Can you Forgive?

   I bet if you talked to the average sane person on the street corner and you asked them if they would either like to or think that they are going to heaven, they would say yes. I think that if you went a little further and asked why they think they know this, some would even go as far as to say because Jesus forgave them for their sins and accepted them into His Kingdom, therefore they are going to Heaven inevitably.
   Assuming that there is no real relationship between that person and Christ, the world at least knows that the reason that we justify our "entrance" into heaven is because we have been forgiven from our sins by the Love and acceptance and relationship with Jesus Christ in our lives.
   So if we, and the world, expect to be forgiven by Jesus from our sins, that we continue to commit daily might I add, then why can we not forgive others when they do wrong against us or other people? Jesus gave His earthly life so that we may be forgiven, and yet we still stab His back when we sin against Him. Yet someone says one harsh word to us, once, and there is absolutely no forgiveness in our hearts? Something is wrong with that picture. My challenge to you: take a second, and forgive.

In the Right

Imagine that I had acquired a really close friend in elementary school and we vowed to be close friends until the end of our days. In elementary school, we would do mostly everything together from lunch to the playground to homework, as inseparable buddies.
However in high school, we still were as close as we were in elementary school, but my friend developed cancer. It was completely unexpected for him and his entire family. Just last year, your friend seemed perfectly healthy and fine, and this year he must go through the physical and psychological stress of this disease.
The doctors of course say that there is absolutely no cure for this disease. However, you have a cure for this disease that would heal him and you carry it with you everywhere. But you are scared to give it to him because you think that he may not think that it would save his life, so the fear completely prohibits you and you say nothing. Is that fair? Is that love?
Well if we say that we desire to love people the way that God loves us, why are we afraid to go out and make disciples as we are instructed in the Great Commission? Giving others the life saving message of the Gospel? This is the exact same concept! If we love others, we will let them know about the only true life saving medicine, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that He died for our sins, and through Him, we may dwell with the Father forever!

Now Go and Make Disciples

Matthew 28,19b “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Making disciples does not happen by sitting down in your room at your house waiting for someone to knock on your door so you can share Jesus with them. It does not mean that you hesitate before you engage in things that do not please God with those that you call "friends." No, it means that you are to look for opportunities to make disciples, teaching others to obey everything that Jesus has commanded you. Teaching others to OBEY! To go and to Teach are both verbs that in this sense requires one to seek the opportunities to do so! So, GO forth and make disciples, TEACHING them to obey all that Jesus has commanded you! LOOK for the opportunities!

Showing the World

As small kids look up to their big brothers and sisters on a daily basis to see what they do, how they think, how they treat others, how they treated themselves, etc, you, as Christians are watched by the world daily.
   You may not fully realize it but the world is always looking for something with true fulfillment, true affection, true leadership, something real to worship. They are looking for an all satisfying, all knowing, Omnipotent "something" that they can sink their lives into.
   So my challenge, in all of you affairs, think that someone who wants to follow God is always watching you, to see if the way you live shows them that our God is worth following, worth serving, and living for. So let us not be careless in our ways for our own selfish gain, but be persistent in the following of Christ Jesus.

Unknown Time

If you or anyone you know has ever left milk just to sit in the sun for a few days, you know what happens. The milk for becomes a solid liquid, and then later, well I dont even know if one would feel comfortable to still call it milk. Well, what happens, over a short period of time, milk cannot last as itself any longer, it perishes.
The same goes for bananas and just about any other fruit you can think of. The ripe fruit looks absolutely delicious to the taste buds, but after a certain period of time, that same fruit can make you want to gag because of how rotten it seems to be.
Using these observations, we all know that our time on Earth does not and was not meant to last forever. We all, as some would say, "Have an appointment with death, that we all will keep." The act of leaving this earth has absolutely no discrimination, everyone is picked to leave this earth no matter race, sex, occupation, or your actions on earth.
But what separates us Christians from the rest of the world is that for our time on earth, we have a set influence, to influence, teach, and spread. Influencing others that our God is Real and Loving and Just and teaching the values and goals of a Life in Christ, and Spreading the wonderful Gospel of Jesus Christ. We have limited time, don's waste it, start living the Goals of the Christian Life today!

Non- Stick

   There are things that people tend to say and do that may hurt or bother or destroy. For example, they spit on Jesus as He was being taken to the site to be crucified on the Cross. They intentionally mocked Him and put a crown of thorns on His head. They pierced and bruised him to try and hurt our Saviour.
   However, Jesus still gave them a chance to be forgiven. He still died on the Cross for those who go against His Word daily. You know what that tells us, the things they did to Jesus on the cross did not stick to Him and fill Him with anger or resentment, instead He forgave. Things may hurt and it is okay to feel that, but we are supposed to forgive, as Jesus did!

Temple

   Have you ever walked into a church that hasnt been cleaned in years? The walls are grimy, the floor is about to fall, and the ceiling too. The pulpit probably hasnt been changed since the 1800's. The bathrooms are stained and there is only one toilet seat and is missing a lid? Probably not, for the is God's House, and it reflects His Goodness and Holiness.
   Our bodies are supposed to be the same reflection. Therefore we are to take care of our bodies, for they are holy and unlike an other thing in creation. Yes, that means we are to excersice if we can and ear right, so that our temples are clean and pure and reflect the Goodness of God. How do you care for your temple?

Revive

  If you are in Christ, you are alive! Well, technically if you are reading this blog post, you are alive. But tell me, are you really alive? Are you living life as to what it was meant to be, prioritizing the right things as they were meant to be? More importantly, after this life is over, do you know what happens next?
   To the unbeliever, these may be scary thoughts. But for those who have been justified and are being sanctified by Christ, you know the answers to those questions. You  know that you have been redeemed, bought with a price. You know of Christ saving power. He has saved you, you are alive, you are revived!

Tough

   There are some things that we can not bend on when we believe in something. For example, considering an oven is in complete working order, there is no time where it would be wise to stick your hand inside against the surface. That does not change by day, or by mood, but that is a belief that the oven will burn you!
   If you believe in Christ, you live a life that is TOUGH in that you, with the Power by the Holy Spirit of course, do not bend in the face of circumstances or day or mood, but instead you truly believe in the Word of the Lord. Your surroundings do not dictate your belief! For you dont bend with the wind, but in Christ, you are tough!

Time Well Spent

   If you want to find out what someone truly believes, see what they do when no one is watching. Are they still in the Word of the Lord, following His Will and commands? Or are they living for themselves when no one is around?
   Our spare time, our time alone, tells what we really believe. Do we live as we say we do? Do we spend time with our families? Do we pursue the Will of the Lord? If any of these things are in question, you might want to consider taking an inventory and examine your walk with Christ once again. Your time alone shows what you truly believe!

Unforgiveable

   I know there are times when I personally think that there is no way that I should be forgiven for sin committed. The reason is, after all of this time, after all of the sermons that I have listened to and the Word of God that I have read, I still sin at times and go against His commands.
   But there is encouragement. Unless there is something blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, it is forgiveable! And because Jesus died on the Cross for your sins, if you have accepted and believe in Him, you have been forgiven! So let the weight be lifted off of you, for you have been forgiven! Be blessed!

Where Needed

   Have you ever been called on to do something to advance the Kingdom of God? I am almost positive that the anwer is yes. Sometimes we are able to do things that we really enjoy that advance His Kingdom and fulfill a need, and sometimes it may honestly feel like it is all too much.
   However, know this, and this I must remind myself of at least weekly, God never puts too much on us than we can bear. WE can put too much on us than bearable, but God never will, and He will help you in serving His Kingdom when it is done for His Glory! Be encouraged!

Beautiful Things

   Jesus came to seek and to save what was lost. What was lost? Us. We were a slave to our sin. To the things of the world. To the desires of the flesh. Our hearts were stained with selfishness and sin. We had carnal thinking and desires.
   However, because of Christ dying on the Cross, we have the opportunity to be forgiven through Justification and cleansed through Sanctification. He has taken our sinful nature and turned us into beautiful new creations in Christ. He created us to be incredibly beautiful things and He has forgiven us so that we may become what we were created to be!

Compassion

   Reading the Bible, there were many differences between the Pharisees and Jesus. Jesus repeatedly pointed out some of these differences, and they are preached usually in sermons that have to do with Christianity not being a religion, but a relationship.
   However, one main difference between Jesus and the Pharisees was compassion. Jesus was not out to simply condemn everyone that He came in contact with. He was sent to fulfill the Law and to seek and save what was lost, us. But He did not force us to believing and following Him, instead He showed the Ultimate Compassion by death by a Cross so that we may be forgiven of our sins and enter into eternity with Him. That is compassion. Have you showed compassion today?

Free

   At the time that we were born, we were slaves to our sin. We disobeyed our parents and the commandments of the Lord. We may, at some point, have even thought that it did not matter because we were forgiven through Christ Jesus dying on the Cross for us.
   This is true, we were and are forgiven because Christ shed His Blood for us. However, because of this, we are also free! Free from what? The bondage and heavy yoke of sin. Yes, all have sinned, but we as Christians have been set free from its bondage and forgiven or the past. If you are in Christ, you are free!