If you ask me, the days are growing short. The day of Christ's glorious appearing is growing nearer and nearer every day. (Matt. 24) Praise the LORD.
Something I notice more and more is that those having Jesus as their Savior and having been forgiven of our sins are growing in stark contrast to those who do not. The cultural divide, the lifestyles, the language, the dress . . . list almost anything you can think of . . . and our differences can be starling.
What happened to the time when a pastor was respected and even the vilest sinner would watch his language or rein in his conduct around him? Or someone would curse in front of a lady or a child and immediately stop to say he was sorry for his slip of the tongue? When promises meant something and honesty mattered?
What has changed?
God hasn't. God the Father, Jesus the One and only Son and the Holy Spirit are the same yesterday, today and forever. (Heb. 13:8) What has changed is the how desperate our enemy is because he knows that his time is short. (1 Peter 5:8) The unsaved are stumbling around "the ways of the LORD." They look at God's eternal principles as a list of "don't's" that are there to ruin their "fun."
But the saved, recognize that "the ways of the LORD" are there for our safety and freedom. When you are safe, don't you feel free? And when you're free, isn't life more enjoyable? Aren't you able to do more good for your family, your church body and those around you? Freedom ~ REAL freedom ~ is built upon the Foundation of Christ and His redemptive work upon the cross. When we are free and walking in the ways of the LORD, we are no longer the ones who stumble; we are the people the LORD sends the lost stumbling our way.
And when they stumble our way, let's pray that the LORD opens their eyes to see how the righteous ~ those saved by grace ~ walk in freedom and that they can walk in freedom, too.
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
Amen to all of your thoughts. I think the Savior is coming soon. I believe that the wheat is being taken from among the tares. In Isaiah there are some verses about children being disrespectful to Elders and we certainly see that today. Our nation and our world are going down hill quickly. We need to stand for truth and be a light to others. You certainly are an example of one that lives in the light.
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you!