How Christians Should Change the World

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Christianlove, gracegospel, healtheworld

I’m not a big Beyonce fan but on my drive home a few days ago, her song I Was Here, came on in my car. It is a beautiful song about your influence on the world. At least, that’s what I got from it. I started to think about who I influence, or motivate, if anyone. Have I helped to change anyone’s life? Have I made things a little better just because ‘I was here’?

As Christians we have these wandering thoughts, don’t we? Well, I do. I often ask myself if I can do more for the body of Christ. My answer is always yes but my intentions are often smothered by “life”. While we do life here on earth, go to work, pay the bills, have families and careers, our priority should be people, that is sharing God’s love and the gospel with people.

Like Beyonce’s song, I want to know that I have helped to touch someone’s heart. I have helped to save someone and guide them to everlasting love with our Father.

My son is determined to make the world “cleaner”. His summer project was collecting plastic bottles to recycle. He saved every bottle we brought into the house and even picked up a few on his own. We are still making trips to the recycling center. But when I asked him, why he wanted to keep doing this, he told me that he wants his grandchildren to know that he tried to save the environment.

That is his contribution to saving the earth (physically), so be it. Good for him. But later, we all discussed our true reason for being here (on earth). What is our real purpose?

Before you go, leave this earth, how much can you say you have accomplished? Sure, I have a bucket list of things I want to do before I leave. I have been blessed to have had the opportunity to knock out a few things on the list. But as time passes and I get older, I find that the list is not so important. My focus, my priority has shifted.

I have chosen to love people and love them more than I love the earth, more than the universe (which some people worship but that’s another conversation).

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away and there was no more sea.

Revelation 21:1

Courtesy of VineImage

We can influence the world by changing the hearts of mankind. Sounds a little crazy, right? We know that we will not be able to save everyone, but it helps to be a little optimistic about our goal. Can you imagine a world where everyone is happy and in love? Heaven right? Yes, my dear hearts. Think on these things as we strive to share the gospel of the grace of God with everyone.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Philippians 4:8

 

I have decided to love God and to love people so much that my desire is for them to know the gospel of Christ. And knowing this, that Christ died for our sins and we have only to believe this, is love. I am happy to share this with any and everyone, even if it means I forfeit items from my bucket list.

Paul, the apostle in the New Testament retaught this lesson of love in 1 Corinthians 13. Love never fails. Beloved, this is how we leave our mark on the world. This is how we help to make things a little better.

My son is still hard at work leaving his ecological footprint on the earth. But what spiritual footprint will we leave? When we come before our Father in Heaven, what will He say to us? Will he see that we chose material things over the souls of our brothers and sisters?

When you leave this world, will you leave regrets? Or will you be like Paul and boldly say ‘I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing’ (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

Healing Confessions That Give Life

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#celebraterecovery, family, health, Inspiration, peace, prayer, relationship

Joking, I once told a friend that Catholics should be in good mental health with all their confession requirements. Maybe it was distasteful but hey, that’s how we joke. When we speak on it seriously, it’s not funny at all. Many religions believe that confession is an integral part of securing and keeping salvation. That is a lie. But, I submit that confessing your sins to each other can be very healing for relationships and prosperous for your spiritual journey.

Some people may spout scriptures like Romans 6:14 and 22 to make you believe that talking about your sin or struggle is pointless. Don’t fall for that. Make no mistake, sin has no dominion over us. We are forgiven. But this does not mean that you are wrong for talking about your personal struggles.

Not long ago, I felt compelled to make some serious changes in my life. I sought advice from a few trusted friends. To receive true advice, I had to first fess up.

While it is not a requirement to confess your sins to anyone, there is a reason we are encouraged to do so. Don’t you think?

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.

James 5:16

Confessing your sins to each other is not an absolute to go to heaven. Trust me, God already knows about them and forgave every one of them on the cross. Remember the thief hanging there next to Jesus? Jesus gave him an instant entrance ticket to heaven. And my heart, you have the same. When Jesus said, ‘It is finished’, he meant it.

But, something beautiful happens when we unload our burdens. Find that dear trusted friend, and just allow them to share your load. If this is not an option, write it down in a letter to yourself (burn the letter after you read it) and take the cleansing breath of relief. Feel better? Can you feel that weight being lifted off? Are you sleeping better now?

This healing is a necessity if we are to continue to teach and share the gospel. Part of our beauty is in our faults. If we were perfect, we would not need a Savior. God does not expect us to be perfect. After all, we are perfected through Him. But, that does not mean that we should not strive to live clean lives (1 Corinthians 1:8, Hebrews 12:13).

And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.

Philippians 1:9-10

We cannot move and continue our work here on earth if we are bound. Beloved, I speak from experience when I say, it only encompasses you. Let it go. Anything that is hidden cannot be healed (Psalms 32:3).

Grace and peace,

Blessings and love,