Wednesday, October 17, 2012

On Building Bridges

Thoughts swirling around John 3:35.  Of course the context is that we are all family as part of the Christian body of believers - but more importantly, "they" are watching.....

What is love?  Well, that was answered previously, not with thought of this post however.  Click on the link if you did not get a chance to read that series.

You are on Trial.  Whether you like the idea or not, you are on constant trial by the world as they examine you to see if you are for real or not.  They are inspecting you for your love, but wanting your acceptance of their sin and ways.  Of course, the two are incompatible - so what is a Christian to do?  (Compromise and you will be dragged down to their level!)

Does Jesus actually make a difference in your life?
How do you respond to difficult people?
How do you respond to difficult situations?
What are you doing to make a difference in the world?

You will be judged by the world based upon all of these items open to inspection by just the mere fact that you are drawing a breath and claim to be different than the world! 

Why should you care?  Because you represent Jesus and His love for the Church; you represent God and His love for mankind; you represent your local assembly - to be a sanctuary from the world and its ways!

By your, not someone else's, love - all whom are inspecting you will know the truth of Jesus' sacrifice.  That means the new man/woman, inside of you, demonstrates a change from what the world knows and may have known you as.

Your bigotry is gone.
You are no longer legalistic.
You are no longer demanding.
You are no longer unloving.
You are no longer judgmental.

Instead, you get to be:
Accepting
Open
Supporting
Loving
Gracious

Yeah, a bit of a change.  But, if you are caught up in the world and its ways - no matter how good your reasoning - you need to discover Jesus and His ways, He is only a momentary prayer away.  Repent, it is to your benefit.

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