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?