Jan 2
For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
Luke 6:45b
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For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
Luke 6:45b
The Christian message of repentance and sacrifice is not meant to be sugarcoated. And yet, too often, that is exactly what we focus on doing the most.
Instead of preaching the words of Jesus to a world that desperately needs to hear them, we hyper focus on how to make the message more digestible, and easier on the ears. Rather than the liberation of the soul, we turn our attention to the opinions and thoughts of those around us.
Christ’s message and teachings about the kingdom of God have survived for so long because they caught their listener’s attention, not just for the fact that the were words straight from the mouth of God.
Jesus’ words were convicting, challenging, not always what their listeners wanted to hear from the one who claimed to be the Messiah (as the Pharisees made clear). But Jesus wants interested in what those skeins him wanted to hear, but what they needed to hear.
Isn’t it a form of love to tell someone what they need to hear, instead of what they want to hear? If your loved one was living with somebody whom they loved, but also abused them, wouldn’t you tell them to get out while could?
God’s word is meant to save the lost. It’s meant to touch the deepest part of your soul, and demands a reaction from those who read it.
Christ had very little tolerance when it came to the twisting of the word of God. He made the Father’s stance on the topics he discussed crystal clear, with no room for misinterpretations.
Christ also cared little for what others thought of him. His said what had to be said, regardless of what others thought about him. He held onto his integrity even to the end. And as his disciples, we are called to have the same virtue.
If something is hard for you to hear, then chances are it’s what you need to hear the most.
Christ isn’t concerned with your comfortability, he’s concerned with the salvation of your soul. He’s rather you be uncomfortable for a bit than to for you to trade eternal comfortability for this world.
Don’t reject the hard teachings, embrace them, for they are the road that goes through right through heaven’s gates.
God bless, Jesus loves you ✝️❤️
a gentle reminder for all the believers out there: don't believe the lie that you are too far gone for God to reach you again. remember where & who you were before God. if he thought you were too much for him, if he thought you had strayed too far, then he wouldn't have reached out and saved you. what makes you believe it is any different this time around? the truth is: if you weren't too far gone without God, you aren't too far gone with God. he still loves you.
Will I ever get out of my own way?
One of my favorite things about reading through entire passages of Scripture is coming across little verses hidden in the text that I had never noticed before. Today, the Lord had me in John 6, and verse 43 caught me by surprise: "But Jesus replied, 'Stop complaining about what I said.'" Well, that gets straight to the point, doesn't it? As Jesus looks at our world, especially His Church, and sees so much division, don't you think He turns to us, His followers, with love, firmness, a touch of exasperation, and a dash of sass and says, "Stop complaining about what I said"? He reminded me very plainly of some of the things He asks of us, even those things that are hard to swallow and even harder to carry out: Love people, even the ones who look or believe or act nothing like you do. Pray for people, even the government leaders you don't agree with, the boss who treats you unfairly, and yes, even the terrorists intent on destroying and harming. (Remember how an encounter with Jesus turned Paul, a terrorist, into one of the world's greatest missionaries.) Forgive people, no matter how much you'd prefer to get revenge or how badly they hurt you. Above all, take up your cross, die to your own desires every day, and follow Jesus. That's right. Die to yourself. What a controversial calling in our me-centered culture. If you choose to call yourself a Christian, you bear the name of Christ. You live by His Spirit. Your thoughts, preferences, dreams, comfort, safety, and even your very life must be left as an offering at the foot of the cross for the Lord's glory and for the sake of the world He loves. Those souls you serve will be the ones you call brother and sister in heaven. They are worth more than anything you could collect in this life. In Jesus' own words, what good is it for someone to gain all the world has to offer but give up their soul? Stop complaining about what Jesus said, and just do it. Do it as a child whose Father wants them to be free from rules and religion. Do it as one loved more than you'll ever know by a God who died to know you. Don't let complaining rob you of your identity. Remember who you are.
Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.
Martin Luther King Jr.
You won’t accomplish anything meaningful in this life if Christ isn’t at the center