HonestChristianity

God would really like to cause us to think.
If you are a Christian then there is some stuff that should be showing up in your life. Like, showing your love for Jesus, to others.
Christians and non Christians alike.

Did you share your faith last week?

The bible says;
(Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? -- unless indeed you are disqualified.) 2 Cor 13:5

Now most of us consider ourselves pretty good Christians don't we?

I know that I do.
Of course I'm judging myself by my own chart. I wonder if most of us have ever really thought about what a real examination would look like? How many of us have ever considered that this verse ... is even in the bible?

I would think it more appropriate to exam others instead of myself, don't you? Easier anyway.
Examine yourselves. Oh, sure.

I mean ... we say that we believe. We say that the bible is the word of God. We try to live a life that lines up with the bible, at least mostly.

I would like to help us consider ourselves. If we were not allowed to use our own chart. What if we had to examine ourselves using the commandments of Jesus?

Some people don't seem to think He has any.

Well Here's some ...
Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, "Lord, I will follow You wherever You go."

(Now examine yourself ...)
And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." ...
( Would you follow Him if you had to give it up all you have?)

Then He said to another, "Follow Me."
But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."
(What would you do?)

Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God."

And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house."

But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Luke 9:57-62
(Ouch!)

How about this ...
What if you are driving to work for example ... and hear God say, stop the car, turn around, go home go into your bedroom, close the door, and spend the day, reading the bible and praying.

What do you do? Now you know for sure that it was God who spoke.

Do you find a phone and start making calls to cancel your appointments, or try to get someone else to take your place? Do you start rearranging your day?

Do we obey because He "is" the priority
... or do we start to reschedule ... because the schedule is the priority.
He said ...
"Stop the car, turn around, go home go into your bedroom, close the door, and spend the day, reading the bible and praying."

We tell our selves that God understands, but, While we tell ourselves that He understands, the world is lost and continues to die.

Or how about this ...
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. John 15:12-15

What exactly, does it mean to lay down ones own life?

We claim to believe in Jesus, but our commitment needs to be pretty convenient.

For example we say we believe God and the bible and we are against abortion, just as an example. We are willing to call our Congressman and Senators. Write letters. Join in Marches. Picket abortion clinics, and risk being arrested. Pretty Spiritual stuff. Some of us will even go to the polls and vote.

But Jesus said ...
lay down one's life

Examine yourself while I share this story ... to see if you are in the faith.

A little lady known around the world as Mother Teresa came to the United States several years ago. She was Catholic and was beloved and admired all over the world. Not just by Catholics but by all Christians. But most important, by many non Christians. She had captured the attention even of non believers.
Isn't that our job?

Now Mother Teresa had won the Nobel Peace prize. So when she came to America our leaders threw a party in her honor. There was dinners and there was speeches. You know how they do it.

At one particular dinner there were probably twenty people at Mother Teresa's table. Many of the leaders of the Christian Church. National media, because also at the table was President Clinton and first Lady Hillary.

Somebody asked Mother Teresa about abortion. Now that was a loaded question. Because the whole world new where She stood on that issue. Only she didn't consider it an issue. She said, yes, That would be murder.

Every one at the table began to applaud except the Clintons who just set quitely for a minute. Then the first lady asked this question. Mother Theresa, what would you have us do with all the unwanted babies?

Are you still Examining yourself?

See it's easy to say put them up for adoption if you are not responsible for adoptions. It's easy to say give the problem to someone else.

Jesus said ...
lay down one's life

What do you suppose He would have answered?
Mother Teresa said. "Give them to me. I'll take them all."

Mother Teresa did not give the problem to someone else. She said give them to me. I will lay down my life and give it to them.

Are you still examining yourself?
See this message is not about abortion. Or being an activist or attending church. This is about examining yourself to see if you are in the faith.

If you go the other way and say I am for abortion you have the same problem. It's not good enough to say to the women who has had an abortion oh, well, we will just give you some counseling and you will be fine. If you are for abortion are you ready to lay down your life for these women who have had one?...

Take them into your home.
Give them a room?
Set up nights and cry with them?
...When the reality has set in?

Pray over them until they come to the forgiving and healing knowledge of Jesus Christ?

If your not ready to take that on, then be quite. You are disqualified. Your not ready to take a position in the name of Christianity.

See that is what ...
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9

... Really means. We are different from the rest of the population. If we are in the faith.

When we talk about orphans and the homeless we are ready to get kour hands dirty.

Unless of course Jesus was talking about "us" when He said ...

Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'

(You know, sign petitions, plant churches, and support capital punishment?)

Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' Matt 7:21-23

Examine yourselves to see if you are in the faith.
Unless indeed you are disqualified.

If you support capital punishment...
Are you on your knees for the condemned that they may come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and yes, receive forgiveness for all they have done?

Don't speak unkind of another person unless you are praying fervently for God to shower them with favor. If you are not. Then you are not qualified to have a position in the name of Christianity.

Now I didn't write that, and I'm not telling anybody how to live like a Christian.

But God has said, "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith."

If you are not sharing your faith in your speech and in your actions.

Not either or, but both.

Then examine yourselves. Thoughts from God ministries
Nuture a deeper relationship with the creater by Bringing Thoughts from God to a Believing church and Unbelieving world!!
By Lee Adams
Published: 6/13/2006