Usually the last thing we think about when we make decisions is will we be able to live the rest of our lives with our decisions. I have mentioned in this blog a time or two about the words we speak having power and when we put words into the universe they are always there, never to be re captured. The same is true with our choices. We make many choices on a daily basis, question is, are we willing to pay the price for them?
My life has always been trying to bring all those around me up so the world will be a better place. The problem is I have made choices in doing this, that have negatively affected other people, and those choices and the effects are sometimes too much to bear. None of us are perfect, at least I know I am not, but I try, I get up everyday and start over, everyday. I have set backs, I deal with pain, I get discouraged and broken down, but I won't quit trying to make a difference, I have just changed how I approach situations. I have been absent from the blog for a while due to attempting to do what I am supposed to do, but a calling is a calling and I will be getting back to the blog soon. I apologize to those who actually read this, all three of you.
Many times we are easily distracted as humans much less as Christians in doing what we should. There are far too many avenues in which we can get lost in while trying to navigate life. Simply put "Mantenere la fede" We all have been in situations where the only thing we can think about is the thing that is slapping us in the face or trying our patience or both. It can be scary "taking the road less traveled" and these days, doing what is right even when no one is watching is a road being traveled less and less, but we should not fear or be ashamed no matter the outcome of us doing what is right. Recently, I personally have seen what happens when you "stick to your guns" and refuse to do what is popular to achieve a higher status or recognition at work. I was demoted and sent out of the office for my belief. This choice is one that I would make again with only slight difference.
It is far too easy to take the easy road in life, or love, or anything else for that matter. A wise man once said that life is not only the destination but the journey as well. Life teaches us many lessons, and if your lessons are anything like mine, many are not fun to learn. Choices are important, and life changing. The smallest decision sometimes makes the biggest differences. So make your choices make a positive difference. We each hold great power in the words we speak and the actions we make to make the world brighter, or darker. As I have written before the battle rages everyday between good and evil, and what you do feeds either one or the other.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will
strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10) make your choices with the word as a back up, for there can be no greater help but your creator. God still loves you and wants to help you even if you don't consider yourself to be a "christian". all that is important is that you understand that you have a personal relationship with God.
For many years I was taught that a good Christian did not associate with sinners and that you stayed away from people that were not like you. I do not believe this is what God had in mind when he sent his son to the cross. The most recited verse in the bible is John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son, that who so ever believed him would not perish but have everlasting life." the sad part is many churches automatically skip the very next verse which I feel is just as important John 3:17 says that God sent not his son to condemn the world, but so the world through him might be saved... If God says very plainly I do not condemn the world....how is it that many churches feel they have a right to condemn sinners for many various reasons? Why is it that we all as Christians think it is okay to look down our noses at people living in sin? I work with a guy that actually makes me sick because anyone that does not believe exactly like him is going to hell... I've got news for him and all like him. That mindset right there sends thousands of people to eternal death every day. Many simply do not have an desire to come to the father because they want no part of it.
God is love, not condemnation. God will not condemn you, and has never desired to make anyone feel like they aren't special. This is the reason God made all people unique.
Follow me... and I will make you fishers of men. Matthew 4:19
It is no coincidence that Jesus chose this phrase over and over again throughout his 30 years of preaching, teaching, and healing on this planet. It is also not just a "fluke" that in everything he taught, he also lived. How many of us have had a person of authority, (a boss, a supervisor, a team leader) that were very good at delegating jobs and work, but rarely "practiced what they preached"? All too often we see someone that we look upon as a leader but instantly lose respect due to the fact that they did not lead by example, rather they led by orders.
Many times we lose sight of the whole reason Jesus walked this planet. Those of us that grew up in church and Sunday School know that Jesus came to earth to die for our sins. John 3:16 ""For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." What is less known is this wasn't the only reason! God sent his only son to show us how to live. SHOW us by EXAMPLE how to live. Jesus could just as easily have fallen to temptation like all the rest of us. He walked a human life. Because Jesus kept his heart pure he was the lamb chosen to give you and me hope of a new life, a better life, one after this life is over. It is our commission from Christ to "follow him" and to "lead" others to Christ. You will not find anywhere in the Bible where it says, go unto the world, grab people by the nose, yell and scream at them and tell them they are going to hell while you look down your nose and act like the pharisees in the bible. Apparently people don't remember that Jesus himself really did not like the Pharisees at all who those put themselves above all others and did not follow the law they commanded others to follow. John chapter 8 is a good place to read about this.
Even Paul, my personal favorite apostle, was very specific in his letters to Corinth. Read 1 Corinthians 11:1 "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." Paul was very adamant about spending all of his time encouraging others and focusing on the will of God. This man just would not quit! Paul lived such a example that many who harmed him eventually followed him. How many of us can say that our enemies turned and followed us? I posted on my Facebook page today, "A good man leads, a great man leads by example." This quote weighed heavy on my heart all day today and I really don't think most people really understood what the phrase said to me, then again, maybe it wasn't for anyone else but me. I like most people make many mistakes, but it's the idea, that Jesus is still telling us 2000 years later that, you know your commission is to drop your concerns and follow me, in turn I will teach you to lead BY EXAMPLE others to fulfill their place in heaven. This isn't like the Jehovah's Witnesses. God has set aside a place in Heaven for everyone ever created. All we have to do is pick up the cross and follow him and lead others to him. I could go on and on about all the scriptures in the Bible telling us to "follow him" According to statistics, Jesus says "follow me" 23 times in the bible. Keeping in mind that Jesus states only 4 times more (27 times) the phrase "I am" I would think this is really powerful.
Keep in mind that you are always being watched. Like it or not, people determine who you are not just by what you say, but more so what you do. When I was much younger, I did a really good job of following God closely. I didn't do a lot of things of the world and had no problem being around people that did, the way I saw it, it was my commission to be a light and to be an example. There came a point when I became overcome with selfishness and stopped putting effort into being an example eventually falling into sin. I had a friend come to me and said, " you were always the one I looked at for consistency, no matter what you stuck to your faith, but I'm disappointed in you." This was said to me almost 10 years ago and still haunts me to this day. I led people astray because of my selfishness, and willingness to throw my hands up and turn from God. I am working on getting back to God, and to reflect his image by everything I do, I'm not perfect, not even close, but I am not going to go down with out a fight again. I have made a commitment to God that I will do my level best to lead by example. To follow him.
We all make choices. Each choice we make is a doorway. We either open a door to darkness and allow darkness to freely walk right in and make itself at home. Once you have opened a door, it is much more difficult to close. We need to be ever mindful of what is on the other side of the door before we open it. If you are in a bad neighborhood, you wouldn't simply open the door without looking through the peephole, you should guard your heart and soul with the same cautiousness and even more so. There is spiritual war fare we all fight regardless if we realize it or not. Battle can be won by simply not opening the door. Be mindful of what you watch, what you listen to, what words you speak because as I've written in other posts, words are so extremely powerful and once you have uttered them, you will never be able to take it back. God spoke the world into existence. spoke... his voice split the heavens wide open. The bible says that God created man in his own image. (Genesis 1:27) do you not think he also gave us the power of words? Be very careful what you say and do..
At some point we all as adults have seen or heard "hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil" remember the cute little monkeys ? This could be a comical way to look at it, but the truth is, the key to a pure heart is to put away all things that are not of God. To turn your back on sin and evilness and turn your face to God and start walking a brisk walk. We sink and fall and stumble and become useless when we take our eyes off of God. I personally lost a lot when I turned from God. but it's so amazing how quickly he restores your life, your peace, your hope when you turn your eyes back to him. Let's look at Peter. (Matthew 14:29) Peter saw Jesus walking among the waves and was frightened. Jesus bid him to come to him and Peter got out of the boat in a raging storm and walked on water. But soon Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and immediately started to sink. When each of us take our eyes off our father, we sink. We sink in despair, in hopelessness, but fortunately our father reaches down and takes us by the hand and pulls us from the muck, the sin, the evilness, the doubt, the fear and replaces all of those with hope, and love, and forgiveness.
It does not matter what you have done, or said. Jesus tells us, Go and sin no more. He died so that we could have complete forgiveness, and hope, and peace. There is so much more to hold with God than without him. Turn away from the things that are questionable, if you doubt, turn away from it. If you question if it's a sin, don't do it. Put your eyes on God, he is the key to every doorway righteous and good and true. Be mindful of the door ways in your life. Close the doorways that do not give God glory, and honor, and praise. This world is not our home and we only have one soul. guard it wisely. Do not freely give it away to darkness. Lock it in the grace of heaven to which only Jesus has the key. He took the keys to death hell and the grave for you and me. Only he is able to protect it.
Love like Jesus, reach out to others like Jesus, reflect Jesus. This is our commission to all. I am more driven right now to be like Paul then anything. If only we could kill the flesh and live for the Glory of God, how great is the reward. No riches on earth could compare. Remember this is NOT home. We are only passing through. It is not the past that defines us, it's how we reflect Jesus. How clean is your mirror?
