Verses: Romans 15 : 14 - 21
My thoughts about the verses:
The ultimate task for Christians is to share their faith story. Think about this a moment. We are to tell others our story so that they can hear about what God has done for us. All Christians have a testimony that is unique to them. The goal is to share the love God has given to us.
Paul was sharing that he had used his story to spread the good news to the gentiles. He was able to share how God had touched his life. Paul was chosen by God to tell the story to this group of people because of his own ethnicity and former beliefs. Paul did not try to interfere with the teachings of others by going where they had already reached people. Instead he was looking forward to those that never had heard the word.
Now what does this mean for us today. We must be willing to reach out to those that have been rejected and never heard the story of God. We must reach out to those that need to hear our story. As Christians we should have a fire in our soul that inspires us to bring others to Christ. There is someone out there that has been waiting to hear how God has helped us. You do not need to be a minister or other lay leader to share what God has done for you.
Because of this fire I want to share my story, I know that there is someone today that needs to hear that God died for them. They need to hear that God is there when others have rejected them. There is a need for others to know that God never leaves you. That the world may say that you are not a Christian, but if you have accepted Christ in your life you can never have that taken away by what people say or do.
See I understand what it feels to be rejected. To have people say that there is no way you are a Christian because of the person you love. To be judged by the world and to have your faith challenged. But I am here to tell you that God doesn't leave you. The Bible says that no one can remove you from the hands of God.
I grew up being taught that once saved always saved. Yet, when I came out of the closet people said that I must never accept God. I had an option in which I did not have to choose to live in sin. I chose to distance myself from God because I put my love for a person first. I was an outcast that needed to repent from my sin to truly enter the gates of Heaven.
Yet, I knew deep in my heart that God was there with me. I never felt like God left me. Yet, I felt hurt by those that had taught me to love God. I felt that religion was hypocrisy. I knew that many of the people that were judging me had their own vices. How could they say God didn't love me? How could they know how I felt deep within.
Then I found MCC a place that confirmed what I had always felt. That God had not let me go. In those moments that things were rough God was actually carrying me. That God had a plan to use me and that I would grow in my faith. Now I never fear if my love for a person is not something that tears you out of the hands of God. Jesus desires people to be happy and never said anything about my lifestyle. Amazingly people still feel that they can judge me. For those people I feel sorry for them because they do not understand the love that God has for all people.
Prayer:
Dear God thank you for loving us. Thank you for always holding us in your hands. Dear God help us tell people our story. Put a fire in our heart that encourages us to share the good news to those that need to hear about your love. Help us to never reject someone because of our own judgment. In the name of the Risen Savior we pray. Amen
Questions:
Have you ever felt rejected by Christians? Are you willing to share your story? Do you understand that only you and God know if you are truly a Christian? Are you willing to stop judging others? What do you need people to know about your own walk with God?
My thoughts about the verses:
The ultimate task for Christians is to share their faith story. Think about this a moment. We are to tell others our story so that they can hear about what God has done for us. All Christians have a testimony that is unique to them. The goal is to share the love God has given to us.
Paul was sharing that he had used his story to spread the good news to the gentiles. He was able to share how God had touched his life. Paul was chosen by God to tell the story to this group of people because of his own ethnicity and former beliefs. Paul did not try to interfere with the teachings of others by going where they had already reached people. Instead he was looking forward to those that never had heard the word.
Now what does this mean for us today. We must be willing to reach out to those that have been rejected and never heard the story of God. We must reach out to those that need to hear our story. As Christians we should have a fire in our soul that inspires us to bring others to Christ. There is someone out there that has been waiting to hear how God has helped us. You do not need to be a minister or other lay leader to share what God has done for you.
Because of this fire I want to share my story, I know that there is someone today that needs to hear that God died for them. They need to hear that God is there when others have rejected them. There is a need for others to know that God never leaves you. That the world may say that you are not a Christian, but if you have accepted Christ in your life you can never have that taken away by what people say or do.
See I understand what it feels to be rejected. To have people say that there is no way you are a Christian because of the person you love. To be judged by the world and to have your faith challenged. But I am here to tell you that God doesn't leave you. The Bible says that no one can remove you from the hands of God.
I grew up being taught that once saved always saved. Yet, when I came out of the closet people said that I must never accept God. I had an option in which I did not have to choose to live in sin. I chose to distance myself from God because I put my love for a person first. I was an outcast that needed to repent from my sin to truly enter the gates of Heaven.
Yet, I knew deep in my heart that God was there with me. I never felt like God left me. Yet, I felt hurt by those that had taught me to love God. I felt that religion was hypocrisy. I knew that many of the people that were judging me had their own vices. How could they say God didn't love me? How could they know how I felt deep within.
Then I found MCC a place that confirmed what I had always felt. That God had not let me go. In those moments that things were rough God was actually carrying me. That God had a plan to use me and that I would grow in my faith. Now I never fear if my love for a person is not something that tears you out of the hands of God. Jesus desires people to be happy and never said anything about my lifestyle. Amazingly people still feel that they can judge me. For those people I feel sorry for them because they do not understand the love that God has for all people.
Prayer:
Dear God thank you for loving us. Thank you for always holding us in your hands. Dear God help us tell people our story. Put a fire in our heart that encourages us to share the good news to those that need to hear about your love. Help us to never reject someone because of our own judgment. In the name of the Risen Savior we pray. Amen
Questions:
Have you ever felt rejected by Christians? Are you willing to share your story? Do you understand that only you and God know if you are truly a Christian? Are you willing to stop judging others? What do you need people to know about your own walk with God?
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