Alive in Jesus

As we have travel the last 5 years, we are seeing a growing mistrust of Christ followers in general. I believe we have brought this on ourselves because we have done a poor job of showing the love of our Savior to those around us through our daily activities.

A few years back, I read UnChristian, written by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyon. While not shocking, it did open my eyes wide to how we are perceived in the world. It’s an honest evaluation of who we are and what we have become. Unfortunately their words have been echoed by many we have met. We realized we must change if we are to be a witness for the Kingdom.

We change by being more like Jesus, He loved people unconditionally right where they were. That does not mean you enable sin or become abused by those you are trying to help. It simply means love people to the best of your ability. Love will win in the long run.

1 Cor 13:4-8a 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.

Show His love to those you meet as you walk through life each day, it will change somebodies life.

Blessings

Alive in Jesus
TGIF Today God Is First NextGen
by Charis Hillman Brown

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” -1 John 4:4

There is growing discontent in America toward Christianity today. Many see the Christian faith as judgmental, hypocritical, insensitive, and domineering, best cited in David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyon’s book UnChristian. Perhaps this has a lot to do with our less than perfect track record in the Christian faith and our lack of authenticity. If we are not growing in authentic love, we will tend to grow in religious rituals, false beliefs, or animosity.

If you’ve ever encountered a person who has outright rejected Jesus because of offenses or hurts you will know how powerful those emotions can be. Even still, we are called to be the salt and light in the world, preserving people until they can be open to receiving the love of Christ, and shining light on the dark places where negativity can dwell. (Matthew 5:13-16) We are called to bless the world. (Luke 6:28) We are called to be full of hope. (Psalm 25:3) Light disperses darkness; it kills “bacteria” growing in dark places. Our love and our hope in love must be more powerful than the darkness. Not our religion – our love, through Jesus. Hope does not dwell in religion – it lives with the One who is love.

When we encounter people who seem to hate the idea of Jesus, (more often it’s the idea of Christians), it can be easy to shrink back in fear. But God has not called us to live in fear. God has called us to live in His presence. He has called us to live in His truth. Most of all He has called us to live in His love. God’s love is the only thing that truly changes people. As the darkness gets darker, so Christ’s light in us can shine brighter.

Are you secure in your faith in God? Be sure to arm yourself with the power of His presence and the light of His word, (Psalm 119:105) so that His love may be revealed in your life. He truly is greater and mightier than anything we will encounter on this earth. We just have to believe it, and walk in it.

“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. -2 Corinthians 4:6