This originally started as an email to someone and then I thought hey, some these words could not only encourage this one person but maybe others as well. Believers should be helping to build up the body of Christ. Hence, this newly-edited post. And if we make mistakes, then like the Bible says, we can encourage and correct each other using the Word. Anyway, sometimes it's hard to live in a world that promotes things that are contrary to the gospel. As a "babe" in Christ, it can be especially hard not to look back when you've set your hand to the plow, so to speak. People might call you radical and blow you off, but you're not alone. Know that many people out there have been touched by God's love and the fact that it radically changes so many people and connects us all is one of the beautiful things about being followers of Christ. Once you've felt it, there's just no going back. You can't help but want to know more about this God that loves you and saved you and you want to share that love with others. People just don't understand because they don’t know Him. I wish the world were ready to hear, but the gate is still narrow. Even so, out of the 99, that lost sheep is worth looking for. Even if you help just one person, it's worth it. Keep being you, even as you keep growing in Christ. We all are still growing, and it's by the grace of God we've gotten this far in our journeys.
Think you’re too unworthy and God can’t possibly use you? Sometimes God uses people the world wouldn’t have thought possible. Keith Green for example started off as a regular musician (and apparently used psychedelic drugs) before he found Christ and became so zealous for the Lord. How can the world see the amazing transformations Jesus brings about in people and not believe? I think Paul has one of the best testimonies in the Bible. A hateful Pharisee dutifully following Judaic law, choosing to persecute and murder followers of "the Way," only to meet Jesus and become one of the most zealous Christians that ever lived? That doesn't happen for no reason! And then people sometimes think Christians have to be perfect, but even Peter made mistakes. He told Jesus he shouldn't suffer/die (where Jesus afterward said "get behind me Satan”), Paul rebuked him when he stopped eating with the Gentiles when other Jews came around, he cut off the soldier's ear that Jesus then healed, and he even denied Jesus 3 times and was still forgiven. We're all flawed, we all fall (sometimes unfortunately into the same sins...), but like Paul said, we all should be striving for holiness as if we were in a race and heaven is the finish line. The flesh may be weak, but the Holy Spirit can help strengthen and guide us. Comments are closed.
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DisclaimerWhile I love open discussions, not all internet users are kind. I'd like to build people up, not have others cut people down. Therefore, no comments, but feel free to email me if there's something you'd like to share with me. Archives
July 2020
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