“He
said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’” – Acts 9:5
Saul was really no different than the fanatic followers of Islam of today. As far as Saul [the Apostle Paul] was concerned, Jewish Christians were an abomination to God. And so, he helped in their killing and imprisonment. Thinking he was pleasing God in doing so. He would go from city to city to seek them out. But then, one day, he met Someone on the road Who radically changed the course of his life forever. He was given a new name - Paul. There is so much trouble in this world today. People desire peace and harmony trusting the world to do what only Jesus can do, the master of the human heart.
People expect other people to do what does not come naturally to the lost … to show grace, mercy, acceptance, justice, love toward others. “Jesus is the answer for the world today. Besides Him there is no other. Jesus is the way.” Whether it is social injustice, religious persecution, or racial discord on the world stage, the root cause is the same. It is a problem of the heart.
Jesus asked, “Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?” – James 3:11
Don’t let the events in the world today surprise you. What you see at work is the sinfulness of man. Why do we need a police force? It is certainly not because everyone loves God and each other. No, it is because there is evil in the world, and that evil is pervasive. And sometimes evil even shows itself in those who have sworn to protect us from evil. Don’t be surprised by what you see happening in our government. The men and women who serve there are just like the rest of the world. Some, perhaps many, want to do good for the people, but they are there to represent the desires of the people who elected them. Don’t place your trust in men. Our currency says “In God We Trust”, but as a country, we don’t. Our country has a heart problem.
There is much said in the Bible about the importance of obedience. Godly obedience is a reflection of a heart submitted to God and a life empowered by the Spirit of God. The problems you see in this world are not going away until there is a global heart change. But, there will never be a heart change in everyone. So the unavoidable conclusion is, that until Jesus returns, this turmoil that we see will continue. Does that mean we give up? No. It means that we continue preach the Truth, we live in a way that proclaims there is a better Way. We fulfill our purpose. This world will not be saved, but some in the world will be.
I had lunch with a friend the other day and he mentioned the story about the boy who was tossing starfish back in the ocean, one at a time. A passing stranger told him that he could not save all of the starfish that had washed up on the beach. As the boy tossed a starfish back into the water, he replied, “Perhaps, but I just helped save that one.”
As a Christian, having met Jesus along your way, like Paul, you must go and tell others, one at a time. Show Jesus to the world through your life. And in the telling and showing, Christ will be lifted up, and somehow, the Spirit will use you, as part of the salvation of some. There is an old spiritual that goes; “ If we ever needed the Lord before, We sure do need Him now, We sure do need Him now, Oh Lord, we sure do need Him now. If we ever needed the Lord before, We sure do need Him now, We need Him every day and every hour.”
Show the world what Jesus looks like, be a light in this dark place, to the glory of God.
Saul was really no different than the fanatic followers of Islam of today. As far as Saul [the Apostle Paul] was concerned, Jewish Christians were an abomination to God. And so, he helped in their killing and imprisonment. Thinking he was pleasing God in doing so. He would go from city to city to seek them out. But then, one day, he met Someone on the road Who radically changed the course of his life forever. He was given a new name - Paul. There is so much trouble in this world today. People desire peace and harmony trusting the world to do what only Jesus can do, the master of the human heart.
People expect other people to do what does not come naturally to the lost … to show grace, mercy, acceptance, justice, love toward others. “Jesus is the answer for the world today. Besides Him there is no other. Jesus is the way.” Whether it is social injustice, religious persecution, or racial discord on the world stage, the root cause is the same. It is a problem of the heart.
Jesus asked, “Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?” – James 3:11
Don’t let the events in the world today surprise you. What you see at work is the sinfulness of man. Why do we need a police force? It is certainly not because everyone loves God and each other. No, it is because there is evil in the world, and that evil is pervasive. And sometimes evil even shows itself in those who have sworn to protect us from evil. Don’t be surprised by what you see happening in our government. The men and women who serve there are just like the rest of the world. Some, perhaps many, want to do good for the people, but they are there to represent the desires of the people who elected them. Don’t place your trust in men. Our currency says “In God We Trust”, but as a country, we don’t. Our country has a heart problem.
There is much said in the Bible about the importance of obedience. Godly obedience is a reflection of a heart submitted to God and a life empowered by the Spirit of God. The problems you see in this world are not going away until there is a global heart change. But, there will never be a heart change in everyone. So the unavoidable conclusion is, that until Jesus returns, this turmoil that we see will continue. Does that mean we give up? No. It means that we continue preach the Truth, we live in a way that proclaims there is a better Way. We fulfill our purpose. This world will not be saved, but some in the world will be.
I had lunch with a friend the other day and he mentioned the story about the boy who was tossing starfish back in the ocean, one at a time. A passing stranger told him that he could not save all of the starfish that had washed up on the beach. As the boy tossed a starfish back into the water, he replied, “Perhaps, but I just helped save that one.”
As a Christian, having met Jesus along your way, like Paul, you must go and tell others, one at a time. Show Jesus to the world through your life. And in the telling and showing, Christ will be lifted up, and somehow, the Spirit will use you, as part of the salvation of some. There is an old spiritual that goes; “ If we ever needed the Lord before, We sure do need Him now, We sure do need Him now, Oh Lord, we sure do need Him now. If we ever needed the Lord before, We sure do need Him now, We need Him every day and every hour.”
Show the world what Jesus looks like, be a light in this dark place, to the glory of God.
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