Monday
Living The Life
Luke 15:1-7; Mark 16:15
Our mission in the Body of Christ should be to live in such a way that our lives exemplifies Christ and impacts others so that they want to know more about Him. The reasons many people want nothing to do with God or church is because of what they see in the lives of many who profess Christ and who attend church on a regular basis. We as Christians have very important responsibilities. Listed below are seven task that are most central to our responsibilities as Christians.
1. Exalt the Name of the One True God
2. Exemplify the Body of Christ
3. Evangelize Unbelievers
4. Educate Disciples
5. Establish Local Church Bodies
6. Equip and Empower National Leaders
7. Encourage the National Church as Co-Laborers in Christ
In order for us to fulfill what Jesus commissioned us to do in Mark 16:15, it is not enough to just go and preach the Gospel. *”Today preach means so much more than telling others about Jesus; it means living our lives in such a way that people can actually see Jesus in us”. “Our lives should cause every creature {black, white, red, yellow; whether rich or poor; educated/uneducated} to want to know more about the God we serve.” The world has a definition for love but falls very short. The world needs “The God kind of LOVE”
Tuesday
God’s Kind Of Love
Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (Amplified Bible)
Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].
Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. (Amplified Bible) After reading this many of us may be thinking to ourselves that it is impossible for us to walk out these scriptures, but the fact is if you have been born again, “God” who is love came to live inside of us, therefore giving us the capacity to love like God loves. You must choose to act on it and God himself will help you walk it out in your life.
Does this scripture overwhelm you? Take a moment and journal what these words mean to you. If you are struggling to walk these words out ask God, He will help you.
Wednesday
Why Cultivate Your Love Walk?
Read John 13:34-35
As we learn to walk in love more and more, more people will respond to the Gospel that we preach with our mouths because they have already seen it at work in our lives. This is exactly what Jesus is saying by "we will be known by our love" -- that the Gospel is preached effectively if we live it rather than just speak it. As 1 Corinthians 13 says, "love never fails." If we keep on loving others, it is bound to be felt by them. People will always recognize genuine compassion. Thus, this is the challenge and joy given to us as Christians: to pursue a life that radiates God's love.
Why cultivate your love walk? The harvest is great; we have thousands of people right here in our state that doesn’t know Jesus. You do not have to look hard to see that lives are in a mess. They need to see the love of God in action and that love will draw them to Him. “Love one another as I have loved you”, if we live this command by Jesus this is when men can see and know that we are truly God’s children. It is important that we show love towards others. This is how we can affect the hurting, lost and dying.
Think about your life and your relationship with co-workers, church members, close family members, strangers. Do they know that you are God’s disciple?
Thursday
Racism; A Major Hindrance To Soul Winning
Read 1 John 4:20-21
Have you ever heard the statement “The most segregated hour in our week is the 11:00 hour every Sunday?”
Isn’t it strange that we interact with people of difference races all week long {work, community service, sports events, grocery stores, etc}, but we can’t seem to bring ourselves to worship together on Sunday mornings?
How many understand that in heaven we’ll only have one church? Not black, white, Hispanic, Methodist, Baptist…That being said, we might as well learn how to worship together here because heaven is about eternity.
Racism is an evil thing and it is a major hindrance to people coming into the kingdom. Racism in any form goes totally against God’s commandment to us ‘To love others as He loves us.’ Funny thing – I have yet to find the work ‘like’ in scripture as it relates to how we interact with people I only found Love or Hate. It appears God is pretty clear about this; there’s no middle ground. Since that is the case, we all need to do a self check of our hearts and be honest about our relationships with all people {family, boss, co-workers, blacks, whites, red, yellow}
Are there people you hate? Listen to God’s perspective! Read 1John4:20-21 Message Translation, 20-21If anyone boasts, "I love God," and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won't love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can't see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You've got to love both.
Friday
4 Causes Of Racism
Read Acts 10 & 11
1. Pride: ‘exalted thinking’; to consider what I think or feel about what God thinks or feels. Peter was ‘saved’ but he had a problem with God asking him to go preach to a Gentile family. God had to speak firmly to Peter in Acts 10:15, “what I have cleansed you must not call common.”
2. The Jews in Peter’s day believed that they were superior to any other race. Same thing in America today; many whites feel they are superior to any other race of people – especially blacks. This complex does two things: It Hinders fellowship; in the Body of Christ we all have a function/purpose. If we won’t fellowship then we’ll never work together winning souls/changing lives. It Hinders submission; you can never look up to or submit to someone you believe is beneath you; it’s difficult to learn from someone you feel is less intelligent; The bible teaches mutual submission.
3. Ignorance; ignorance defined: The absence of knowledge, wisdom, or understanding. Peter lacked knowledge of the fact that Jesus’ sacrifice had torn down the wall that separated the races. Once God corrected his erroneous thinking, Peter submitted and obeyed God; The result: Cornelius and his household were saved.
4. Fear; God has not given us a spirit of fear. If fear doesn’t come from God, then who is the instigator of it?
To overcome prejudice, we have to overcome: The fear of the unknown, the fear of what or who we don’t know. We will never get to know one another without fellowship, to fellowship, we have to leave our comfort zones.
God made all of us in His image. God made us all different because He loves diversity. We’ve allowed our cultural differences to separate us Every part of our body is different but yet connected; working together, submitting to each part’s role or functions. “If you're black, if you're white, if you're yellow or grey; In the morning, in the night, anytime of day; just come on and ride; We're a body with parts, like you and me; Together we make diversity; You bring the heart, I'll bring the soul; I'll bring the flag, you bring the pole. We'll fly it high so the whole world knows, The dream of a king 'bout to unfold. From the song Diverse City by: Toby Mac
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