one of our sunday school teachers used this phrase regarding our belief in CHRIST on sunday. the attack of a christian church by a suicide bomber in egypt was mentioned. the church had to cancel it's christmas services for fear of another attack. are christians realizing that their faith is being attacked more and more; or do you think it is isolated?
i think most of us have seen christianity attacked with just having GOD removed from almost everything, because it is offensive to others that don't believe. a nativity scene that had been displayed for over 50 years in front of a church was removed this year, because it offended an individual that drove by it everyday. are these attacks on christianity; yes they are.
i was thinking about this comment sunday night and most of yesterday. we could apply this to any one of our beliefs. most of us base our beliefs because of , not what GOD says. we are more willing to believe what society tells us to believe than what CHRIST has told us. all of CHRIST'S disciples died because of great suffering for following HIM. would we be willing to do that? that's really the question you have to ask yourself. JESUS asked us to leave all things behind to follow HIM. there is a verse in scripture where CHRIST describes what really must happen before we fully understand what it means to follow him.
"Not Peace but Division
49 “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! 51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” luke 12:49-53
there will have to be division and discord in the world for individuals to fully accept HIM. it's not going to happen with just our enemies, but with our families and friends that do not accept HIM. harsh reality i know. most of say we accept HIM, but i don't know if we really know what it takes to follow HIM. as i journey further into scripture i realize more and more how i have not fully accepted HIS TRUTHS and WORDS into my heart.
CHRIST wants us to have all the joys, love and grace HE has given us. HE wants us to enter HIS beloved kingdom, but if we don't do all things that HE requires of us we will be held accountable for that. remember, it is by HIS HAND and HIS GRACE alone that you enter HIS kingdom. (check out revelations)
with that said i think of all the times i have denied HIM just as peter did when i haven't glorified HIM, or rebuked because of fear. i think of how i have hid my faith from some, but not others. i think of how i have betrayed HIM just as judas did because of worry of offending another. radical i know, but that is what HE expects from me.
"Interpreting the Times
54 He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. 55 And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?
57 “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.” luke 12:54-59
No comments:
Post a Comment