Verses: John 9 : 13 - 34
My thoughts about the verses:
Have you ever asked these questions before? Has God left my presence? Am I alone in my struggles? Does God leave us? Have you ever felt alienated from a church? Have religious people ever made you feel less a person?
I want to start by saying that God never ever leaves us. The fact is that once you ask God to enter your heart you never lose that connection. You can attempt to build barriers, yet they will not keep God out of your heart and soul. The most amazing part is that God is ready to come into your heart at any time. The decision is yours, God is waiting for you to open the door to your heart, and then God will always be there.
Secondly, you are never alone in your struggles. Once you believe Jesus died for your sins you are never alone. God celebrates with you in all of your good times. During your struggles God is with you carrying you. Even when others run and hide God is there. The weight is less because Jesus carried your baggage on his shoulder and left it within the tomb when he was buried. So as you struggle Jesus carries the majority of the weight while you carry the amount that you can bear.
The last two questions are the hardest to deal with because they are about humans. A lot of people feel that if the church has alienated them then God is pushing them away. God does not use the church to hurt people. Churches or people that push people away are not leaving the commandments of God. Instead they are actually living opposite of the way of God.
God did not pick and choose who to care for. Jesus didn't just die for a "perfect" group of people. For if they were truly perfect then they would have not needed Jesus to die for their sins. Jesus died for all people. So do not be upset at God if people attempt to alienate you from the presence. The truth is that Jesus died for them just as much as Jesus died for you. Do not let people who are teaching hate run you from God.
The reality is that God will not condone that behavior. I know this sounds crazy, but I believe that they will have to answer for the alienation that they have imposed on people. Jesus led by example and if you look at the example there was no one ever turned away. In fact, people use law from Leviticus to drive people away. When in reality Jesus is the fulfillment of all those laws. So to push a person away because you are picking and choosing what laws to follow is a sin against God. You either have to obey all the laws or believe that Jesus in the new covenant.
I grew up believing one thing and that still is within me and was taught to me by those that would not see me as equals now. That truth is simple that Jesus died for everyone. Those that believe in that death for atonement of their sins will not die but have everlasting life. Simple but true no one can break the relationship that I have with God. I was taught that once you are in God's hands no one can pluck you out. Well guess what no one can force me out of the hands of God. I was also taught that you can't jump out of the hands also. See we try to hide or blame God when things are not right. We try to distance ourselves from God. Yet, because we asked the Holy Spirit to fill us we can never truly run away from God. So let those that judge be judged by God and let you be blessed by God.
Now people may be thinking that I am picking and choosing what I was taught as a child just like those that pick and choose what laws to follow. For those that think that I have only one message God made all in the image of the Heavenly Parent. Therefor I am a reflection of God. when I allow the Holy Spirit to come into my life the reflection is completed. Does this mean that I will not sin? No we all sin and that is why we need a God that doesn't just let us fall through the cracks when we come up short. But, who I am not a sin rather it is who God made me to be. Sin is only those things which I choose to do which are in contrast to what God wants me to do.
Like I said this is a rough subject to deal with. People who grow up in Church often have to deal with this when they change denominations. It can lead to hard feelings between them and those that they grew up with. When both parties keep their focus on God this will never happen. Remember denominations were created by man not by God. We choose how we want to worship. Yet, the main principle still remains and that is the death of Christ. That is why those that believe in this are called Christians.
For those that didn't grow up in a church this is even worse on them. There are so many different things being taught. There are so many different ways to worship. Every group is teaching something different. How can they all be Christians? If you are just coming to study know that the truth is that the foundation of Christianity is the same. The goal is to connect with Christ and let the Holy Spirit in your heart. After doing that find a home church that makes you feel loved for who you are. When you go about it this way you will be much happier and fulfilled.
Prayer:
Dear God we thank you for never leaving us. We thank you for carrying us in our times of struggle. We offer gratitude for your standing with us and celebrating in our times of joy. We ask dear God that we do not become a stumbling block for others. Help us Dear God not to judge others. Help us dear Savior brings people within the fold. We lastly, ask that you help us find a place to worship in which we feel your presence. In your name we pray. Amen
Questions:
Do you feel alone? Is it time that you ask Christ in your heart? Have you pushed people away because they believe differently than you? Is it time to accept people for who they are not what we want them to be? Have you alienated someone from your life that you need to ask back in? Have you found the place where you feel the presence of God and can worship in Peace?
My thoughts about the verses:
Have you ever asked these questions before? Has God left my presence? Am I alone in my struggles? Does God leave us? Have you ever felt alienated from a church? Have religious people ever made you feel less a person?
I want to start by saying that God never ever leaves us. The fact is that once you ask God to enter your heart you never lose that connection. You can attempt to build barriers, yet they will not keep God out of your heart and soul. The most amazing part is that God is ready to come into your heart at any time. The decision is yours, God is waiting for you to open the door to your heart, and then God will always be there.
Secondly, you are never alone in your struggles. Once you believe Jesus died for your sins you are never alone. God celebrates with you in all of your good times. During your struggles God is with you carrying you. Even when others run and hide God is there. The weight is less because Jesus carried your baggage on his shoulder and left it within the tomb when he was buried. So as you struggle Jesus carries the majority of the weight while you carry the amount that you can bear.
The last two questions are the hardest to deal with because they are about humans. A lot of people feel that if the church has alienated them then God is pushing them away. God does not use the church to hurt people. Churches or people that push people away are not leaving the commandments of God. Instead they are actually living opposite of the way of God.
God did not pick and choose who to care for. Jesus didn't just die for a "perfect" group of people. For if they were truly perfect then they would have not needed Jesus to die for their sins. Jesus died for all people. So do not be upset at God if people attempt to alienate you from the presence. The truth is that Jesus died for them just as much as Jesus died for you. Do not let people who are teaching hate run you from God.
The reality is that God will not condone that behavior. I know this sounds crazy, but I believe that they will have to answer for the alienation that they have imposed on people. Jesus led by example and if you look at the example there was no one ever turned away. In fact, people use law from Leviticus to drive people away. When in reality Jesus is the fulfillment of all those laws. So to push a person away because you are picking and choosing what laws to follow is a sin against God. You either have to obey all the laws or believe that Jesus in the new covenant.
I grew up believing one thing and that still is within me and was taught to me by those that would not see me as equals now. That truth is simple that Jesus died for everyone. Those that believe in that death for atonement of their sins will not die but have everlasting life. Simple but true no one can break the relationship that I have with God. I was taught that once you are in God's hands no one can pluck you out. Well guess what no one can force me out of the hands of God. I was also taught that you can't jump out of the hands also. See we try to hide or blame God when things are not right. We try to distance ourselves from God. Yet, because we asked the Holy Spirit to fill us we can never truly run away from God. So let those that judge be judged by God and let you be blessed by God.
Now people may be thinking that I am picking and choosing what I was taught as a child just like those that pick and choose what laws to follow. For those that think that I have only one message God made all in the image of the Heavenly Parent. Therefor I am a reflection of God. when I allow the Holy Spirit to come into my life the reflection is completed. Does this mean that I will not sin? No we all sin and that is why we need a God that doesn't just let us fall through the cracks when we come up short. But, who I am not a sin rather it is who God made me to be. Sin is only those things which I choose to do which are in contrast to what God wants me to do.
Like I said this is a rough subject to deal with. People who grow up in Church often have to deal with this when they change denominations. It can lead to hard feelings between them and those that they grew up with. When both parties keep their focus on God this will never happen. Remember denominations were created by man not by God. We choose how we want to worship. Yet, the main principle still remains and that is the death of Christ. That is why those that believe in this are called Christians.
For those that didn't grow up in a church this is even worse on them. There are so many different things being taught. There are so many different ways to worship. Every group is teaching something different. How can they all be Christians? If you are just coming to study know that the truth is that the foundation of Christianity is the same. The goal is to connect with Christ and let the Holy Spirit in your heart. After doing that find a home church that makes you feel loved for who you are. When you go about it this way you will be much happier and fulfilled.
Prayer:
Dear God we thank you for never leaving us. We thank you for carrying us in our times of struggle. We offer gratitude for your standing with us and celebrating in our times of joy. We ask dear God that we do not become a stumbling block for others. Help us Dear God not to judge others. Help us dear Savior brings people within the fold. We lastly, ask that you help us find a place to worship in which we feel your presence. In your name we pray. Amen
Questions:
Do you feel alone? Is it time that you ask Christ in your heart? Have you pushed people away because they believe differently than you? Is it time to accept people for who they are not what we want them to be? Have you alienated someone from your life that you need to ask back in? Have you found the place where you feel the presence of God and can worship in Peace?
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