Show me the one, show me the way, help me to know just how to share the love You gave.

Look around you! There is probably someone who could use some love! All too often, we find ourselves surrounded by people who are going through some difficult times. Perhaps you are! Whether it's unemployment, family problems, health problems, depression, loneliness, or whatever, all of us would like some relief from what we are going through. We need to see that there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

And there is! The Light of Lights, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, is willing and more than able to lift us from our darkness, into His pure and safe haven of light. He promises His love and presence to heal and deliver, to strengthen and help, all those who call on Him.

Like the beam from the mighty lighthouse, that directs ships safely back to harbor, His Light is there to show us the way to Him, for Jesus is truly the Way, the Truth and the Life.

It is my prayer that this site encourages you to reflect His light to those around you who need to know Him. Let Him use you to share His love. And as you embark on this remarkable journey, please share your experiences so that all of us can grow together in our quest to reach all the world, lest anyone should perish.

May God richly bless you!

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16


Friday, November 15, 2013

Convictions

I'm thinking about convictions. You know, the kind of personal convictions that Christians have on how God views things they do in their lives. Things like smoking, drinking alcohol, gambling, having sexual relations outside of marriage, observing a Sabbath Day, dancing, etc. Especially in today's culture, it appears to me that anything goes with the Christians I know.
 
Do you have any personal convictions that you uphold; in other words, is there anything that you would feel guilty about if you did them? I'm talking about those convictions that would violate a person's Christian belief system. I know people who love the Lord, very sincerely, and yet their convictions on issues differ. Different denominations have and enforce differing convictions. Some believe in abstinence from alcohol, and others don't feel that is an issue. I am wondering how this can be possible since we love and worship the same God, and read and study the same Bible. Is one person right and another person wrong? How can the Bible be vague on some issues? Does it really matter to God all that we do?
 
In my attempt to understand this, I feel it safe to begin with what the Bible requires of us. And that is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength. - Mark 12:30 This is the first commandment, and by doing this, we can't go wrong in our convictions. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith, it is impossible to please God. When we love Him with all our energy, and have true faith in Him, we are given the Holy Spirit to guide us in our decisions and actions. The Bible is clear about some things, and not so clear about other things. It is clear that we are not to be sexually immoral, dishonest, to get drunk with alcohol, etc. But it isn't so clear on how exactly we are to honor the Sabbath Day, smoke, or gamble. Well, the Bible does say we are to be good stewards with the money God gives us. So gambling is out. The fact of the matter is, if we live our lives in such a way that we inquire of God whether we should be doing this or that, then won't He bring to us the right convictions?

One thing I must say: a professing Christian who is doing things that the Bible clearly says is wrong, is not really a Christian, otherwise he would be paying attention to what the Holy Spirit is telling him. It would matter to him whether he was obeying and pleasing God, instead of willingly turning his back against God and doing whatever he pleases. And the longer he ignores God's warnings, the farther away from Him he is getting. It's not good to keep ignoring God's warnings!
 
Our bodies are the temple of God, that is, He has given us our bodies for the Holy Spirit to dwell and to use for His service and glory. Because of this, we should take good care of them. Not to abuse them, contaminate them, mark them, or disfigure them. We should make every effort to live in a healthy way. Also, to allow the Holy Spirit to be in control, we should not take in anything that takes over our inhibitions.
 
In Romans 14 -15, Paul talks alittle about differing convictions between believers, and he says that if you don't feel a conviction on something that another person feels convicted about, and you want to be a living example of a Christ follower, than you shouldn't do those things that could make that other person stumble or doubt your faith. That can lead to people judging others whether they are truly Christians by what they observe in them. In other words, what would Jesus do?
 
The conclusion I have about convictions is this: to place God foremost in your life and to let Him take control. Having an intimate relationship with Him on a regular basis will make you sensitive to His voice. Then, when issues arrive, He will let you know what He thinks about them. After all, He has placed inside of us an awareness of right and wrong, and if we truly listen to His voice, we will know what we are to do.  
 
Heavenly Father, I come to You now
to ask for Your help. I want to please You.
If there is anything I am doing in my life
that You disapprove of, then please let me know.
Help me to be sensitive to Your voice,
and yield to Your will.
In Jesus' Name.
Amen.

 


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