What Matters Most...

This past while the Lord has had me reading thru the book of Acts,

which I admit was a bit difficult at first because it reopened

deep disturbances in me when I compare the church then

to the majority of people in churches now...

and I have wept and also been inspired as I read thru Acts.

My heart cry as I finished up that book was,

"Lord, let me be a part of the Body as you designed 

for me as your child to be."

And then He pressed on my heart to read Galatians.

I read that whole book in a few days this week

and I've been disturbed and inspired again.

How many people who claim Christ as their Savior

do not really live His life?!

There is much religion and controlling of men going on

these days, just as there was back then with 

the Jews insisting that all the Christians still

follow all their laws or else they wouldn't be right.

NO. God calls us to faith in Jesus Christ

which results in us changing our direction of travel

which brings forth a bountiful harvest of

the fruit of the Spirit.

Paul was so concerned by the false teachers in

the midst of the precious people he had taught.

He sums up his burden at the end of Galatians by

reminding us that what matters most is that

we are changed into new and different people

by Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Are you a child of God?

Really?

Are you changed by Him?

Are you catty and petty, ruining

relationships (Galatians 5:15) with

 your criticism

and your choice to control

others with your expectations

and rudeness when they are not met?

OR...

have you embraced the summary of

the whole Law by loving others as

you love yourself?

Are you claiming Christ as your life and

that you are part of His body?

Really?

Have you chosen to control others who 

choose a different administration and

application than you have and refuse to

regard them with respect and kindness?

I know far too many 'Christians' who

get caught up in this kind of trap.

Are you claiming that you are a

disciple and follower of Jesus Christ?

Really?

Check the fruit in your life.

According to Jesus and confirmed

in Galatians 5, you tell others by

the fruit in your life who you really serve.

Are you claiming that you are His witness?

Really?

Are you looking for honors and popularity,

which lead to hard feelings and jealousy?

According to Galatians 5, if we are living

by the Holy Spirit's power, we will walk by His

leading and thus will not need to look

for the approval of others

and we certainly won't be jealous of others.

I am not questioning your Christianity.

I am asking myself these questions, too.

They are important.

God gave us amazing freedom in Christ.

No bondage to arbitrary rules and

adding to the Bible in order to be right.

Freedom.

Not to sin, according to Galatians 5,

but to love and serve the Lord and others.

What a great book to read from

the Book of books.

I highly encourage you to read it today.

Let us go forth and be changed by Him today.