Welcome to God’s Word to You
God’s Word to You today is found in
Matthew 5:14-15
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
Romans 10:14-15
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
1 Corinthians 9:19-23
19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
Ok, watch your toes.
Last night on social media I saw a post about something the CEO of Starbucks supposedly said. It was about marriage and oddly enough I saw about three different versions of it with different memes from of course Christians. And the sad thing to me was all the comments were about I won’t, how evil, they will never get etc etc etc. The sad thing is it was just a rehash of a statement several years ago. And was only partially correct.
So I made a comment, almost instantly deleted it since I made a deal with myself to not argue in public on media, and sent a few private message to some of those commenting.
I had a couple of good comments and a couple of not so good as well as no comments back. Like a friend says, it is what it is.
But here is a problem too many of us who call ourselves Christians have. We decide to fight God’s battles for Him. We decide we know better how to stand up for God than He does.
We decide that we can use the Bible to judge and condemn without any thoughts of how the lost feel and may take it. We take the I am right and you are wrong and you better believe as us because we say so attitude. We decide we will publicly boycott, demean and challenge those different and force them to do things our way or else.
Now I am not saying we have to totally support things that are against God. I’m not saying we have to stand by and let the country or the world totally fall away from God.
What I am saying is simply follow these examples from scripture to make a stand. Yes we must fight injustice. No we don’t have to take the world’s attitude of I’m going to protest or boycott until you do things my way.
Look at the Civil Rights movement of fifty years ago or even the recent movements. Trying to get the government to pass laws and more laws didn’t and doesn’t fix things. If so racism and prejudice would be gone. But trying to force your beliefs on others only makes at best captive people who do what you say only because you make them do so.
The only solution is heart changes. And the same goes for reaching the lost.
As far as Starbucks is concerned it isn’t an enemy stronghold it is a mission field. And folks, I have been going to one almost daily for over eight years and I meet people there who go or work there and reach out and love each one I can as I can.
Many Christians work there. Many non-Christians work there. But as far as I know all of the people who work there do so to make a living. What a CEO says up in an office or meeting doesn’t represent the whole company just like what one Christian says doesn’t represent what all Christians believe. Except that to the lost what one Christian says does include us all. Perception.
We say we love everyone and on Sundays want the lost to come to our churches and know God loves them anyway but at home we barter with them that we won’t accept them unless they agree with and support our views?
Sounds like what the world does to me.
We must live in this world but we must not be like this world.
Are you part of the problem or are you part of the solution. Do you really believe Jesus saves us all or only a certain group? Do you not see who Jesus reached and His example of how to reach them?
Are you a light? Or are you not?
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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