Christian Living

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Too many people today focus on doctrine when people are suffering. Yes, it is important that you have a correct understanding of who God is, but faith without works is dead. We have become the Pharisees of 2,000 years ago. If Christ came into your church tomorrow, would you recognize him? I hope so. Unfortunately, I don't think many would. In fact, I think many would reject him. Why? Because we don't know him. Oh, we think we do. We think we have God sealed up in our nice little theological boxes. Friend, God does not reside in a theological box. In reality, when we think we have God nailed down is when we know the least about Him. In fact, I think many so called Christians have little idea who Christ actually is. We lose sight of the fact that Christ came to save sinners. It is not for the well that he has come. No, it is for the sick. He said so himself. Why then are we parading around pretending to be well? When Christ ate with prostitutes and tax collectors, why are we like the Levite and Pharisee that refused to be associated with "their kind"? When Christ came to heal the sick, why are we like the men that pass by the wounded man by the side of the road in the story of the Good Samaritan? Friend, that is exactly what we are doing. When was the last time you ministered to someone outside your social class? When was the last time you sat down with someone and ministered to their broken heart? That's who Christ came to heal.

Lest you think I speak from a pedestal, I don't. For years I lived thinking that God was nicely controllable. Oh, I would not have said it like that, but ultimately that's what I thought. As long as I said the right thing, did the right thing, He would reward me. Boy was I ever wrong. In the last five years, I have struggled with anorexia and compulsive eating. I was diagnosed with OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), schizophrenia, schizo-affective disorder, and bi-polar disorder in that order, but not all at the same time. You know what God showed me through that? He is not predictable. He is God. He used those experiences to humble me, mold me, make me usable. You know what I learned about Him? Everything my church wasn't telling me. Like, God is real. Oh, they would say they think God is real, but their actions would tell you otherwise. Yes, I understand we are all sinners, but Scripture also says you shall know them by their fruit. I've seen very little fruit bearing in my short time on Earth. God had to prune me to make me a fruit bearer, and I hope He's not done. Why? Well, because although it hurts like nothing else, the end result is His glory.

Another thing I learned about God, is that He still speaks...if we let Him. It may not be an audible voice, but it also may be. It may be as you read a passage that you just "happened" to open to. It may be in a song you hear on the radio, or in a book you read. It may be through a friend, or even through a stranger. Why does God still speak? He desires us. Think about that for a moment. God desires YOU!I think in many Christians' theology, God only desires obedience. It is true that He does, but what is the obedience pointing to? Our hearts. What is the first and greatest commandment? You shall love the Lord your God with all your HEART, soul, mind and strength (emphasis mine). Why? Because our hearts are desperately important. I don't want to discount the development of the mind, because that is important too, but without a heart knowledge of God, a relationship with Him, you are lost. If you just have a head belief in Christ, you're in trouble. Even the demons believe in Christ...and tremble. We don't even have enough sense to tremble. We think we're buddies with him when we don't follow him.

Let me share a passage with you. It is entitled in my Bible, "The Year of the Lord's Favor."

Isaiah 61: 1-3

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound,

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn

to grant to those who mourn in Zion--to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified."

According to my research of Matthew Henry's Commentary, this is the passage Christ read in the synagogue and then stated that it had been fulfilled in the presence of the people there (http://www.ccel.org/ccel/henry/mhc4.Is.lxii.html). What we lose sight of is that we as the body of Christ ought also to be fulfilling this prophesy. This is the heart of the Gospel. Not that we loved God, but that He FIRST loved us. Not only does He love us, He desires us desperately...and He desires us to be well and whole.

What does that mean for us today? Friend, God wants to fulfill this prophecy for you! Are you brokenhearted, captive, bound? I know I was. By the grace of God, I have been healed. It was only when I felt His love through a direct action of another this summer that I realized He loved me. For years I had been faithfully attending church knowing that something was missing. It was. It was the love of God. I don't think anyone ever told me God loved me. If no one has told you, let me be the first. God loves you desperately. He is seeking you. If you have doubts about that, please, please contact me and I will do my best to show you it is true.

In the meantime, I pray this prayer for you.

God, would you let the eyes that read this and the ears that hear this be convinced of your love today. Bring someone into their lives to show them they are loved. Show them how you have sought them. Let them see your light in their darkness. Most of all Lord, would you break down the walls of false religion around them so they can see you. It is in Christ's name we pray. Amen.

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