Sean G.

Sometimes to be a Christian is tough. I mean often to do the right thing requires you to upset or offend some people. It’s a daily decision to live for God despite the consequences.

I myself am faced with choosing between my convictions and what is required of me. I’m still in the process of praying and seeking God as to what I need to do and when I need to do it. I know the time is going to come when I will have to face the issue head on. But I also want to make sure that I am hearing from God and that there are no alternate motives behind what I’m feeling.

I am so happy with where God has me. Except for this one thing. I am back and forth as to how to handle it. I know I’ve got to handle it. When I do the consequences may not be so good. When I confront the issue and I will, I will have to be ready to take action on my convictions. My prayer is that the people who are involved will be understanding. Time will tell.

In closing, we are all faced with the choice to serve God or not. We serve and honor God through how we live our lives. We should live a life worthy of Jesus’ sacrifice.  I close with the statement I opened up with. It’s a daily decision to live for God despite the consequences.

I had a very fruitful conversation with a close friend the other night. We were discussing some things that God had been dealing with him on that would require a great sacrifice on his part.

During our discussion, some of the words that he was using caused me to wonder if it was relay God speaking to him or if in his desire to please God he was doing this on his own. The Bible says that God is not the author of confusion. This friend would say things like,” I think it’s God’s will”.  If God speaks to you it’s a pretty sure thing. It’s not an I think thing. At the beginning he was very confident in what he was saying. And perhaps he still is, however the words that he began to use made it seem as if he was still thinking if it was in fact God.

As we continued in our discussion he said that it was like Abraham. In that When God told Abraham to go, Abraham had no clue as to where he was going. And that’s how he felt. I reminded him that there was a key thing that was different between him and Abraham. When God spoke to this friend (given that it was God) this friend is thinking about it a lot. He is checking his options and so on. When God spoke to Abraham, Abraham moved. He did not try to reason it out. He did not try to understand it. Abraham moved.

I think the reason that Abraham moved without hesitating is because Abraham was confident that it was God speaking to him and not just his thinking.  When God spoke to Abraham there was an assurance in what he heard. It was that assurance that moved him.

This friend on the other hand is a dear friend and brother in Christ. He has a zeal and love for God that you do not see in many people. He is as genuine as it gets. However there is some doubt in what he’s saying. Which makes me think that it was not God speaking to him about this BIG change in his life. I think that God was dealing with him in a certain area of his life. And with all of his zeal, love and desire to please and be obedient to God he, not God decided to make this move or change.

In closing, it’s important to be careful of the words that we use. To often we say that “God says”, “God told me”, ” God wants me to…” and so on. At the end it seems that God had no hand in it. Be sure that if  you say God told you to do something that it was really God in the first place. And if it was in fact God, don’t try to rationalize what’s being said or try to make since of it. Do as Abraham did and just trust Him and move in faith. And in moving in faith be sure to balance your faith with wisdom.

There are several scripture that talks about jealousy. And in almost all of them, it is discouraging us from acting in a jealous manner. When looking at the word jealous, it has several different meanings. Foe instance, if a husband becomes jealous over his wife that is one form of jealousy. On that same note, jealousy also means to be watchful or careful in guarding. Then there is a resentful suspicion and resentful envious.

We read in Exodus 20:5, “Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;”

At first glance it seems as if God contradicts Himself. He tells us in the Bible that we are not to be jealous or act in a jealous manner. Yet here He states that He is a jealous God.

I do not believe that the jealousy that God has toward His children is the same jealousy that He warns us against.  Another meaning for jealousy is a requiring exclusive loyalty. I am convinced that t his is the form of jealousy that God has towards His people. This stems from His great devotion and love towards us. So He expects the same loyalty from us. We were created to praise God. To be in relationship with Him. Loyalty is a very necessary component of that relationship.

Gods jealousy is a righteous jealousy because He only expects from us, what He gives to us first. Love, devotion, and faithfulness.

I was reading the Bible and came across Zephaniah 3: 1-20. There was some interesting things in this chapter. In prophetic vision, Jerusalem is to be the capitol of the Messiah and the ruler from Davids line that God had promised will bring the Jewish people both prominence and peace.

Now the prophets first statement are addressed to contemporary Jerusalem as a Representative of Gods people in Zephaniah day. The Holy site has become a city of oppressors and God has decided to assemble the nations to consume it in chapter 3:1-8. This judgment is very vital to these people because it is intended for purification. Though the people will be scattered, they will be brought back in verse nine and ten and the sinners will return to the Lord in verses 11-13.  In that day a renewed people who have at last ecperienced salvation will rejoice in the Lord in verses 14-20. It so important to remember that purification sometimes hurts. We do not always understand when God is at work in our lives. But we need to trust in Him and know that He is in control even when we are not.

Gods judgment will have a purifying effect on all those who survive in Judea. This is not only evident in chapter two verse seven, but also in chapter three verse nine through twenty. Remember this is intended to to correct as well as punish. A humble believing Israel will ultimately be returned to the promise land in chapter three verse fourteen through twenty.

Before the glorious times told, believers will be sorrowful and objects of reproach. But the Lord will save the weakest believer and cause true Christians to be greatly honored where they had been treated with contempt. One act of mercey and grace will serve both to gather Israel out of their scattering and lead them to their own land. Then will God’s Israael be made a name and praise to eternity. The events alone can fully answer the language and meaning of this prophecy.

This chapter begins with the adultery, wrath  and judgment but ends with true Salvation, worship, rejoicing and blessings. How great our God truly is!

Psalm 24 and 43 is about David longing for God as his enemies taunt him. Although heavily weighed down, he reminds himself to hope in God. He cries out to God for vindication deeply disturbed at his enimies’ success. David determines to urgently seek Gods presence and finds renewed assurance from God.

I think that any believer that is serving God, as they should, will experience what David experienced. When you serve a God in a society like we are in today, people will taunt and persecute you.

I can remember a time when I worked as a machine operator in a plastic molding plant. As far as I knew, there were only three Christians that worked there. Two were on first shift, then there was me on second shift. I was very bold in my faith. I never beat anyone over the head with my faith, yet I lived a life of faith. I was always ready if someone approached me with questions.

The problem was that there was a large group of satanist and wicans that were also very open in their belief system. As you know, satanist and Christians generally do not blend well. I would treat them with respect and as I did every one else. However I was not treated the same.

After a couple of week of working there I was taunted continuously. I was always being persecuted  because of my faith. I will admit, there were several times when my countenance fell. It would have been so much easier for me to have just gone along with “the norm”. But I knew that would not have glorified God.

After a few weeks of this my truck vandalized. I would come out from work and would have busted windows. Sometimes flat tires. There were several times that I would be followed home from work. They would sit out in front of my house and just stare. The logical thing would have been to call the police and have them removed. However God had bigger and better things in store. And no He did not send fire from heaven and burn them up. But God would not allow me to call the authorities. I was instructed to love them. LOVE THEM!!! I thought to myself.  Look, I was not raised in church. I lived on the streets and I knew how to brawl. I knew what I wanted to do. But I had to love them.

After about five months or so and much prayer it just seemed to stop. Eventually the guy who originally started all of this begin to ask questions about my faith.  He did eventually give his life to Jesus through the things I shared with him. The time that I worked there another three or four people give their life to Jesus. Countless others were ministered to through my reactions, or through my sharing.

God was and is my ”Yeshuah” He was my welfare, my safety and my security. Through all I went through God was there and I was never touched. Though at times it seemed as if I were alone and that the enemy was gaining ground. Through my faithfulness, God prevailed and should were saved.

The question was posed to me, “Does God do bad things to Christians? Does God allow bad things to happen to Christians?”

When many of us think of God we think of love, grace, forgiveness, kindness and so on. These are all true attributes to God.  When thinking of theses attributes it’s difficult to see God in a negative light. But lets look at a couple of things.

In short the answer to these questions is yes and no. Does God DO bad things to Christians? No. The Bible teaches us that ALL good things come from the Father above. This scripture is pretty straight forward in it’s meaning. Anything good in your life comes from God. Romans 8:28 says ,”And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” 

This thought brings me to the next question. Does God allow bad things to happen to Christians? Yes. As parents or people who are around children, its hard to imagine us allowing bad things to happen to our kids. We love them. We want to protect them from bad things. Dont we?  Kids clearly think that a shot in the arm is torture and bad. Yet we as parents still make them take the shot even though to the child it’s bad. We do this because even thought it’s painful and uncomfortable it’s for their own good. We know that the discomfort and pain now, will be beneficial for the future. What about discipline? We discipline out children. And if you have ever been around kids and especially pre teen to teenagers you know they think it’s so un fair. Yet we still do it. We do it because it teaches them right from wrong or to protect them from something that could be dangerous or not good for them. To the child its bad, unfair and so on. But we allow it for their good. Some things that we perceive to be bad, are actually good for us. Just as it is with children.

So Yes, God does allow bad things to happen to us. I believe God steps back, or removes just enough protection and allows bad things to happen, or allows us to go through some bad things. Remember the scripture? Romans 8:28  ,”And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  “These things” are bot always things that we want or that we understand. I believe that God allow these things to work in us, out of us and through us. I also believe that these things can draw us closer to God. Cause us to rely more so on Him.

I think about the abuse I went through as a kid, the street life that I lived, the drugs that I did. Then I ask myself, If  God had not allowed me to go through the things I went through, would I even be serving God today? Would I love people like I do today? The things that I went through has played a huge part in who I am today. I think of other things that God has allowed me to go through. Each of them has had a positive ending.

In closing, sometimes God allows us to go through things because He loves us enough to make take that shot. So next time life rolls up your shirt sleeve, pulls out that BIG needle and says,” This may hurt a little” Just look up and tell God, “I trust You.” That’s it. No understanding required. Just trust Him.

I once heard someone say that as a Christian you have to judge people in order to love them. Really? I don’t even know where to start with such an ignorant statement. Most people, Christian or not understand that  it’s not a good for anyone to be judgmental.

This is exactly what this other person stated.,”Sometimes judging people IS loving them. Proverbs says “in mercy AND truth, iniquity is purged”. Instead of just loving sinners we have to point out that they are absolutly dead in trespasses and sins, and they are on their way to an eternal hell, if they don’t repent. This is judgemental, but its unnecessary.”

I dont believe judging people is loving them. The mercy and truth scripture he pointed out from Proverbs, has nothing to do with Judging. Very different things.That has to do with how you present the Gospel,with Mercy and in truth.Jesus held sinners accountable. Accountability is not judging either. You hold people accountable because you love them and want to see them grow as a Christian and as a person.When you are presenting the Gospel and you,” point out that they are absolutely dead in trespasses and sins, and they are on their way to an eternal hell, if they don’t repent.” That is not judging people either, that is presenting the Gospel in truth. And rather or not you, me, Kelley or Henry Bob are righteous or not, has nothing to do with the subject of being judgmental. When you present the Gospel in truth, you are not judging the people, the Gospel is, the Word of God is. That frees you and I from being judgmental.

The bottom line is that we all have sin that we struggle with. We are in a continual battle between what our flesh desires and what the God in us desires.