The Better Part, week 23

 

This week's FB posts:

The Better part, Day #131:

 

 

This one I want to tread carefully on, because it could easily be taken the wrong way. Without mentioning who, and a caveat that in the middle of the night, one can take things the wrong way, a certain pastor and his sidekick/announcer gave the impression that a Christian who hasn't personally led someone to Christ should be ashamed of themselves.

 

Now I will grant you that some 'observe only' Christians might have a problem with bearing fruit. But before you make a blanket statement like that, you might want to consider a few things. 1) We don't all have the same gifts. Not everyone can be an evangelist. 2) This makes it sound like, instead of being sowers of seed, like the Parable of the soils guides us, we're to have a belt with little notches in it. 3) There are missionaries who spent years out in the field and never got anywhere- until God brought the increase. Before you make a statement like this, you better remember it is God who brings the increase, and maybe God isn't letting a person know what happens after they leave. This statement puts unnecessary guilt on them. 4) Even a great evangelist like Billy Graham never knew how many of those commitment cards actually represented truly saved souls.

 

Not that we shouldn't be ready and willing to do so if God allows the opportunity, but this kind of evangelism is a gift- it might be yours, it might not.

 

 

 

 

The Better Part, day #132:

 

 

A post like yesterday's takes some prayer to do right... and if you're not careful, Satan knows how to present a verse of scripture that tells you, "Boy, you messed that up! You probably better just quit until you know what you're doing", and present it as if it were God saying, "I warned you!"

Difference being, God may bring caution, He may tell you to look again through His eyes- but He won't tell you to just quit.

 

 

 

The Better Part, day #133:

 

 

Given what secular social media has chosen to celebrate this month, I thought it might be a good idea to remind everyone about this passage...

 

 

Rom 1:28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

Rom 1:29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,

Rom 1:30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,

Rom 1:31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

Rom 1:32 Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. 

 

 

Rather than make this all about that one thing, I am challenging myself to see what I myself am doing that encourages others to sin this month. And before FB decides I am being hateful, remember: If my faith is true, I am being hateful if I just think "let 'em burn" and say nothing; I am showing love if I am a watchman at the wall.

 

 

 

The Better Part, day #134:

 

 

Some days, you want to be able to just blow down the enemies of God with your dazzling brilliance. But when you really stop and think, you know that victory doesn't depend on your words but God's grace. The world will be the rule, and as much as you hate to see your loved ones fooled by Satan's lies, it is Satan's world. All you can do is plant seeds and give the rest to Him.

 

 

 

The Better part, day #135:

 

Pro 6:9 How long will you lie down, O lazy man? When will you arise out of your sleep?

Pro 6:10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to lie down;

Pro 6:11 so shall your poverty come as one walking, and your need like an armed man. 

 

 

This morning, it strikes me that, although the straightforward meaning truly fits our nation today, there is a deeper meaning applying to me. Sleeping and lazy towards my sin, until it ruins me before men. Lord, motivate me to stand up and put in the work against my sins.