You're Not Fixed. Neither am I: And That's The Good Part!

I read that one of the top reasons that Christians give for not sharing the news of Jesus Christ with the people around them is because "people know how I live". They feel like hypocrites--and thus they believe they have no right to share this good news of a Holy God.
It's even more interesting that in many other surveys like the one referenced here, that reason is always in the top five.

Believe me I get it. I've been afraid of the very same thing, for exactly the same reasons but have since learned that it's not my life or my power that I want people to believe in: I want to be evidence to my friends that God is so powerful that he can even get someone like me into heaven! After all, I'm not getting there on my own. I'm going becasue of Jesus Christ who came and conquered sin and death--because I couldn't.

So stop trying to be a "good" Christian, but instead, embrace the grace of God and live a life that gladly accepts this gift.   You'll find that if you do that, you'll really begin to enjoy the grace that is given to you and you'll start living a life that is more concerned with the act of love, and is less concerned with behavior modification.  Besides:  None of us are "good".  God has already warned us of that. In Romans Chapter 3, verse 10, we read where Paul is writing to the Romans (referencing Psalm 53 versus 2-3 from the old testament). He said: "As the Scriptures say, "No one is righteous--not even one". Later in Romans (Chapter 7, from about verse 15 onward) Paul exposes his own problem with sin:  He confesses that he doesn't understand how he can't seem to stop himself from doing the wrong he knows he doesn't want to do; and somehow the good that he wants to do, he can't do it!  This is Paul--the guy who wrote most of the new testament.  "Thanks be to God who delivers me through Jesus Christ." He writes.

If it's good enough for Paul, it's good enough for me.  Paul uses his own flawed condition to point the way to Jesus Christ...to encourage others to receive this same grace, and forgiveness he recieves. There have been times I have been so discouraged and would have quit trying if it were not not for the knowledge that even Paul had the same problems with sin that I do. 

Don't try to convince others of how "fixed" you've become since you got saved.  You're not.  I'm not either.  The people we come into contact with aren't either.  None of us are fixed despite any public image they put out to suggest otherwise...but we are all loved and there is salvation for all who would confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts!  So, Shine on and remember,

Jesus loves you and so do I!

Learning To Be The Light

As my first post in this new blog, I'd like to share a new song by one of my favorite groups called Newwordson:  The song is called "Learning to be The Light", which references Jesus' instructions in Matthew chapter 5:14-15, where he said: 

     “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

As you listen, you hear the formula for making a difference and changing the world:  It's just letting your light shine.  It's sharing the love you've been an undeserving recipient of, with other undeserving recipients.  Listen to the song and know that in your own way, with one loving act of kindness, you can begin changing the world. 

Please look for regular posts at least weekly, on Fridays.  We'll call it "Flashlight Friday" and hopefully it will get us all off to a good start for the weekend, and into the next week. 

Always remember:  Jesus loves you and so do I.