Live Differently

Live differently
Billy Graham said,
“Those outside the church expect followers of Christ to live differently, yet today many in church are chasing after the world - not to win them, but to be like them.”
                                                                                                    Billy Graham.
Dear Christian are you living differently?
Francis of Assisi wrote,
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
                                                                                           Francis of Assisi
The writer of Hebrews states,
“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.
The apostle Peter writes,
“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.
Are you doing this or are you following the ways of the world.
It has been said that if you look at the so called “Christian culture” here in North America you will see a Christian version of everything secular.
I have watched what passes for Christian television. On it they are selling everything from survival rations, to cosmetics, to vitamins, to various oils and potions, all with Christian names.
They mix their politics and their faith sadly letting the politics dominate.
Simply put they have copied the world. This should not be.
If people are to find the way to heaven we need to be living a life that is holy and wholly different from the world.
When people see you life what will they see. A Christian imitation of the world or a holy life that points people to Christ?
Remember the words of the writer of Hebrews who said,
“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.
And the words of Francis of Assisi who said,
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 
                                                                                                        Francis of Assisi.
Please think about it.

The eleven O clock prayer

The eleven  O Clock Prayer

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 
Love never fails....” 
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
I live in North America and at times I wonder where the love went. We hear all the time of the hate that comes from terrorist groups and racist groups. But do we show love. Dose our love show to all men or do we put conditions on our love?
The writer wrote,
“It’s eleven o clock. Inside the court house a judge is about to make his ruling. A community, a nation, awaits.
Will the new law be legal?
Outside the court house men and women with placards chant.
On one side of the street stand a group of gay men and women. All in favour of the new law. Holding placards that denounce the other side as intolerant.
On the other side of the street separated by a line of police stand radical evangelicals, denouncing the new law.
One man among them screams angrily . “HOMOSEXUALS ARE GOING TO BURN IN HELL!!!”
Approached by the media he says it again, “homosexuals are sinners.”
Hasn’t he read the words of Paul that ALL are sinners no matter who you are? That we are saved through faith in Christ. By the grace of God not by our works.
From my office window I watch asking myself the question, ‘is this man a Christian?”
Wasn’t it Christ who told us not only to love our neighbour but our enemy also?
Wasn’t it Christ who told us not to judge, lest we be judged likewise?
Hasn’t this man read the words of the apostle Paul who wrote,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 
                                                                                      1 Corinthians 5:12,13
Has he not read,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 
Love never fails....” 
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
Is this man showing love?
Is this man judging another?
Can this man be effective in reaching the whole world of which a percentage are homosexual?
Is this man even a Christian?
A question keeps rolling through my mind for which I know the answer, “Can we truly know what is in someone else’s head?
Do we really know why a person is like they are?”
For a moment I stare down at the crowd.... All the time asking myself who is on the way to Hell this day?
Will someone be turned from God and Christ because of the actions of these few calling themselves believers?
Turning away from my window I kneel down and pray, “Lord guide me this day. Let me make the right decision on this law.”
Francis of Assisi wrote,

“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.

 Where these is hatred, let me sow love.” 

                                                                                             Francis of Assisi
Please think about it.