My husband and I begin our day by reading from God's Word and having prayer before anything else.
We are currently in Romans and for some reason this verse has jumped out at me.
Okay, the 'for some reason' is that God is speaking to me and I want to know what He has to say.
Paul is thankful for his brothers and sisters in Christ. He is not with them and yet he is hearing about their faith. I don't know about you but that would bring great encouragement and hope to me, knowing those I do not see often are being such a witness for Jesus Christ. It makes me wonder what they were doing to get this much attention. They didn't have blogs, YouTube or Facebook.
So now I'm looking inside of me and asking God, how does this happen today? I don't believe it's just for TV evangelists or missionaries. I believe we are all to live in such abandonment for God that we live and breath His Word and allow Him to teach us the many things we need to learn so our faith will be far reaching.
We have allowed so many divisions to come into the 'church'. Those that have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior are the 'church'. It is NOT a building or denomination. It is sad to see the 'far reaching' being a negative thing in that sense.
ekklésia - Strongs 1577 the whole body of Christian believers; people called out from the world and to God.
So now I'm asking, if we are condemning other church denominations, going as far as to say 'they will be surprised when God returns' or 'we are the ONLY church teaching the Truth'.........does that encourage and really show God to the world? Would someone or would God say.....I'm thankful for your faith and have heard about it all over the world? Or will we be doing satan's work for him by pushing people away from the only True God?
So again, I look at myself and ask - where am I belittling God's people because they go to a certain church denomination? Where am I allowing pride to come in because 'I think' I'm going to the best church(es) in Indy?? Where am I putting myself where God should be? That is a dangerous place to be and it can happen when our eyes are not on God.
One form of pride that was creeping in years ago --
'gossiping' when a Pastor is telling you things and you keep talking about the person in a negative way......you ARE gossiping (I was gossiping).......it is not up to the pastor or us to condemn a person, to fill them with guilt because they have a child with a special need or they are ill so they must be unforgiving or doing something wrong. Yes I've been places like that and it messed with my walk with God. I was not showing faith in this world but allowing pride to put me above God's Word.
So my mind is going around and around as I try to see where I need to change and how God wants me to handle different situations.
I need to remember that God knows the heart, He knows the whole person - I do not. God is the one that has the final say on who makes it into heaven and who will spend eternity in hell. God is the one that knows who will have what position in heaven. God is the one that knows why certain things happen to people and families - He knows how it works into His plan. Only He knows what someone is talking to Him about, even with their dying breath.
Now back to the 'faith spoken of all over the world'. Let's make it smaller - 'faith spoken of in Indianapolis, or whatever city you live in.'
Do people know you believe in God, in Jesus Christ His Son and in the Holy Spirit? Is it evident in your actions, what you put before your eyes, what you read, how you talk and treat your spouse or your children?
Do people see a different work ethic and when they begin to question what makes you different it opens a door to tell them how you do your work as unto the Lord.
Do you stay in your comfortable little box or do you go out into the world and volunteer to help make your city a better place?
Do you worship famous bands and get all excited at their concerts and then sleep through church or never open your Bible and talk and sing to God through the week?
How powerful is Your walk with God, how strong is your faith?
These are things I'm asking myself because I want people to know I'm not ashamed of the Gospel. I do believe in God and in His Word and I do want to keep growing in wisdom, making the changes I need to make.
I don't want to be a Sunday Christian - I want my life to be a bright light and salt for this world, for the city I live in and I want people to say......we've heard about your faith in Southern Indiana or wherever God will take it.
I want a faith so strong in the Lord that I don't question I just do!
I want a faith that knows the voice of my Savior and that voice will always conquer the lies of this world and the liar.
I want a faith that will help someone else hang on to God and their fellow believers as they go through a hard time, a time of growth in the Lord.
I want God to live and move in and through me because in and of myself I'll blow it every time!!
So Lord, please show me how to live in faith, to live it out loud, so You will be mentioned all over the world. Help me to have such an assurance that Your Word is True and You will give me the wisdom and discernment for every situation so I will handle it Your way and not mine. Teach me to love myself so I can love others as you have commanded and also help me to walk away from those that are wolves in sheep clothing so I don't get entangled in this world. May the faith I have in You and Your Word go forth and encourage others.
I need my spirit to be so in tune with God's Spirit that everything will show His glory. They may know me, my name, some of my history BUT the most important thing is for them to know the God I serve and that He is alive and well in me........and He is there for them too.
