Dear…
'Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you…'
1 John 3:13
'There is no fear in love……'
1 John 4:18
It is understandable when some will take offense when presented with the good news of the gospel. To most, it is just an irritant, to others, it is a challenge to their professed lifestyle, and in the animal kingdom, such encroachment are dwelt with in less than civilized manner, but do we response in the like manner?
The Crusades might have started with the right intent, but its execution was probably misguided. An avid student of history I might be, but I am no expert on this subject, nor does anyone truly knows the hearts of the protagonists then.
But as a desirous follower of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are asked to be like Him, and God is love. Love to all, even for the unlovable be it thy detractors, thy persecutors or even anyone that does not fit our desired mold, is a command to all.
'My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth…'
1 John 3:18
One matter most of us including myself find it hard to condone is behaviour that is clearly off tangent from what is acceptable. To not deal with it is in our mind, encouraging furthur sins by the offender and we find it hard to believe that God wants us to sit on our hands. Some of us do go to the Lord in prayers with our hands clasped, but is our heart already decided on telling God what we want Him to tell us or are we truly willing to obey, should He tell us otherwise?
'…and all the proud men, saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely, the Lord our God hath not sent thee to say, Go not into Egypt to sojourn there..'
Jeremiah 43:2
But as our Lord Jesus Christ has exemplified, our walk must not be about equitability, but trust and obedience, as the Lord leads, and not as our understanding determines.
Cliché it might seem, but fact remains that Jesus Christ died for us all, who are the sinners, when He is not and the extreme ill-treatment and humiliation that he was subjected to is injustice personified. To be a Christian, we must be like Christ, to deny ourselves and to take up the cross.
'For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God…'
1 John 3:19-21
Does it than mean that today, in the climate of militant secularism, or more like pluralistic interests hiding behind the façade of secularism, that Christians should quietly shrink away from grounds that they are on, that reflect their beliefs, just because someone raised a contentious hand?
I think not, for we surrender not to men, but to God. But the battle must be the Lord's and we must do as the Lord leads, much as it might seem to go against our sense of self-righteousness or on the other side of the spectrum, acquisence because of our need for self-survival.
'Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers. Which have borne witness of Thy charity before the church…'
3 John :5-6
Scripture has given us many examples of men and women who risked life and limb to live out their faith. Almost all of the Apostles were martyred, but none surrendered their assured belief in the Risen Christ, much as self-preservation would have demanded otherwise. But Scripture has also shown us that God often change us, rather than we change others, and that God is love, and love is what God uses to lift the blindness in the hearts of many..
Today, as End times intensifies, as the world hurtles towards even greater sinfulness, and false prophets abound, the struggle for the souls of the unsaved intensifies. As Christians, we must no longer think and live with a carnal mind, for to do so, would mean that we should embark on a modern Crusade.
Change must come from within, namely, ourselves, much as it seems easier to answer the clarion call to change others.
'They profess that they know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.'
Titus 1:16
Do not get me wrong. It does not mean that we should keep our faith to ourselves. But have we walked right to be used by the Lord to bring others unto His presence?
Have we as believers even done the basic? How many of us have truly seek the Lord every moment of our lives. How well used are our Bibles that is often left on the shelf of neglect, when was the last time that God figured as the first and only priority in your busy life, would you let go and let God in determining your daily living? Have we worked right with God, or are we working to be in the limelight?
'…to be ready to every good work,. To speak no evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men…..For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient….
…But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared.'
Titus 3:1-5
There is never such a thing as being ready, for God looks not for human definition of preparedness, just as God often uses the weak to bring about His glory. But God looks for a willing heart, and a willing heart can only come from time spent with the Lord, and a life that has learnt that He is Sovereign. Are you at that point where you are always cognizance of and be willing to submit your carnal self to the Spirit God, or is your carnal senses still taking precedence over your every action?
'Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost..'
Titus 3:5
Christians can no longer sit on the fence, having the best of both worlds, a life of compromise that allows us to enjoy the offerings of the sinful world, yet in our misguided belief that we are symbollically religious believers.
'Sound speech, that cannot be condemned, that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you…'
Titus 2:8
God is looking for followers, who will trust wherever He lead us. But boldness is not about us re-arranging the life , the thought process or even the face of our detractors, but rather, by allowing God to change us, that even the unbelievers cannot but attest to the greatness and glory of God, that to choose to not believe and follow, while still their choice, is clearly a path that they know will lead them away from the joy and peace that God promised to all. Boldness is about living a life that is a public testimony to God's love and glory, a life that can and will be different from the ways of the world, not an alternative lifestyle, but the only lifestyle that the Lord has commanded all His creation to follow, to live out the fruits of the Spirit.
'Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as he is, so are we in this world.'
1 John 4:17
'And this commandment have we from Him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.'
1 John 4:21
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(19 April 2009)
On deeper reflection:
Everyday we are faced with decisions. Like some, I wish God will just tell me in clear terms what I should do. Well, the Lord brought me to the Book of Numbers which talked about how the Israelites chose not to obey His clear command via Moses to go into the land of Canaan because of their own fears and doubts about God's Sovereignty. And how the same sinful Israelites chose to disobey the Lord again when they chose to go into the land when they were told no longer to proceed.(Numbers 13-14).
And for double measure, the Lord brought me to the Book of Jeremiah(Chapter 42) which talked about how the remnants of the Isrealites seek direction from the Lord via the prophet Jeremiah and promised to obey all that God will convey. But when the Lord asked them to stay where they were instead of fleeing to Egypt from the perceived wrath of the Babylonians, they chose to disobey and depended upon their own understanding.
We often looked to God for directions and conclusions, in our prayers and supplications. But it is peace and joy that God will give us in response and a deep assurance to trust in the Lord come what may.
God might not give us an answer we want to hear, but He has given us the emotional fortitude, and He has already taught us how to live, whatever route we take. Which is, to be truthful, be honest, be just, be pure and to live out the fruits of the Spirit. The conclusion matters not, for He will take care of it, but we must be like Christ. (Philippians 4:4-9)
'Those things which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.'
Philippians 4:9
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