Christianity is Not Free.

Something to think about. 

 

Christianity is Not Free.

15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 1 John 4:15

There was a time not so long ago when making this statement was not offensive or at least threatening.  That period of time was an anomaly as Christians have been martyred for centuries. There are people being killed, imprisoned and tortured for believing "that Jesus is the Son of God."  Our beliefs are being challenged in every arena of life not because they are wrong. But because they are true. The truth is not a barrier or an impenetrable wall of defense. It is a light in the darkness under assault from forces which are determined to snuff it out. If you are like me and believe that "Jesus is the Son of God" expect opposition. Currently, the opposition in the USA is in the form of ridicule and disrespect. As is happening now, we are being instructed to keep our mouths shut to speak of Christ in private quarters only. Unless there is a revival orchestrated by God. The next generation of Christians in this country will be the first to experience all-out persecution on our shores. 

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Unconditional Love

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Unconditional Love 

³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶ As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39 

I have heard of Gods unconditional love all of my Christian life though I understood it intellectually it wasn't until I had a grandchild that I actually understood it. 

I have a grandchild she is 18 months old, and she does this most amazing thing. She does this all the time, but it is particularly overwhelming when she does it at church. My daughter takes her to the nursery at church for the services. We go to a large church, and we have a separate section for the nursery. They have a double door that leads into the nursery rooms, and they have a double door at the other side for an exit.  So you go in one door and come out the other. Every Sunday my daughter dresses her child in a beautiful dress, and my grandchild looks like the quintessential 18-month-old.  As we wait for them to come out of the double doors from the nursery, we wait with great expectation. They come through the doors, and my grandchild looks for her grandma, and when she spots her, she throws her arms open and runs as fast as her little legs can carry her almost stumbling, squealing with joy, laughing and almost crying with expectation into her grandma's arms.  Why is that amazing you might ask? When you look at it in context, it is the perfect picture of unconditional love. That little girl comes out of that nursery running to her grandma saying with her body gestures and squeals; I love you, I love you, I love you.  Her Grandma is waiting for her with open arms saying I love you; I love you, I love you. They love each other without reason they love each other because they both exist. There is nothing that little girl can do that will make her grandma love her more, and there is nothing that her grandma can do to make my granddaughter love her more. For this short period of time before life dims this picture of love, it is a perfect demonstration of God’s love for us. The difference is God will always be standing with His arms open wide beckoning us to come into His perfect, loving, protective arms.

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Comfort

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Comfort

²⁴ Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, ²⁶ I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. ²⁷ I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. ²⁸ Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 2 Corinthians 11:24-28 

Christ was crucified. All of His disciples but John died a violent death. Why do we expect as Christians to live lives free from tribulation and trial?  As Christians, we need to get beyond the idea of a placid, peaceful existence. None of our original and subsequent leaders have.  A synonymous reality of the Christian life is a continual struggle against the forces of evil. Sometimes that struggle is nasty, messy with real casualties. It will cost some their lives, their possessions and some their liberty. We need to say to those that are coming after us, this life is not for the weak, for the spineless, it is not for those who seek comfort. It is a life that demands all you have, sometimes it may include your life. It is not a choice you get to make it is what is demanded of you by Christ.

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You Will Serve Someone

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You Will Serve Someone

Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,
“‘You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.’” Matthew 4:10

Will your response be akin  to Joshua’s response.

15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 (ESV)

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Take This Personally

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Take This Personally

1 "To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.  Revelations 3:1,2

Is this you, a facade of life when your are all but dead”? Rekindle the fire that was once in you, revive yourself.

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Wisdom

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Wisdom

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise. Psalms 111:10

The Lord is not to be trifled with. As you get to know him, You will learn to love, respect, revere, fear and praise Him.

 

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Gifts

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Gifts

11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:11 (NKJV)

All we need to do is ask!


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Not by chance not by mistake

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Not by chance not by mistake.

You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed. Psalm 139:16 (NLT)

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well. Psalm 139:14 (NIV)


Before time began God knew you, loved you and created you.

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Goal Oriented

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Goal Oriented

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14

What goal are you stretching for, will it bring you the prize God has for you?

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The Day Will Soon Come or Has Come

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The day will soon come or has come.

“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, ... But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”Joshua 24:15 (NIV)

We are being asked in so many ways whom will you serve? What will your answer be?


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Are You Spiritually Alive?

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Are you spiritually alive?

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:17 NIV)

Faith motivates, compels, inspires, instigates action.

What are you doing?

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Do You Want To Be Forgiven?

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Do you want to be forgiven?

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (KJV)

Have a talk with God he can and will forgive you. Being forgiven is wonderful.

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Chosen

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Chosen

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”  1 Peter 1:9-10

We who call Christ Lord are chosen. Chosen to be a nation a royal priesthood a specail possession, we have received mercy. Our eyes have been opened and we can see his wonderful light.

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Lets Get Serious

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Let's get serious.

42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” Luke 22:42 (NIV)

Can you, will you, with Jesus say “yet not my will, but yours be done?” If asked will you make the same sacrifice? This is not hypothetical, there are Christians in the middle east and in other parts of the world that are being killed for being Christians. They are making this same request “take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” When this type of persecution comes to your door will you be able to stand?


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