Jesus loved them. Be blessed. Hallelu Yah (Praise God)! Kevin YOU ARE Once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour you are cared for. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 NIV Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. You have value in the eyes of God so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You can simply begin the relationship by honestly and completely opening your heart, admitting you need God's help, and saying a prayer along the lines of: Jesus: I have made many mistakes in my life and done things I am not proud of. I have sinned. I need your love and forgiveness. I believe that you came into this world and gave your life on a cross to pay for my sins and that you defeated death and rose again. Please forgive me, and be the Lord of my life. I give my life to you Lord. Amen If you pray this prayer for the first time let me know so I can rejoice with you. Did you know that at Gleanings, we have a dedicated team of prayer warriors and all prayer concerns are kept strictly confidential? Your comments, your questions and your joys are shared with the prayer team, to keep me accountable as the head of the ministry and to encourage them as they see God at work in your life. As with prayer all these things are kept confidential within the Gleanings team. To share your questions, comments, thoughts, prayer concerns and praise reports email us If you enjoyed this issue of Gleanings From The Word, email it, in its entirety, to a friend. For information on use of Gleanings in your church newsletter or other situations please visit the permissions page . You can write to us at Gleanings From The Word Ministries International 114 Oak St Sherwood Park, AB Canada T8A 0V8 © 2003 K.F. "Kevin" Corbin Gleanings From The Word Minististries International - All Rights Reserved
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