Wednesday, December 5, 2018

God's Law ~ Can You Live Up to It?

John 13:35, NLT ~ Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.

There was a day when most of the population would know what God's most important laws were. Today is not that day. In all honesty, God's laws are simply stated this way: 1. Love Him above all else and 2. Love all others as your self.

I elected to begin this post with the verse from John that reminds us how the world will know that we belong to Jesus. That we follow Him and His ways.

Lately, when people, those who are just getting to know me, ask, "Are you a Christian?" I reply, "No, I am a follower of Christ." This statement is often followed by a look of confusion on their part to which I continue, "Christianity has been claimed by those who truly don't follow Christ or his teachings. The difference is massive."

Let me see if I can better explain what I am trying to get at. Recently, a friend told me she witnessed women who claimed to be Christians, standing outside of an abortion clinic protesting. This alone isn't so awful, but the way in which they were speaking to the women who were going in was. According to my source, these Christians were calling them murderers. I am 100% certain that this is not how Christ Jesus would have his followers speak to these women. While it is true that Christ is known for speaking truth, it is also just as known that he showed all that he approached and changed with both mercy and grace. Shouting insults at strangers certainly does not do either.

Christ did give out this advice to all He sent out: "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. (Matthew 10:16, NASB)

Calling women who are struggling with such an awful choice, murderers in an attempt to win them over, is not loving or gentle.

It has been what seems like forever since I have posted anything. I have a million excuses as to why that is. 1. My arms hurt.  2.  School has begun again and I have too much work to do as it is  3. Life is too busy, too crazy, etc. In truth, I had begun to work on a book that speaks upon the spiritual battles that are waged against us. For some reason this task has taken my wind from my sails more than once. I have somehow managed to put together the first four chapters and I have outlined the remaining but alas that is it.

I share this because even with that, when I am out and about, I do manage to smile at strangers. If opportunity presents itself, I strike up a conversation and I never miss an opportunity to let others know how much I love Christ Jesus.

You see, for years, I lived believing my performance was what helped me rise or fall, but that is a lie. Satan wants us focusing on worldly things and worldly accomplishments. Christ urges us to focus on a higher calling; loving and helping one another.

Often we hear "Tis the season" this time of year. Churches take advantage of the story of baby Jesus in hopes of finding new followers. Sadly, the bible gives us the birth story but not the date. I don't think God ever intended for us to get so caught up in the gift part of the story! Somehow we have given elements of God over to a man dressed in a red suit. We tell our children he sees us when we are sleeping and he knows when we are awake. That is God, not Santa. When asked why we do this, we state it is tradition.


Admittedly as I came to know Christ, I had issues with a lot of traditions. These belong to the world, they are not mandated by God for us to follow... Why do we place such importance on the tradition of lying to our children all in the name of gift giving? I think it is a lot more fun in life to tell my children the truth of God and the truth that He alone can move mountains and sway even the hardest of hearts at times should that heart secretly desire to be changed. He alone is the gift giver of life's most precious gift, "life itself"!

I am not sure how I went from loving God to admitting that in our house the only Santa is Christ Jesus the true bearer of the greatest gift of all: freedom to not only live our lives, but to live them abundantly while here on earth. He also offers us the gift of eternal life and a seat at the table in the Kingdom of Heaven. That is one party I cannot wait to attend!

This year, give the gift of truth should you know it. Give the gift of love, of kindness, of warmth, of friendship. May we all be blessed but even better, may we all strive this season to bless one another!

Wendy, mom of many, girl who walks with God.

(c) Wendy Glidden 2018