How do we make a difference in the world for Christ? Not by sitting around and telling everyone how great Jesus is, but by taking actions to prove it. However, most of us are not comfortable with taking a step to let people know the heart of Jesus better. We see needs and instead of taking action to help we think, "someone really ought to do something about that." What if YOU are the one God appointed to take action? What is stopping us from stepping out in faith and doing the things we say we believe in is our own personal comforts.
We don't want to talk to that stranger at the park because they look a little funny. We don't want to help that stranded person on the road because we have things to do. The list goes on and on. But what if every person that sees the issue says what you are telling yourself? "Someone really ought to do something." What if we miss an opportunity to show Jesus' love to someone who is hurting or in need? Jesus puts people in our paths for a reason and I think we need to be open to His leading in our day to day lives. Who knows what person you could reach just getting your groceries today?
It's time to stop letting fear hold us back. Thinking of all the evil in the world stops us from getting off that boat and walking on the water. Why are we afraid of the things of the world when Jesus has already conquered them all? Death is defeated and Satan is no threat to us when we have the power of the almighty God alive inside of us. So don't let fear of the waves keep you in the boat staring at Jesus, get out and run to Him!
Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (ESV)
Psalm 56:3-4 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? (ESV)
Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (ESV)
Jesus is a God of action not of empty words. Today, stick to what you say you believe and step outside your comfort zone to act it out. It is better for you to be uncomfortable for a moment than to simply give someone away into the hands of the enemy. Don't let your comfort be the reason you fail to show Jesus' love to the world.
James 2:14-18 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. (ESV)
1 John 3:18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. (ESV)
Luke 10:25-37 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” (NIV)
We don't want to talk to that stranger at the park because they look a little funny. We don't want to help that stranded person on the road because we have things to do. The list goes on and on. But what if every person that sees the issue says what you are telling yourself? "Someone really ought to do something." What if we miss an opportunity to show Jesus' love to someone who is hurting or in need? Jesus puts people in our paths for a reason and I think we need to be open to His leading in our day to day lives. Who knows what person you could reach just getting your groceries today?
It's time to stop letting fear hold us back. Thinking of all the evil in the world stops us from getting off that boat and walking on the water. Why are we afraid of the things of the world when Jesus has already conquered them all? Death is defeated and Satan is no threat to us when we have the power of the almighty God alive inside of us. So don't let fear of the waves keep you in the boat staring at Jesus, get out and run to Him!
Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (ESV)
Psalm 56:3-4 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? (ESV)
Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (ESV)
Jesus is a God of action not of empty words. Today, stick to what you say you believe and step outside your comfort zone to act it out. It is better for you to be uncomfortable for a moment than to simply give someone away into the hands of the enemy. Don't let your comfort be the reason you fail to show Jesus' love to the world.
James 2:14-18 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. (ESV)
1 John 3:18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. (ESV)
Luke 10:25-37 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” (NIV)
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