Welcome to God’s Word to You
God’s Word to You today is found in Ephesians 4:29-32
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Our Pastor, Andy Savage, gave us a great sermon this week. It was on Nehemiah and has been and will be all Summer. But with some of the things going on in big news as well as what may be going on in our lives part of what he said was profound and something I think we all need to hear and focus on.
Obviously there are things going on in the world that are non-Christian. One of the first responses when something of great magnitude happens is our response. Over the last weeks, heck even years, I have seen brothers and sisters in Christ get angry, argumentative and sometimes ungodly.
Such a response dishonors God. As Andy said this week, he is not angry or even mad at a decision made this week, he is sad. And that I think should be our response to those ungodly things that happen around us, especially since we don’t have control, God does. Yes there are times for anger but it must be a righteous anger and that anger should not harm but rather still show honor to God and love to those involved.
Lets face it, we live in a fallen world, why do we always seem so surprised about it’s actions? And if we trust in God we know how this all ends and our focus needs to be on sharing Him and showing Him to the lost so they have a chance to be found.
Do I boycott businesses that don’t support Christian values? Oh no. Why? Because they are people just like me who are trying to make a living, have a home, security and a life. Mine is not to judge and how can I reach the lost if all I do I do is be around the saved?
Am I happy over things voted into law or people voted into office when they don’t support Christian values? Of course not. But my response? Vote for those laws and people who do uphold Christian values.
The one thing I do not ever want to do is make anyone think for any reason that I hate them. Or that God hates them.
You may not agree but here it is. Jesus died on the cross because He loves not just me, as we are often told to repeat to assure us He does, but everyone… period. Get it? Everyone.
You are not special and God loves you, you are special because God loves you.
So be sad. Be frustrated. Be loving. Be His. And that includes trusting in Him and living your life in a way others see it and can learn it. Its business as usual.
me n’ God love ya
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I’d love to know how God is working in your lives and get to know you. Please feel encouraged to send any comments and thoughts.
Email me at Chuck.Acts420@gmail.com
in His service,
Chuck
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