The beauty of the Church is that it is not homogeneous. It can't be. You and I are now family, no matter where we live, what we have done, what we look like. In the same worship center we will find police officers and ex-criminals, politicians and voters, the wealthy and the poor, the elderly and students. In many churches you will find people who speak all kinds of different languages, different skin colours, different origins. But regardless of our differences we have one thing in common: The grace offered through Jesus.
When we live in the Spirit the Church is a thing of great beauty; when we live by the flesh our differences make it an ugly place. It is vital that we understand that the Church cannot exist according to the flesh. It is not a club, a thing of business, something of this world. The Church is not a thing to be managed by a board of elders. It is a living thing that has life through the Spirit. Without the Spirit there is no life and it is an institution like any other institution of man.
As members of this living Body we are united by the Spirit under the headship of Jesus and this one thing must be remembered:
All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory, but all are treated as righteous freely by his grace because of a ransom that was paid by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:23-24)
That is something else we have in common: We have all been found wanting by Yahweh. We have all fallen short of his standards. None of us can get there because we have all been in rebellion to him; we have all sinned. It doesn't matter about any of our differences, no one is better than anyone else because all sin is in rebellion to Yahweh. However, Jesus changed all that.
Jesus gave us something better to have in common with each other. Jesus paid the price so grace could be applied to all of us and in this grace all of us are treated as righteous, regardless of our past, regardless of our sin. In the Church there is no one better than another, no one great, no one small, no one more privileged than another. There is no male or female. There is no rich and poor. There is no colour. There is only us and our relationship with Jesus. This is the Church, the Body of Christ.
To anyone without Jesus, the Church is a bizarre place, filled with a collage of people. It is not homogeneous in the flesh but it is in what cannot been seen by the eye. In Jesus we are all the same, we are all children of Father and we are all covered by the blood of the Lamb. What was impossible for man was possible for Yahweh. We are family.
Showing posts with label different. Show all posts
Showing posts with label different. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Sunday, February 10, 2013
How Can We Be Ashamed?
Stop trying to fit in because we don't. Stop trying to be accepted because we aren't. Stop trying to water down Jesus because you will lose everything if you do. We are definitely getting something wrong in this age in which we live and testify. One thing is when we try to make Christianity attractive and popular. Oh how we wish that the world would run after the righteousness of God but it is lost in its rebellion and self-centered perspective. So when we present Jesus in his great power and love, people rise up against him because he threatens that perspective.
We are different and we were designed to be different. In this world we stand out from the crowd because of Jesus in us. Because we follow him, obey him, run after him, walk in his steps, and are empowered to live as he lived, we look, act, speak, respond, think, see, love differently than the crowd without Jesus. It is the reason you stand out in your school, work place, perhaps even your home.
When we lower the Church or ourselves so that we are more attractive to the world it means we are being less of Jesus. When we try to attract the world with similar activities, music, movies, speeches, teachings, we are not serving Jesus but ourselves. When you join in bad mouthing someone to fit in, when you turn your eyes away from the cheating, when you laugh at that terrible joke, we are setting Jesus aside to fit in with our environment. That is not why Jesus left us here. He is not concerned about you fitting in and being accepted; he is concerned about those who are lost without him. You represent him here.
Look at what Paul wrote to Timothy:
So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life. (2 Timothy 1:8-9)
The "so" follows Paul reminding Timothy he was not given the spirit of timidity but of power. We have been given the power, strength and desire to live a life to the glory of Jesus in this place. And yes, it will cause suffering. You will suffer for being different. You might not have all the friends you potentially could have. You might be picked on because you stand out. People may talk about you behind your back. You might get bullied and picked on. You might get beat up. This is what it is to follow Jesus, the one who was ridiculed, rejected and crucified.
Don't be ashamed to testify about Jesus, it is why you are here. If that is your purpose and you fail to live it, you may be filled with sorrow on Jesus' return instead of joy. Paul actually invited Timothy to join him in suffering for the gospel. We have a message to share to a world that is lost in its selfishness and sin. It is great news that will save anyone who accepts. It is for the "whoever believes". It is all we should be thinking about every day: bringing the good news to our part of the world. By the power of God you will be preserved and empowered to complete the task he has given you, no matter the cost. Trust him and be willing to lay your life down in service to the King. That day is quickly approaching. Will you be willing to die as so many others before us have, in presenting Jesus to those who desperately need him?
Don't be ashamed. Stand out. Be willing to be different. Allow the world to see Jesus through you even if it hates you for it. Shine today my friend. Shine for Jesus' glory and the salvation of your part of the world.
We are different and we were designed to be different. In this world we stand out from the crowd because of Jesus in us. Because we follow him, obey him, run after him, walk in his steps, and are empowered to live as he lived, we look, act, speak, respond, think, see, love differently than the crowd without Jesus. It is the reason you stand out in your school, work place, perhaps even your home.
When we lower the Church or ourselves so that we are more attractive to the world it means we are being less of Jesus. When we try to attract the world with similar activities, music, movies, speeches, teachings, we are not serving Jesus but ourselves. When you join in bad mouthing someone to fit in, when you turn your eyes away from the cheating, when you laugh at that terrible joke, we are setting Jesus aside to fit in with our environment. That is not why Jesus left us here. He is not concerned about you fitting in and being accepted; he is concerned about those who are lost without him. You represent him here.
Look at what Paul wrote to Timothy:
So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life. (2 Timothy 1:8-9)
The "so" follows Paul reminding Timothy he was not given the spirit of timidity but of power. We have been given the power, strength and desire to live a life to the glory of Jesus in this place. And yes, it will cause suffering. You will suffer for being different. You might not have all the friends you potentially could have. You might be picked on because you stand out. People may talk about you behind your back. You might get bullied and picked on. You might get beat up. This is what it is to follow Jesus, the one who was ridiculed, rejected and crucified.
Don't be ashamed to testify about Jesus, it is why you are here. If that is your purpose and you fail to live it, you may be filled with sorrow on Jesus' return instead of joy. Paul actually invited Timothy to join him in suffering for the gospel. We have a message to share to a world that is lost in its selfishness and sin. It is great news that will save anyone who accepts. It is for the "whoever believes". It is all we should be thinking about every day: bringing the good news to our part of the world. By the power of God you will be preserved and empowered to complete the task he has given you, no matter the cost. Trust him and be willing to lay your life down in service to the King. That day is quickly approaching. Will you be willing to die as so many others before us have, in presenting Jesus to those who desperately need him?
Don't be ashamed. Stand out. Be willing to be different. Allow the world to see Jesus through you even if it hates you for it. Shine today my friend. Shine for Jesus' glory and the salvation of your part of the world.
Friday, January 11, 2013
What's Up With This Fasting Stuff?
As a great portion of the Church spends these days in fasting, we should ask ourselves why? Why fast? Why spend time not eating, not watching television or movies? Why turn off FaceBook? Why set aside video games? Why put away those magazines? The reason is very simple. When you are in a forest all you can see is trees. You have to come out of those trees in order to see the forest.
Like it or not we surround ourselves with the things of this world. We may preach the Word of God but we still take pleasure from this world like anyone else. But those pleasures can blind us to the bigger picture. They can distract us from our calling and purpose. They can ruin out palate for the taste of God's Word. They cause our life to be complicate, cluttered and down right messy and usually it is our devotion to Jesus that gets squeezed out.
Fasting gets us out of the "trees" and allows us to take in the beauty of the "forest". It allows us to breathe, re-evaluate where we are, what we are doing and what is important. It frees up our mind and our heart so we can give them the rich "food" of heaven. It gives the Spirit room to restore our soul. It closes the door on all that "noise" so we can be still and know that God is God.
Many Christians struggle spiritually. Many say "I can't hear the Spirit". Many question their beliefs. It isn't because the message of the gospel has changed. It isn't because Jesus has changed. It is because their life is so full of "noise" they can't hear God. The solution is to do what we have always supposed to have done:
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. (Colossians 3:1)
Didn't Jesus say not to pursue the things that the pagan's pursue? But what do we spend 99% of our life doing? Is there really any difference between us and those without Jesus, besides us going to church, maybe? During this time of fasting we should be asking God to examine us, to correct our ways:
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (v. 2)
The Word says to set our hearts on things above and then it says to make sure our minds are there as well. There is a reason for this: We aren't like everyone else. We aren't like our friends who get caught up in the dramas of Tumblr and FaceBook. We aren't into the High School scene. We don't make work our life. We don't live for retirement. Our goal is not to own a home, two cars and to have 1.2 children. We are not concerned about the stock market or worried over the rumours of wars. We don't diminish our calling by throwing away our calling on xbox games and movies. We are different from the world:
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)
And that is the truth of the matter. We do not live for ourselves but for Jesus. We don't live in ourselves but in Jesus. We do not seek self-pleasure but what pleases God. Our joy is not what we do but what we are because of Jesus. Our peace does not come from external matters but is a gift from Jesus, deserved or not.
I hope your goal in your fasting is to rediscover these facts. I pray you are seeking his face.
Like it or not we surround ourselves with the things of this world. We may preach the Word of God but we still take pleasure from this world like anyone else. But those pleasures can blind us to the bigger picture. They can distract us from our calling and purpose. They can ruin out palate for the taste of God's Word. They cause our life to be complicate, cluttered and down right messy and usually it is our devotion to Jesus that gets squeezed out.
Fasting gets us out of the "trees" and allows us to take in the beauty of the "forest". It allows us to breathe, re-evaluate where we are, what we are doing and what is important. It frees up our mind and our heart so we can give them the rich "food" of heaven. It gives the Spirit room to restore our soul. It closes the door on all that "noise" so we can be still and know that God is God.
Many Christians struggle spiritually. Many say "I can't hear the Spirit". Many question their beliefs. It isn't because the message of the gospel has changed. It isn't because Jesus has changed. It is because their life is so full of "noise" they can't hear God. The solution is to do what we have always supposed to have done:
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. (Colossians 3:1)
Didn't Jesus say not to pursue the things that the pagan's pursue? But what do we spend 99% of our life doing? Is there really any difference between us and those without Jesus, besides us going to church, maybe? During this time of fasting we should be asking God to examine us, to correct our ways:
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (v. 2)
The Word says to set our hearts on things above and then it says to make sure our minds are there as well. There is a reason for this: We aren't like everyone else. We aren't like our friends who get caught up in the dramas of Tumblr and FaceBook. We aren't into the High School scene. We don't make work our life. We don't live for retirement. Our goal is not to own a home, two cars and to have 1.2 children. We are not concerned about the stock market or worried over the rumours of wars. We don't diminish our calling by throwing away our calling on xbox games and movies. We are different from the world:
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)
And that is the truth of the matter. We do not live for ourselves but for Jesus. We don't live in ourselves but in Jesus. We do not seek self-pleasure but what pleases God. Our joy is not what we do but what we are because of Jesus. Our peace does not come from external matters but is a gift from Jesus, deserved or not.
I hope your goal in your fasting is to rediscover these facts. I pray you are seeking his face.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
How Are We Any Different?
If we are so different why are we the same? I keep calling out to Christians that we are different than those without Jesus. We have been made new; a new creation. The Word tells us that we are not to live by the patterns of this world because we no longer belong to it. So if this is true, and I believe with all my being it is, why are we so similar to everyone else? We say the words but we are still living on the surface of the fullness of God instead of plunging into the depth of this new creation.
How much of scripture do we have to read before it starts sinking in? In truth, we can read it all of our days and still never allow it to affect us because we have to allow the Holy Spirit the freedom to do something with it in us. Scripture after scripture tell how we are transformed and now have a different mind and heart, a different perspective, a different way of responding to our environment. We have a greater purpose than survival in this place.
Our purpose is to proclaim Jesus and live by his character. Our purpose is to allow him to glorify himself in us that he would be revealed to the world through us. He is the Light in the darkness and we carry that light but we do not carry him in our strength but by the power of God in us. We are totally different from what we were and have been called to a greater purpose and are being shaped and moulded into that purpose.
It is vital that we understand that we, in our old character, are not able to live the life we are called to. We do not have the resources or strength to get it done. Left up to us, we would rather stay in bed. Left up to us, we would rather leave everyone alone and make our own way in the world. Left up to us, we would live and let live. Left to our own, we would fit into this world. But we are not left to our own. This is what we have to understand:
To this end I labor,struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. (Colossians 1:29)
These are the words of Apostle Paul, the great champion of the Church. This is the man who brought the gospel of grace to the Gentile world, who spent his life with a people who were not his people, understanding that in the new order God had brought through Jesus, he had a new people. Paul did not have the strength or ability to do this. What he did was impossible for one man to do, to endure. But he tells us here that he did not do it in himself, but he struggled with all of Jesus' energy in him.
This is my concern, that we are building too much in our own ability and wisdom, that we are building a shallow church that is void of any of God's power and glory. We are not unintelligent. We are very resourceful. We can do a lot that looks great according to the pattern of this world, but what does it look like from God's perspective? God does not glorify himself by what we do for him but by what he does through us. If we do not understand the difference we have yet to plunge into the depth of his fullness.
Do not be satisfied by what you can do for Jesus. Do not be satisfied with your sand castles, as wonderful and clever as they may seem. Don't build your life on the principles of this world, whitewashed by the vocabulary of the Bible. Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are glorifying God while fulfilling your own desires. Abandon it all. Give it all up. Surrender the whole thing and tell Jesus you want what he wants. Then, let the Holy Spirit lead, trusting he will do the impossible through you while you press on with all his energy. Let's show this world just how different we are in Jesus.
How much of scripture do we have to read before it starts sinking in? In truth, we can read it all of our days and still never allow it to affect us because we have to allow the Holy Spirit the freedom to do something with it in us. Scripture after scripture tell how we are transformed and now have a different mind and heart, a different perspective, a different way of responding to our environment. We have a greater purpose than survival in this place.
Our purpose is to proclaim Jesus and live by his character. Our purpose is to allow him to glorify himself in us that he would be revealed to the world through us. He is the Light in the darkness and we carry that light but we do not carry him in our strength but by the power of God in us. We are totally different from what we were and have been called to a greater purpose and are being shaped and moulded into that purpose.
It is vital that we understand that we, in our old character, are not able to live the life we are called to. We do not have the resources or strength to get it done. Left up to us, we would rather stay in bed. Left up to us, we would rather leave everyone alone and make our own way in the world. Left up to us, we would live and let live. Left to our own, we would fit into this world. But we are not left to our own. This is what we have to understand:
To this end I labor,struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. (Colossians 1:29)
These are the words of Apostle Paul, the great champion of the Church. This is the man who brought the gospel of grace to the Gentile world, who spent his life with a people who were not his people, understanding that in the new order God had brought through Jesus, he had a new people. Paul did not have the strength or ability to do this. What he did was impossible for one man to do, to endure. But he tells us here that he did not do it in himself, but he struggled with all of Jesus' energy in him.
This is my concern, that we are building too much in our own ability and wisdom, that we are building a shallow church that is void of any of God's power and glory. We are not unintelligent. We are very resourceful. We can do a lot that looks great according to the pattern of this world, but what does it look like from God's perspective? God does not glorify himself by what we do for him but by what he does through us. If we do not understand the difference we have yet to plunge into the depth of his fullness.
Do not be satisfied by what you can do for Jesus. Do not be satisfied with your sand castles, as wonderful and clever as they may seem. Don't build your life on the principles of this world, whitewashed by the vocabulary of the Bible. Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are glorifying God while fulfilling your own desires. Abandon it all. Give it all up. Surrender the whole thing and tell Jesus you want what he wants. Then, let the Holy Spirit lead, trusting he will do the impossible through you while you press on with all his energy. Let's show this world just how different we are in Jesus.
Monday, October 15, 2012
You Are Designed To Be Odd
I can't emphasize this enough: Christians must be different in this world. We are different from everyone else. We think differently, speak differently, act differently, respond differently, see differently. It's not because of us but because of Jesus in us. This means we have to make the decision not to be like everyone else in this world. We have to allow the power of Jesus to work itself in us which means we make the decision not to be like the world:
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. (Ephesians 4:17)
It isn't that we have the power to make the changes that need to be done but we have the ability and freedom to choose Jesus over everything else. It is Jesus who works the change.
The world, with all of it's distractions and temptations, will always have a pull on us. Sin is always attractive at first. Sin fits into the human thinking. It is logical to man. The greatest desire is to fit in, to be accepted, to be liked and even loved. We want to feel appreciated, like we matter, that our life is worth something. We sometimes allow ourselves to think that the world can offer this but it can't.
Man, in all his logic, is still a being of rebellion and selfishness. Even the best of the best is not good enough. All the world has to offer is more destructive sin, hate, loneliness, despair, war. Even if it is not in you it is in the world and it infects. Right now much of the Western world is focusing on the problem of bullying. Yes, we can preach it is not acceptable, but it will not change the human condition. It will not change the selfish heart of a child. To say that hatred is not acceptable will not stop hatred. But those who bend their knee to Jesus have the ability to set those things aside and choose the one who does offer what the world cannot.
We may not have the power to love but we have the ability to choose not to hate. When we turn aside from hate the power of God's love is able to fills us. We cannot be everything we desire to be but Jesus has the power to get us there. Our part is to turn away from the futility of the thinking of this world, to turn from its pattern, to reject it:
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)
The Bible is very clear on this, to be possessed by Jesus is to be different from this world. If people cannot tell you are different from your speech and actions then you have a problem. To be like Jesus in this world will set you apart as an oddity. You cannot be like Jesus and "fit in".
For a teen it can be tough because most just want to fit in, go unnoticed, to not draw any attention to themselves. To do that is to choose the world. To choose Jesus is to reject the world and walk in the will of God. It is to allow the power of Jesus to transform us into what we were designed to be. The amazing thing is that the power of Jesus gives us the ability to face giants, to win over bullies. Look at the bully David faced and defeated. Consider how God won over the king bully because of Daniel, when Daniel rejected the pattern of the world in favour of God. Amazing stuff.
By the way teens, it is not that much easier as adults. Bullies grow up into bullies and some even become presidents and prime ministers. But with the power of Jesus we are able to overcome even these powerful bullies.
To be a Christian is to be a target in this world, and it is becoming increasingly so. What is worse, there are portions of the body that have decided to reject the truth of God for the acceptability of the world. It will not end well for them. I hope you will make the decision that Jesus holds more for you than this world could ever offer. I hope you will reject the world's futile thinking and destructive pattern. I hope you will choose life and be different in this world.
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. (Ephesians 4:17)
It isn't that we have the power to make the changes that need to be done but we have the ability and freedom to choose Jesus over everything else. It is Jesus who works the change.
The world, with all of it's distractions and temptations, will always have a pull on us. Sin is always attractive at first. Sin fits into the human thinking. It is logical to man. The greatest desire is to fit in, to be accepted, to be liked and even loved. We want to feel appreciated, like we matter, that our life is worth something. We sometimes allow ourselves to think that the world can offer this but it can't.
Man, in all his logic, is still a being of rebellion and selfishness. Even the best of the best is not good enough. All the world has to offer is more destructive sin, hate, loneliness, despair, war. Even if it is not in you it is in the world and it infects. Right now much of the Western world is focusing on the problem of bullying. Yes, we can preach it is not acceptable, but it will not change the human condition. It will not change the selfish heart of a child. To say that hatred is not acceptable will not stop hatred. But those who bend their knee to Jesus have the ability to set those things aside and choose the one who does offer what the world cannot.
We may not have the power to love but we have the ability to choose not to hate. When we turn aside from hate the power of God's love is able to fills us. We cannot be everything we desire to be but Jesus has the power to get us there. Our part is to turn away from the futility of the thinking of this world, to turn from its pattern, to reject it:
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)
The Bible is very clear on this, to be possessed by Jesus is to be different from this world. If people cannot tell you are different from your speech and actions then you have a problem. To be like Jesus in this world will set you apart as an oddity. You cannot be like Jesus and "fit in".
For a teen it can be tough because most just want to fit in, go unnoticed, to not draw any attention to themselves. To do that is to choose the world. To choose Jesus is to reject the world and walk in the will of God. It is to allow the power of Jesus to transform us into what we were designed to be. The amazing thing is that the power of Jesus gives us the ability to face giants, to win over bullies. Look at the bully David faced and defeated. Consider how God won over the king bully because of Daniel, when Daniel rejected the pattern of the world in favour of God. Amazing stuff.
By the way teens, it is not that much easier as adults. Bullies grow up into bullies and some even become presidents and prime ministers. But with the power of Jesus we are able to overcome even these powerful bullies.
To be a Christian is to be a target in this world, and it is becoming increasingly so. What is worse, there are portions of the body that have decided to reject the truth of God for the acceptability of the world. It will not end well for them. I hope you will make the decision that Jesus holds more for you than this world could ever offer. I hope you will reject the world's futile thinking and destructive pattern. I hope you will choose life and be different in this world.
Monday, February 27, 2012
You Cannot Love Both The World And Jesus
There has to be a difference between someone with Jesus and someone without him. If there isn't a difference there is something wrong. As followers of Jesus we have been called out of the world. What is meant by this is that we have been called out of the system of the world. We have been called out of its pattern of thinking, perspective, priorities, and values. We must still live here because we have been called into Jesus' mission, to share the good news with anyone who is willing to be saved. But living here does not mean being part of the mentality here; we have been brought into something different. We are different. We are a new creation.
There are many people walking around with a badge that says Christian without realizing that they are suppose to be walking around in brand new clothes that have Jesus written all over them. We have a lot of wanna-be Christians who have their little badge but who look, talk and act exactly like the person without Jesus. Apostle Paul described these type of Christians to Timothy:
If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. (1 Timothy 6:3-5)
We know about the fruit of the Spirit, the character of Jesus that is produced in us by the Spirit. Well this passage in Timothy is the fruit of the wanna-be Christian. They teach wrong stuff and when shown what the Bible says, they disagree with it. They think they know more than anyone else, are better than everyone but in fact, understand nothing about God, Jesus and the Spirit. They are drawn to controversies, probably surfing the Internet, looking for someone to argue with concerning trivial things like whether it is better to use wine or grape juice in Communion, and what temperature the water should be for baptisms. Much of what they produce will be envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction. Some of these type of people will only see the Church as a means of making money.
Now contrast this with the character of a mature follower of Jesus Christ. There is a difference:
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. (1 Timothy 6:6-8)
There is a good measuring rod to look in the mirror with. A follower of Jesus is marked by a character of contentment. The reason is because we are divorced from the pattern of this world, from it's thinking and desires. Our priorities are much different, as are our values. We are no longer attached to things here and are not striving to gain more things. Jesus said not to try to store up wealth here but instead send ahead of us the treasures that are of much greater worth, which go ahead of us and are stored up in heaven. The love, kindness, good deeds, all such things done in Jesus name are our heavenly treasure. They will be the jewels in our crown, the crown we will receive but which we will lay at Jesus feet. I don't know about you but I want to lay down a crown of great value; I want what I submit to Jesus to be of great substance.
The enemy's greatest tools are deception and distraction and there are a lot of followers of Jesus who are being deceived into wearing the badge instead of the new garment. There are way too many who are being distracted by the rotting treasures of this earth. Don't be among the number. Follow Jesus and only Jesus; consume the Word of God; live by the Spirit, empowered by the Spirit; fix your eyes on Jesus; get busy doing what we were saved to do. Allow the fruit of the Spirit to be produced in you by the Holy Spirit which requires a spirit, soul and body wholly filled and possessed by Jesus Christ. We are different. We belong to Jesus. God cannot be mocked, he knows who belong to him.
There are many people walking around with a badge that says Christian without realizing that they are suppose to be walking around in brand new clothes that have Jesus written all over them. We have a lot of wanna-be Christians who have their little badge but who look, talk and act exactly like the person without Jesus. Apostle Paul described these type of Christians to Timothy:
If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. (1 Timothy 6:3-5)
We know about the fruit of the Spirit, the character of Jesus that is produced in us by the Spirit. Well this passage in Timothy is the fruit of the wanna-be Christian. They teach wrong stuff and when shown what the Bible says, they disagree with it. They think they know more than anyone else, are better than everyone but in fact, understand nothing about God, Jesus and the Spirit. They are drawn to controversies, probably surfing the Internet, looking for someone to argue with concerning trivial things like whether it is better to use wine or grape juice in Communion, and what temperature the water should be for baptisms. Much of what they produce will be envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction. Some of these type of people will only see the Church as a means of making money.
Now contrast this with the character of a mature follower of Jesus Christ. There is a difference:
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. (1 Timothy 6:6-8)
There is a good measuring rod to look in the mirror with. A follower of Jesus is marked by a character of contentment. The reason is because we are divorced from the pattern of this world, from it's thinking and desires. Our priorities are much different, as are our values. We are no longer attached to things here and are not striving to gain more things. Jesus said not to try to store up wealth here but instead send ahead of us the treasures that are of much greater worth, which go ahead of us and are stored up in heaven. The love, kindness, good deeds, all such things done in Jesus name are our heavenly treasure. They will be the jewels in our crown, the crown we will receive but which we will lay at Jesus feet. I don't know about you but I want to lay down a crown of great value; I want what I submit to Jesus to be of great substance.
The enemy's greatest tools are deception and distraction and there are a lot of followers of Jesus who are being deceived into wearing the badge instead of the new garment. There are way too many who are being distracted by the rotting treasures of this earth. Don't be among the number. Follow Jesus and only Jesus; consume the Word of God; live by the Spirit, empowered by the Spirit; fix your eyes on Jesus; get busy doing what we were saved to do. Allow the fruit of the Spirit to be produced in you by the Holy Spirit which requires a spirit, soul and body wholly filled and possessed by Jesus Christ. We are different. We belong to Jesus. God cannot be mocked, he knows who belong to him.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)