Dead or Alive
Sunday’s Monday
Blessed! Blessed! Blessed! Is all I can say for this week. Allergy treatment is going well, and health is good (considering age). Spent an evening at the ball park celebrating the Meals on Wheels volunteers and had a ball! I always enjoy being with my family of volunteers. Attended the baby shower of our granddaughter who will be bringing us our third great grandchild, in about 8 weeks. God is a fantastic Father and His love never ceases to overwhelm me. Thank you God!
While thinking on and talking with Jesus this week, this question arose. If Jesus is truly risen from the grave, why do so many Christians live as if He is dead? I challenge you to stand outside your (any) church immediately following the service and observe the congregation leaving. Some rush out unhesitatingly, a few linger fellowshipping with others, but the majority depart as if they just attended a funeral service. They came in with nothing and left with even less! It seems that far too many Christian’s learned the bible without ever getting to know its author.
I heard my pastor preach on “belief” some 20 + years ago and I came away with this truth (paraphrased), it is inconceivable to conclude, that a person will live contrary, to that of what he or she believes to be true. I’m sure most of you that follow Sunday’s Monday realize, I’ve used this example before and I will use it again as God leads, it’s that important! No one in their right mind touches a downed high voltage electric wire (unless their trained). Why? Because they believe it will kill them. When in reality there may not be any current on that line at all and it is in-fact harmless, but our actions reflect that which we believe, and we don’t dare touch it. That’s life on planet earth!
The bible tells us in Hebrews 11:6 (NLT), And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. This is the reason I ask you to observe other Christians. Not in judgement, nor condemnation, neither should you gossip about what you see. It is merely a reality check of your own status in the belief line. When others are looking at you, what exactly do you think they see. A child of God, with an eternal lifetime to spend with Jesus, filled with a joy that can’t be measured by mortal man and a peace that passes all human understanding; or just another Christian mourning the death of Jesus? What do you think they really see, in your lifestyle?
Easter Sunday, the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, is around the corner and out of our mouths will come the words, “He lives.” However good this seems to us; I’m concerned that it doesn’t do much for God. We are no different than the early followers of Jesus in that our belief is filled with doubt and wonder. We find in Luke 24:38-41 (NLT), 38 “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? 39 Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” 40 As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Is this where we are today? We gather together one day a year to rejoice at the resurrection of Jesus and go back into mourning the other 364 days. Our mouth confesses a living savior but I lifestyle verbalizes He’s dead.
Sitting in meetings and services today, I see a lot of time keepers who can hardly wait for the service to end. Not sure why their schedule will not allow time to spend with God or why they bothered to attend. But the ugly truth is, there are a lot of clergy, along with leaders and elders of the church that cater to this grossly unbiblical practice. However, there is still some in authority that hold fast to the Holy Spirit. I recently heard an astounding announcement direct from the pulpit, “folks you don’t come to church, to get out (so stop looking at your watches), you come to church, to get in! We are all mandated to be an active part of God’s family!” I’m saddened that such a statement had to be made, especially to a group of Jesus worshipers (church goers). But I am equally as glad that there are pastor’s and leaders amongst us with the love of God to call us to correction. This is the meat of today’s subject.
Considering all of what we’ve just read to be truth. How then can we live the life of contradictions? Answer; we can’t! We find in Matthew 6:24 (NLT) “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. This scripture uses the term money where as in my case it is self. I cannot serve God and the desires of my flesh at the same time. I remember when Jesus was dead to me, I tried to live as if He was alive to please those around me. Yes! Back in the day I tried this, and I could put on a good show for a little while but all the while I was the most miserable person on this earth. Keep coming back and you’ll find that everything I write about is something God has brought me through!
Bottom line! If Jesus is alive in your life, stop living like He’s dead! Stop appearing to be followers of Jesus on social media “one day” and cursing at the world the next. Stop telling people of your love for Jesus and show them how you love Him, through your lifestyle. The bible instructs us in Colossians 3:17 (NLT), And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. I can’t emphasize enough the importance of giving thanks to Jesus. We can’t dislike that which we are thankful to or for! ___ If we truly believe what is written in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (NLT), 3- I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4- He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. Let us live life praising and worshiping our risen savior, as He is living today and everyday within us!
Father God I pray this over those that read this writing, 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (NLT), 23 Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. 24 God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful. Aman
HAVE A BLESSED WEEK BY BEING A BLESSING TO OTHERS!
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