It begins. It’s reactionary, a response. First and immediate. Confused Uncertain Angry Outrage Shock Pity Hatred Fear – all felt by all. Victims Perpetrators Witnesses Spectators. It is human. It is what and who we are. To be human.
But I am to be more than human. I am to be more than me. To shake off self. To adorn and to infuse myself with God, with Jesus Christ. And as such and as a follower of Jesus Christ, I was given a great commission – to go tell the Good News, to make disciples, to teach, to live, to be an ambassador for Jesus Christ. I am called to expect persecution, oppression and even death, if it is because of Jesus Christ. That in my time of fear, need, sorrow, pain and strife, to cling to Jesus Christ. To yet still give praise, glory and honour to His Holy Name. To stand firm in and on my faith in Christ. To be anchored in Him.
I write knowing that in a few short days, we will remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I write knowing that Jesus Christ was persecuted and prosecuted upon the false testimony, lies, fear and hatred of man. Yet, from that hatred, fear and zealous melting pot, Jesus Christ plucked a man, a man who led the attacks and arrests, who harassed the followers of Christ, who showed no remorse or pity. Jesus Christ chose this same man who became one of the greatest testimonies to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and his name is Paul. If Jesus Christ could reach out and embrace a man who was part of the establishment and machinations that murdered him how can I, how can we now not reach out to our fellow man though he may be a Muslim? By what God given right do we exclude others from the possibility of hearing of Jesus Christ?
We cling to our rights, our freedom, our entitlements, crying foul, gnashing teeth and beating chests when there is an infringement or an attempt to infringe. But if these earthly things are our first port of call then where is God? Have we not made those same things our false gods? If these hinder us in our commission then they must be cast aside. They must be counted as loss in order to gain. To lose my life in the service of the Gospel that I may live eternally. Pain is fleeting. Properties lost. Kings come, Kings go. Money crumbles. Weather changes. God’s love and mercy is not fleeting. God’s kingdom is not lost. Christ the King is coming. God does not change. The God of Adam, Noah, Enoch, Abraham and David is still God today. He is my God. I am his. Whatever I may perceive as loss, is nothing compared to what I gain in my life in Christ Jesus.
There are those who call to banish Islam and those who practice the Islamic faith. To exclude them from our “western civilized world”. To build walls – real and unreal. As followers of Jesus Christ, we cannot seek to exclude anyone, especially to satisfy the need for our own comfort and safety.
I am in no doubt of what is coming to this world, but my -our- duty to the gospel of Christ Jesus comes before every other duty.
Job 2:9–10 Acts 5:41 Romans 8:36 2 Corinthians 11:23 2 Corinthians 4:8–9 2 Timothy 2:12 Hebrews 11:25 Galatians 6:2 1 Peter 2:20 1 Peter 3:13-17 1 Peter 5:10
In my younger years, I have had the privilege to babysit some wonderful kids. Thanks to social media, the “kids” who are now adults, I can keep in touch and “socialise” online, following their blogs and tweets.
It is one these blog postings that I would like to share with you guys, today. I’m going to put a link in here – The Days and Adventures of Ellie Murnane – so you can go to the blog in question.
What impresses me is how well Ellie, (the author) responds to a very direct statement. With common sense and care, yet forthright, Ellie puts forward how it is that she knows that Gods exists. Sometimes we get so tangled up in the deep scientific and philosophical proofs that we miss out the most important witness -God exists is visible or reflected in how He is present in our lives. Ellie testifies to God’s presence in her life. Not with airy fairy hope, but with a certainty and steadfast knowledge, that He has been there, is currently being there and will be there -always.
Please do take the time to read through. I was greatly encouraged by how much of a presence God is & can be in my live and in Ellie’s.
The Lord is near to all who call on him in truth.
And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
I often read social media articles where I peek into the lives of Christians taking a stand. But many take their stand or they display their dislike of a culture or belief, not by arguing their case on God’s Word or authority, but instead they rely on their own learning and understandings along with humanistic laws and philosophies.
As Christians, we walk in this world as lights and ambassadors for Christ. Our purpose is to present the Gospel by word of mouth and in deeds. We give reason for what we do and how it is because of our belief.
Jesus was born of a race, though chosen by God as His Own, they did not recognize Him. He was born in a land that was under occupation. The only occasions, Jesus confronted anyone was when He dealt with the Scribes and Pharisees; when He dealt with the greed and corruption of the money changers in the Temple grounds and when He taught and/or rebuked His followers or those seeking to follow Him. He did not mock. He was never disrespectful.
By all means, yes we stand for Christ, but we do so in a Christ-like manner. When I read Christians writing and defending themselves without once mentioning God, failing to attribute to God but instead attribute to history, philosophy and fear.
Is the Christian faith of this generation now so weak?
Is it so weak that it feels justified to mock and scorn other people, faiths, cultures? That we feel we must argue from expected rights, long dead histories and by tearing down cultures. Let us mock and scorn. Let us cry “foul”. Let us tremble in fear.
By not reaching out, by not engaging in a Christ-like manner are we not failing to do that for which we were made to do? Instead of building bridges into lives, cultures, nations, we erect walls of nonacceptance, mistrust, superiority, fear and paranoia. Walls not founded on the cornerstone of Christ.
Yes, Jesus did not flee from opposition. Yes, we take a stand.
We don’t support abortion. We don’t support Gay Marriage.We don’t support divorce or greed or lust or thieving or a plethora of other activities that does us no good. But when we stand, then we stand on the Word. We stand on Christ. We trust the Holy Spirit. We give up our rights. We surrender our legal defences if that is what it takes to further the gospel and glorify God. We must trust in God and in His Word.
2 Corinthians 5:20 – We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 – Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.
Isaiah 30:21 – Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
Romans 12:1, 2 – Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Acts 4:18-20 – Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
Galatians 6:10- Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 – I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Titus 3:1-2 – Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.
Ephesians 6:19-20 – Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
1 Peter 2 :12 – Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
1 Peter 3:15 – But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
Quite often I struggle to articulate what it is that’s churning away in my head. I know what I want to say but can’t express it. This afternoon, I read this article and it hits the target – http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/so-called-same-sex-marriage ,.
“The difference is: We weep over our sins. We don’t celebrate them. We don’t institutionalize them. We turn to Jesus for forgiveness and help. We cry to Jesus, “who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10).” – John Piper
As a Christian I strive to live my life in accordance with the Gospel and New Testament teachings. I do this in an environment where I live with the consequences of my choices -good or bad -, but knowing that I do so in the strength, mercy, love and grace of Jesus Christ. I struggle with sin and just because it may not be openly obvious does not mean I am sinless. God teaches, rebukes and edifies me on a daily basis -I choose to respond or not.
John Piper says in his article, “…there is a great distinction between the orientation and the act — just like there is a great difference between my orientation to pride and the act of boasting.”.
Sin, all sin, is a choice.
“When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” -Galatians 5:19-21
“Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.” -James 4:17
Whilst God may detest sin, He does not detest the sinner. He proved as much by having His Son Jesus Christ die for you and me while we were/are sinners. (Romans 5:8) I am a sinner. I am,however, in a relationship with God, which was made possible by the love & sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
I am clean. “Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” -1 Corinthians 6:11
So can you. Regardless of what sin is in your life, God is reaching out to you through the cross and resurrection.
“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” -Romans 10:9
“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” -Romans 8:1
For more check out – http://www.gotquestions.org/Romans-road-salvation.html or contact me.
I came across this video-post on Facebook this morning. It’s from Crossway.
Do you know what you believe?
Do you know Christian truth bible based ?
I believe that as a bible based Christian I accept the bible as the only source for the authoritative rule of saving faith, knowledge and obedience. You can start reading The Word of God and discover God.
The following summary of biblical doctrines is the the basis of my faith, :-
The verbal inspiration and the all and sole suffiency of the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments (consisting of 66 books) as originally given. (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21)
The trinity in Unity of God-Head, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
The essential deity and perfect humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ. (John 1:1 and 14; Phillipians 2:6-7)
The personality of the Holy Spirit. (John 16:7-11; Acts 5:3-4)
The depraved and fallen state of man. (Genesis 3:1-24;) Ephesians 2:1-2; Romans 1:18-32).
The substitutionary sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24)
The justification of the sinner through faith in the Lord Jesus. (Romans 4:1-25; Ephesians 1:7-8)
The personality of the devil. (Luke 4:1-13; John 8:44)
The natural immortality of the soul. (Luke 16:19-31; Revelation 1:7-8)
The second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (John 14:1-4; 1 Thess. 4:15-18)
The resurrection of the body. (John 5:28-29; 1 Corinthians 15:35-38)
The eternal security of the believer. (John 10:27-30; Romans 8:29-30)
The conscious eternal punishment of those who die impenitent. (Luke 16:23-28; Matthew 25:31-46)
The ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s supper: baptism being the immersion of believers on profession of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and a symbol of their identification with Him in his death, burial and resurrection; the Lord’s supper being a remembrance of Christ until he comes and a renewal of commitment to Him. (Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Romans 6:1-5)
The responsibility of all saved souls to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope the glorious appearance of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:12; Colossians 3:1-17)
The obligation to do good to all men as opportunity arises, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Galatians 6:10)
I came across the article this morning. It has challenging thoughts for today’s Christian. I have always thought ” how far back do we give way before we we stand?” When we start to ignore God’s moral authority, how far down the slippery slope must we go, before we say stop. How much of the Gospel must we compromise.
Applying God’s Word in our daily lives is a mixture of those things -some black, some white and some grey.
The upcoming vote on the Same-sex Marriage Irish referendum is a simple YES or NO.
I love the sound that these people create.
Such thoughtful lyrics rendered to a modern life.
May His name be lifted ever higher.
People and businesses should be free to express their support or lack of support.I know not to expect to be accepted or treated respectfully. As a christian I bow to the will of Jesus Christ and accept what may come, but that doesn’t mean I become a door mat. I am blessed to live in a free society that enables me to cry fowl when an injustice is implemented.
WHERE ARE ALL THE MYRIADS OF EQUALITY PEOPLE, POLITICIANS AND MEDIA COMMENTATORS?
labhrashealy 