Pharisees R Us
Listening to a few friends I love, talk about world events, I would never know by the conversation they are members of a faith which calls for forgiveness, love, dying to self and mercy. Instead of contemplating prayer and dare I mention it fasting, they want to call thunder down on people with a differing opinion. We all say sinful things and think sinful thoughts at one time or another. We all need to repent and confess our sins. We all need a Savior.
Legalism and self-righteousness will never lead people to Christ. We do not need modern day Pharisees is the church. Sadly, it can be easy to cross the line and become a self-righteous, legalistic member and president of the local chapter of Pharisees R Us. Ask the Lord to show you if you are perilously close to the line or have crossed it. We don't want to be like Saul, we want to be like Paul and bring Christ to the hurting and lost.
We must not put God in a box and make Him be all-American and patriotic. Yes, we are fortunate to live in America, the land of the somewhat free and home of the brave. I love America, but it is not my real home, Philippians 3:20 tells us our citizenship is in heaven, and from heaven we await our Savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus came to save everyone not one nation.
Our behavior in public is evangelism (Especially behind the wheel if your car is plastered with Christian stickers!). Our behavior online is evangelism. What are we evangelizing? The Saving Grace of Christ or our personal views of ______________ (fill in the blank)?
Let the following verses be fresh and impact you today because they sum up the message we are to live:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Legalism and self-righteousness will never lead people to Christ. We do not need modern day Pharisees is the church. Sadly, it can be easy to cross the line and become a self-righteous, legalistic member and president of the local chapter of Pharisees R Us. Ask the Lord to show you if you are perilously close to the line or have crossed it. We don't want to be like Saul, we want to be like Paul and bring Christ to the hurting and lost.
We must not put God in a box and make Him be all-American and patriotic. Yes, we are fortunate to live in America, the land of the somewhat free and home of the brave. I love America, but it is not my real home, Philippians 3:20 tells us our citizenship is in heaven, and from heaven we await our Savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus came to save everyone not one nation.
Our behavior in public is evangelism (Especially behind the wheel if your car is plastered with Christian stickers!). Our behavior online is evangelism. What are we evangelizing? The Saving Grace of Christ or our personal views of ______________ (fill in the blank)?
Let the following verses be fresh and impact you today because they sum up the message we are to live:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Comments