Admitting Your Sin...

Admitting we have messed up can be a hard thing to do. Honestly I, and I think a lot of us, are reluctant to admit we've wronged or sinned unless we're caught in the act. Maybe it's because we are ashamed of what we did and believe that friends and family will "look down" on us,  and thats a hard feeling to cope with. but often times, the sin we are struggling with is something we have looked down on others for. Or maybe we're afraid that the person you sinned against will never forgive you. These are just a couple of emotions and fears i've experienced in my past, and even make it hard today for me to get back on track with God sometimes. It's like the fear holds you back. But, we have to remember that we are called to confess our sins without fear, and to pray for each other (James 5:16). Even though I consider myself in close relationship with God, I sometimes find it hard to confess things to Him, even though I know it should be the other way around; We should never have a difficult time confessing anything to Him. All of our doubts and fears should disappear. When God called Jeremiah to bring Israel to repentance by confessing their sins, God went as far to call them faithless, even whorish… But He still yearned and desired them to return to Him because of His love and mercy for His people. Jesus paid the ultimate price for our mistakes. Pray to Him, talk to Him, admit the sin in your life, and know that He wont look down on you as man might, He will welcome you in grace!

Your Faith is More Valuable Than Gold...

Man, I just love the feeling when a revelation hits me instantaneously when i'm praying after a quick bible read. This is exactly why I got rid of my "Study Bible", so that i'm forced to reflect and pray on anything I read to get the deeper meaning that Jesus originally intended for me to understand. 

Tonight, my reading plan had me come across 1 Peter 1:7 - "These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."

The main part that stuck out to me was: "…your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire…" Peter is describing your faith's worth as "greater than gold". We all know how valuable gold is, especially if your female, hahaha! ;) It's obviously desired for its beauty, which explains it's use for almost all our jewelry. It's no coincidence that Peter compares our faith to Gold. Gold is refined under fire, which removes all of its impurities and imperfections resulting in pure, perfect gold. Although, the difference is that gold will eventually lose its shine, breakdown and deteriorate just like any other natural element. But, the Bible says that our faith grows and builds under trial and fire. Each trial we face does NOT deteriorate or devalue our faith. It becomes more perfect the longer we hold on to it. When it's all said and done, all the gold and riches in the world will be left behind. The only thing of value that will remain will be our faith, and what we did with it during our time here. And then, that will "…result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."

Hang Out With Some Heathens Today

I had a conversation with a friend at work yesterday (The same friend i mention in my previous post: Foundation Check). He said to me, "Man, you're the coolest 'religious' guy i know." I was flattered at first, but i wondered where that statement stemmed from. I asked him what he meant by that, and he told me that typically, every "religious" person he knows is self centered. They always make him feel inferior, and they only talk and hang with other church people. He even told me that, that is a big reason why he has totally rejected the idea of there being a God, because everyone he knows who believes in God, are total jerks. "How can i believe in God if its going to make me look like those people?" I apologized to him for having such bad experience with "religious" people. 

I told him, "I'm not religious."

He looked at me totally confused, which was completely understandable since we have had several friendly conversations about God. 

"What do you mean? You believe in Jesus, don't you?"

"Yes."

"You are religious then. So whats the difference?"

"I follow Jesus. I do my best to be what He is and do what He did. Which was just to Love people. Thats it."

Still not sure he understood the difference I was trying to explain to Him, but we couldn't talk about it further since we had to get back to work. But, our conversation helped me realize something. Sadly, most churches, don't do the best job hanging out with those who are not like us (Believers). A lot of believers just avoid non-believers altogether. Believers can become very arrogant. You cant be afraid that your witness, or Christ-likeness, might be ruined if you hang around or become really good friends with non-believers. If you are one of those that have that "fear", i promise you this: Many of the people you are hanging around with in the church are living just as sinfully as those in the world. 

If you allow yourself to be controlled by the fear of being judged by fellow Christians, then you will become incapable of fulfilling the plan that God has set forth for you. No matter what you believe God has planned for you, it will always include being a light to those around you. If you are controlled by that fear, then try to think of how many will never see Jesus because the Church won’t step foot into their lives. Let’s not worry about what the overly religious think, and start acting like Jesus. Hang out with some Heathens today.