Serve One Another in Love no. 22

“For God’s grace, which brings deliverance, has appeared to all people. It teaches us to renounce godlessness and worldly pleasures, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives now, in this age; while continuing to expect the blessed fulfillment of our certain hope, which is the appearing of the Sh’khinah of our great God and the appearing of our Deliverer, Yeshua the Messiah. He gave himself up on our behalf in order to free us from all violation of Torah and purify for himself a people who would be his own, eager to do good” (Titus (Tit) 2:11-14). Folks really do not want to learn. They would rather keep the same understanding and stick to their old routines and habits even when there are better ways. I spent a long time superficially looking for a better way. By that I mean I told myself I was looking for a better way while I was too mired into the muck of my habits to actually ever change. I was gluing feathers to me and deciding that made me a chicken rather than making actual change to my life. Changing my ways. Repentance. That is a really important first step in becoming someone and something new.

God’s grace teaches us all to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives NOW. See, it isn’t about us when we die. It is about us right here and now living the life of Jesus out on earth. I tire so much of folks being told to say a simple prayer and then you’re all good. Jesus did not go around preaching the Good News of saying a little prayer. He went around teaching people how to live out His Kingdom, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make people from all nations into talmidim , immersing them into the reality of the Father, the Son and the Ruach HaKodesh , and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember! I will be with you always, yes, even until the end of the age” (Mattityahu (Mat) 28:18-20). Teaching them to obey everything I commanded you by making disciples of the world by teaching them to follow. And the best tool for teaching is a good example. I need to follow Him first before I can teach others to do the same.

Are we teaching others to be like Jesus or to be like us? Jesus showed us an example to follow of sacrifice and service. Too often churches are filled with folks dressed to impress during service that can not be bothered with serving others. It is a situation that permeates our society and our American culture. A situation of folks looking to elevate themselves, stick to their routines, and serve themselves rather than sacrifice and serve others. A society and culture focused on the individual rather than community and service is going to distort the Good News and make it all about ourselves. Jesus did not come to save Himself. He was good. He came to make sure we could become good. And we shouldn’t be looking to save and serve ourselves BUT others. Repentance is not a single prayer and walking the same path. Repentance is a drastic change of ways. Repentance is taking up His cross and following Him obediently wherever He leads. Repentance is uncomfortable because it leads to change. Are you comfortable or are you changing? 

Serve His Kingdom by serving one another in love.

Grace and Shalom to your home. The Kingdom of God is now!

I love you. I forgive you. Have a blessed and abundant day!

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #SeekFirstTheKingdom #ServeOneAnotherIn Love #NotMyWayYHWH

Serve One Another in Love no. 21

“Let us continue holding fast to the hope we acknowledge, without wavering; for the One who made the promise is trustworthy. And let us keep paying attention to one another, in order to spur each other on to love and good deeds, not neglecting our own congregational meetings, as some have made a practice of doing, but, rather, encouraging each other. And let us do this all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Messianic Jews (Heb) 10:23-25). God is trustworthy and we need to show our allegiance to Him by encouraging each other. God is always the same. He is who He says He is. He does not change. We are the ones who change. And we should change through encouragement.

All too often we are ready to point out the speck in the eye of someone else. Too often we want to play the role of judge and sit on our thrones. Too often we lake the grace and mercy and love to encourage each other. And a lot of that has to do with the congregation we attend because no matter how fiercely independent we think we are, the influence of those around us is extremely important in forming who we are.

I think that reason alone is an important reason why some Christians do not attend church. There are some toxic church environments out there that they want to avoid for the sake of their own faith. I am by no means endorsing not gathering together. God is all about community. And I am in no way saying that you are going to find a perfect church because I have yet to find that either. Churches are filled with just as many broken people as any other building. The point is that those broken people at the church should be working on encouraging each other.

So, if the church isn’t fostering an atmosphere of encouragement, say something. If saying something doesn’t change the atmosphere, then find a church that is encouraging. I think we far too often want to grumble and complain about a problem rather than being active in change. And sometimes that means I have to change the people I am around. As a shirt I wear often says, “You can’t change the people around you but you can change the people around you.” I am an advocate for attending a church near in proximity and a church that is near in heart to Jesus. Of those two things, the second is most important. Churches can be toxic just like we can be toxic. BUT we also have to be active in creating change. Jesus did not wait for the world to change. He was the change. Go out and be the change too by encouraging rather than condemning. Build each other up rather than looking for fault to tear each other down. Bring His light into the world one encouraging word at a time.

Serve His Kingdom by serving one another in love.

Grace and Shalom to your home. The Kingdom of God is now!

I love you. I forgive you. Have a blessed and abundant day!

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #SeekFirstTheKingdom #ServeOneAnotherIn Love #NotMyWayYHWH