Tuesday 18 October 2016

Make Every Effort

Make Every Effort
Matthews Gospel records,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”Matthew 28:18-20.
As Christians we are called to go into all the world and present the Good News of Jesus Christ. In order to do this correctly we must have the right attitude.
The writer of Hebrews tells us,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.
When we live at peace and respect the views of those around us it provides the ideal conditions for presenting the gospel to those around us.
It also is true that if those around us are seeing we are living holy lives, in other words living our life the way Jesus would want us to live it. They will be attracted to that life.
The apostle Paul writing to the Galatians tells us what the fruits of a spirit filled Christian life, a holy life, are, when he states,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace,
 patience, kindness, 
goodness, faithfulness,  
gentleness and self-control. 
Against such things there is no law.”  
Galatians 5:22,23
As Christians our lifestyle is everything. Our life and lifestyle can bring people to Christ or turn them away. The apostle Peter states,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 
Dear friends,
 I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:9-12.
Question, Is this the kind of life you are living?
Francis of Assisi made a very true statement went he said,
The deeds you do 
may be the only sermon 
some persons will hear today” 
                                                                         Francis of Assisi.
What is your sermon telling the world?
         Please think about it.

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