Week 16
Building A Relationship With God
Romans 5:8-11 (KJV)
8-But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9-Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10-For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
11-And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Proverbs 30:5 (KJV)
Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him.
Romans 10:9-10 (KJV)
9- That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10- For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Do you feel included? This world has gotten so inclusive that people are being pushed aside. Everyone wants to be part of something greater than themselves. This world is screaming inclusion; but showing division. If you are part of one group, you can't be part of another group. Each association has specific guidelines and rules to be followed. If you don't follow the rules, you are outcast.
As believers in Christ, we should be setting an example for others to follow. God's word, the Bible, is our guideline. We are called to love all people. We are called to forgive. We are called to share the Good News of Christ with all people; not just with those we see fit.
God's word is as true and relevant today as it was when it was written. God gives us clear instruction on how to live in this world. He sent Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins because He knew we weren't strong enough in our flesh to live a perfect flawless life.
This world thinks that, as Christians, we should be perfect. People see us fail and use this as an excuse for not believing in God.
Romans 3:23-24 (KJV)
23- For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24- Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
The sacrifice Jesus made on the cross, made us inclusive. His death and resurrection brought us into the exclusive Kingdom of God. He paid the way because we couldn't. The only thing we have to do is choose. We can choose to believe in our hearts and confess with our mouth; or we can choose to believe in this fallen world and protest those who choose to believe.
Loving God doesn't give us an excuse to judge someone or be mean to people. Loving God does, however, lay on our hearts a responsibility to uphold His word. We can love someone and have forgiveness; but not come into agreement with their choices.
If you choose to live a life outside the word of God, that's on you! If I come in contact with you and don't show you the Love of Christ, that's on me! We will all, believers and non believers, have to stand before God and give account for the things we have chosen.
2 Corinthians 5:10 (KJV)
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, weather it be good or bad.
This week I challenge you to look past behavior and see people as God sees them. Show the love of Christ and uphold the Word of God!
Have a Blessed week in Christ!
Jeanie Hannah