Im sure that if you surf through the channels on your television for an hour straight, you will find something blatantly against the teachings of Christ and the Bible. This could be morally related, sexually related, or whatever else. That is because sin has obviously become an accepted principle in today's lifestyle among the world.
It has become normal to have pre marital sex, to go and lose control while drinking, to do a little bit of drugs, skip school and go party, etc. Those things are always seen as bad, but sometimes normal among some. At least normal enough to advertise.
That is why the title is "It doesnt matter". We as Christians are not called to do what is normal, but we are called by God to be Holy, that is different. We are the ones who are always going against the grain of this world to do things that are acceptable unto and mirror the image of Christ.
So my challenge, throughout the rest of this week and the rest of your life, find different ways to go against the culture of the world and do things that explicitly serve Jesus Christ.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
King
For a second, I am going to go back to the subject of my mom. Over the years, my mothers has become a pretty good friend. She may not be as daring as I am, or quite as young, but she has become a great friend. One to laugh with, joke around with, etc., just as any other friend would be.
But when it comes down to it, at the end of the day, she still has the title mother, and no matter what, as long as I am under her roof, what she says goes. No discussion, she holds the cards over me, if you will. And if I ever forget that, I am quickly reminded.
It is a great thing that the Lord calls us friend. It is amazing that we can come to Him as we are, and just talk to Him like our friend or our brother, telling Him about all that is going on in our days and in our lives.
But God is also our Sovereign King, the King of the Universe, to whom's name every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that He is Lord. So while we consider Him friend, also remember He is Lord over ALL, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords who reigns forever! Its fine to think of Him as friend, but also remember, He is the one and only Living God of All, the Lord Almighty!
But when it comes down to it, at the end of the day, she still has the title mother, and no matter what, as long as I am under her roof, what she says goes. No discussion, she holds the cards over me, if you will. And if I ever forget that, I am quickly reminded.
It is a great thing that the Lord calls us friend. It is amazing that we can come to Him as we are, and just talk to Him like our friend or our brother, telling Him about all that is going on in our days and in our lives.
But God is also our Sovereign King, the King of the Universe, to whom's name every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that He is Lord. So while we consider Him friend, also remember He is Lord over ALL, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords who reigns forever! Its fine to think of Him as friend, but also remember, He is the one and only Living God of All, the Lord Almighty!
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Passion
When my mom comes home from work everyday, I hate to say it, but most of the time I am all in her face, joking, laughing, and sometimes even getting on my moms nerves. It is not because I havent seen her in a long time, I just saw her the night before and we live together, but I love my mom so much that every day my love shows in a close, exciting, sometimes annoying way.
On the other hand, my mom shows her love for me in a more subtle approach. She might offer me some of her apple cider or tell me a joke of some sort, or just kid around with me. She does not have to be in my face all of the time and in fact most of the time, she is not.
Which one of us loves the other more? Can you really judge? No, you cannot. We both have love for each other, just shown in different ways. So do I shun her for not being an in your face type of person? No. Does she shun me for that? No. The point is, do not just someone's love for God by how much they are yelling as they preach, or how high they jump during worship. Not every sermon has to be loud, and not every worship has to contain a jump. Some in the bible we very physical about their passion and worship. Some others were not so much. As long as your passion and love for Christ and His renown is genuine, that is what matters.
On the other hand, my mom shows her love for me in a more subtle approach. She might offer me some of her apple cider or tell me a joke of some sort, or just kid around with me. She does not have to be in my face all of the time and in fact most of the time, she is not.
Which one of us loves the other more? Can you really judge? No, you cannot. We both have love for each other, just shown in different ways. So do I shun her for not being an in your face type of person? No. Does she shun me for that? No. The point is, do not just someone's love for God by how much they are yelling as they preach, or how high they jump during worship. Not every sermon has to be loud, and not every worship has to contain a jump. Some in the bible we very physical about their passion and worship. Some others were not so much. As long as your passion and love for Christ and His renown is genuine, that is what matters.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Full Time Love
One day, this guy, we will name his Gold, woke up for work and he had just had one of the worst nights of his life. His wife had recently left him and their kids were given to her as well. He only had one more week to work at his job before he had to try and find a new one, which he hadnt even started to do yet.
Gold was a believer in Jesus Christ and a great servant in the Church. Gold was a man of God who had made some mistakes that others just did not want to forgive him for. He was ready to start over, this time only trusting in Christ as his guide, and not himself.
But at this moment in time, he just felt sort of down. As he gets dressed and walks out the door to get into his car, his neighbor stops him, as he does everyday, for a hello and encouragement to start his day. Now the neighbor did not know what exactly was going on in the life of Gold, but he did not need to.
The point is, we never really know what is going on in the life of someone else, that is why we are to encourage others, no matter what, in the good and bad, as a CONSTANT reminder that wherever they are, the Lord is with them and watching over them. That encouragement that morning gave Gold the strength to persevere and trust, and no Gold's life shine the light of Christ, just as his neighbor's did. Encourage others.
Gold was a believer in Jesus Christ and a great servant in the Church. Gold was a man of God who had made some mistakes that others just did not want to forgive him for. He was ready to start over, this time only trusting in Christ as his guide, and not himself.
But at this moment in time, he just felt sort of down. As he gets dressed and walks out the door to get into his car, his neighbor stops him, as he does everyday, for a hello and encouragement to start his day. Now the neighbor did not know what exactly was going on in the life of Gold, but he did not need to.
The point is, we never really know what is going on in the life of someone else, that is why we are to encourage others, no matter what, in the good and bad, as a CONSTANT reminder that wherever they are, the Lord is with them and watching over them. That encouragement that morning gave Gold the strength to persevere and trust, and no Gold's life shine the light of Christ, just as his neighbor's did. Encourage others.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Second Chance
If you have accepted Christ, there is tons of good news for you in this life and the next. If you have not, there is good news, you still can! But for now lets focus on if you have accepted Christ. Among the tons of good news for you, one thing that is really good news is that our sins have been forgiven, the ones that we have commeited, and the ones that we will commit.
Now that does not give us the right nor the excuse to sin whenever we want with the justification that it has already been forgiven, for that is still rebellion against God, and will not go unpunished. But that does mean that God is the God of many chances and we are not cast away from Him for eternity just because we sin, for we all have sinned and fallen short of His Glory.
What this is saying is that our works, whether we sin or not, does not determine our entrance into the Kingdom of God. We do not have to mourn for five days and drink salt water for a week just because we have sinned, but we ask for forgiveness from God knowing that through Jesus dying on the cross, our sins have been blotted out for eternity. Not that is some second chance!
Now that does not give us the right nor the excuse to sin whenever we want with the justification that it has already been forgiven, for that is still rebellion against God, and will not go unpunished. But that does mean that God is the God of many chances and we are not cast away from Him for eternity just because we sin, for we all have sinned and fallen short of His Glory.
What this is saying is that our works, whether we sin or not, does not determine our entrance into the Kingdom of God. We do not have to mourn for five days and drink salt water for a week just because we have sinned, but we ask for forgiveness from God knowing that through Jesus dying on the cross, our sins have been blotted out for eternity. Not that is some second chance!
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Life Inside
I speak Spanish. In fact, I am very close to being fluent in Spanish. I am not exactly fluent yet, but I am at the rate where I could be dropped of in a Spanish speaking country without food or clothing or money and still survive.
So one Sunday morning during worship band practice, as a joke, I told one of our singers that I was from Colombia, because our leader joked and told her that I was not from the US. So she asked me and I said, "Soy de Colombia."
I spoke a little more Spanish for a convincing effect. I spoke it fast and perfect, and for that moment in time, she thought that I was actually from Colombia. But the only truth in that story was that I actually said it. The content of the story was not true at all.
When people look at our lives, they should see that the Gospel truly lives in us. They should see a forgiven spirit and a heart after God because His forgiveness reigns in us. Don't let the Gospel seem hypocritical in our lives to where the only truth seems to be that we are saying the words. But live a life grateful of the Gospel of Jesus, so that it may be shown that it reigns as truth in your life.
So one Sunday morning during worship band practice, as a joke, I told one of our singers that I was from Colombia, because our leader joked and told her that I was not from the US. So she asked me and I said, "Soy de Colombia."
I spoke a little more Spanish for a convincing effect. I spoke it fast and perfect, and for that moment in time, she thought that I was actually from Colombia. But the only truth in that story was that I actually said it. The content of the story was not true at all.
When people look at our lives, they should see that the Gospel truly lives in us. They should see a forgiven spirit and a heart after God because His forgiveness reigns in us. Don't let the Gospel seem hypocritical in our lives to where the only truth seems to be that we are saying the words. But live a life grateful of the Gospel of Jesus, so that it may be shown that it reigns as truth in your life.
Monday, December 12, 2011
God Gave Us
Spiritual growth towards Jesus and a reflection of the life of Christ in our lives is definitely our goal! Taking time to think and process situations in a Godly manner using the Wisdom that comes from the studying of His Word and His guidance of our lives is surely a sign of our growth in Him. We spend time with God, pray to him, Worship Him, and obey Him.
We want His Will to be done. Yet also remember that we were created in His image. I say this to bring up something that some may not think about, God gave us common sense. Naturally, he gave this to us. We lean not on our own understanding but the knowledge of God. So in this I am not saying to just follow our own way because we were made in His image, but I am saying that we do not need to pray before every time we go to the restroom. This also does not mean that one prays to God in question of doing something that we have been commanded to do, as such as worshiping and obeying.
If the Bible, the Word of God, instructs me to do something, then it is my responsibility given to me by God to do it. Basically the point is to let God lead and guide us in ALL that we do, and at the same time, dont take the common sense or the responsibilities already given to us for granted.
We want His Will to be done. Yet also remember that we were created in His image. I say this to bring up something that some may not think about, God gave us common sense. Naturally, he gave this to us. We lean not on our own understanding but the knowledge of God. So in this I am not saying to just follow our own way because we were made in His image, but I am saying that we do not need to pray before every time we go to the restroom. This also does not mean that one prays to God in question of doing something that we have been commanded to do, as such as worshiping and obeying.
If the Bible, the Word of God, instructs me to do something, then it is my responsibility given to me by God to do it. Basically the point is to let God lead and guide us in ALL that we do, and at the same time, dont take the common sense or the responsibilities already given to us for granted.
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