Dont be shy about God, Shine for God

       

 They are so many people in the world. There is almost 7 billion people, that is a 7 with 9 zeros behind it. You probably don’t know all of them, but chances are you do know a lot of people. Think about the people you know, of them how many do you know that are Christians? Out of the people you know that could possibly still be quite a large number. But think about this one, how many people do you know that just show their love for God everywhere they go and aren’t afraid to say they live for Him and love Him with all their hearts? The number is probably a lot slimmer now.

First off I am not saying those who don’t go out and show their love for God aren’t Christians or are wrong, not at all is that what I am implying. But so many Christians are quiet about their faith. “Why is this?” you may ask. I believe it is very simply because they are afraid of other people ridiculing them, harassing them, or persecuting them. But God calls us to be share our faith and His love! So mustn’t we obey Him? “Do you think I am trying to make people accept me? No. God is the one I am trying to please. Am I trying to please other people? If I was still trying to please other people I would not be a servant of God” Galatians 1:10. This verse could be applicable to many things in our lives but I feel that it really applies to this concept here. It is pleasing to God when we show His love, so if you are trying to please God why would you care what other people think of that?

It is so important that we show God’s love no matter what other people may think, because God is calling us to do it! Even though on earth it may get you hurt with your love for Him, WHO CARES?! You will be rewarded in heaven. “When men hate you when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in the day and leap for joy because great is your reward in heaven” Luke 6:22-23.

Don’t be quiet about your faith and love for God. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go shout to the world about loving God, but by all means if you want to go ahead. I once had a conversation with a friend of mine and I was like “I just love God so much I want to run through the halls of school and just shout and proclaim my love for Him” and my friend said I shouldn’t do that because I might trip and get hurt. This made me laugh, but truly sometimes I just want to go shout about God’s love!

But a question I ask you is, with how crazy Gods love is how could you be quiet about it and not tell anyone? “We cannot keep quiet. We must speak about what we have seen and heard” Acts 4:20. God’s love is so amazing how can you contain that and not share it?! GO NOW AND SHARE GOD’S LOVE! Don’t be scared.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that more frightens us. We ask ourselves who am I to be brilliant gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” –Nelson Mandela’s inauguration speech.

That’s whole part of his speech really just shows how we need to let Gods light shine in the world. WE ARE HERE TO SHINE GOD’S LIGHT AND BRING GLORY TO HIM!!

But now think, how did you even come to love Jesus? Did someone tell you about Him? Did you grow up in a Christian home? How? Somehow, someway, someone shared it with you. How did they hear about it? Someone, someway, somehow told them. It’s a cycle. It is kind of like the way rumors start. Someone tells someone and they tell someone else and they tell someone else and so on and so forth. That’s how all of us have come to find Jesus. “as the scripture says ‘Anyone who calls upon the Lord will be saved’. But before people can ask the Lord for help, they must believe in Him; and before they believe in Him they must hear about him; and for them to hear about the Lord, someone must tell them; and before someone can go and tell them, that person must be sent. It is written, ‘How beautiful is the person who comes to bring good news.’” So share God’s love!

SHOUT YOUR PRAISE AND LIFT HIGH THE NAME OF JESUS!

Reconciliation and Forgiveness: Dont forgive and forget because if you could forget you wouldnt need to forgive.

It’s a classic story really. Lisa likes Ben. Ben likes Lisa. Mandy steals Ben from Lisa. Lisa and Mandy hate each other. The end. This is just one instance where people have problems between them but they don’t get resolved. People resent each other and are angry with one another.  “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca’, is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’, will be in danger of the fire of hell”. Matthew 5:22. Jesus condemns staying angry. Resent is a sin, we need to realize this.

Let’s put a new twist on this classic story. What if Lisa were to go and reconcile with Mandy instead of resenting her! Reconciling would make things so much better! Can you imagine our world if everyone were to reconcile with each other?! Real reconciliation is about the little things, it’s about immediate action, it’s about taking the first step, it isn’t always successful, but most importantly it’s about what God does within us. God doesn’t command us to be successful, but He does command us to be obedient. We must reconcile to obey Him.

While we do obey we must realize that delayed obedience is disobedience. So we must hurry and reconcile. People are hesitant to reconcile because they believe it won’t work, it’s too late, it won’t make any difference, or it’s not that big of a deal. Think about it. If you leave your hand on a burning stove the longer you let your hand linger the worse the burns will get. The same thing for reconciliation, if you just let the problem sit there it will get worse and harder to reconcile. So JUST DO IT!

“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men of their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” Matthew 6:14-15. This verse shows us how important it is to forgive people. Remember how God died on the cross for our sins? And how if we confess our sins to Him and ask for forgiveness we will be saved? We also have to forgive others when they sin against us in order for God to forgive our sins.

People often have objections to forgiving, but…, but…., but… “But they were wrong”, “But I didn’t do anything”, “But it isn’t my fault”, “But it won’t fix anything”. NO BUTS! Okay? Do realize forgiveness is not acting, you can’t just say you forgive someone because the forgiveness is within the heart. Nor is it denial, it’s not saying they weren’t wrong, it’s saying that it is not being resented. Forgiveness isn’t amnesia either; you’re not forgetting what has been done. Many people thing that forgiving will change things; but forgiveness is not change, it doesn’t change what has happened. And forgiveness defiantly is not easy. It’s a tough thing to do. While forgiveness may be challenging, YOU CAN DO IT! He will help us if we do it.  

It is very vital that we grasp the concept that forgiveness doesn’t always change others. Some people are turned away from forgiving because of this, because the thing it will not matter that they forgave. But forgiveness does change you, and that’s what matters. Have you ever heard the saying “forgive and forget”? Do not listen to that line that is constantly thought to be good in our society today. If we could forget we wouldn’t need to forgive!

When do you need to forgive people? And when not? Even the little things are important to forgive. If it matters, forgive. Forgiveness does matter. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 4:32- 5:1-2.

We live in a world where anger, resentment, and fighting occur all around us. So take a stand! Be different! Don’t be angry with people, but reconcile with them and forgive.

"This, then, is how you should pray:

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your name.

Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our debtss, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one."

Matthew 6:8-13