True Religion

Often we interpret what God wants from us by our feelings, now dont get me wrong we must look for the holy spirits guidance in order to do anything of lasting worth but sometimes the way we feel is not necersarily the way he is leading us.

Example, your out shopping for clothes your having a nice day and then you see a sad lonely drug addict on a bench, your heart is touched but you dont feel comfortable with going over and talking with him, you may even say i just dont feel led to be with this person, i dont have peace or its not my call.

Let me tell you this, being uncomfortable is not a lack of Gods peace, when Jesus walked the earth he was surrounded by disaproval, there were those who were righteous as far as anyone could see, they gave money to the church they looked after there own family dutifully and they didnt have any serious hang ups.

It was these people who were outraged at Jesus, they could not understand why he would spend his time giving his attention and life to the REAL sinners. The religious people those who were secure in there own good deeds and ability to do what is right said to Jesus " why do you eat and drink with the prostitutes " WHY

These people these self approved men of God were uncomfortable with the way Jesus lived, I mean how could he call himself a teacher and the son of man, it made no sense, for all there lives they had tried to seperate themselves from evil, and in doing so they rejected the broken.

Jesus dint live alongside the worst and then go home at night to his real life, he is God, he not only chooses to love and live with the broken and damaged but he loves to, he doesnt do anything out of religious duty, this is who he is and he said if you have seen me then you have seen the father, or I only do what i see the father doing.. this is christ.

The bible says when we hold a meal or a celebration do not only invite those who are a part of your life, those who you feel safe with and will repay you likewise but to invite the damaged the smelly the diseased.. how comfortable is that??? yet it is the heart of God.

If we care only for those who we love what reward will we have ?? even the tax collectors do that said the lord.

Peace is one thing but often times i have had no peace in going over to someone who looks like they could kill me with one punch, often I have had no comfortable feeling when trying to share christs love with a smelly old tramp but once I have pushed myself to do what I know is right I have then found Joy..

Do not be decieved by the world and its ways, true religion is caring for the widows and the orphans, not just approving that its right but actually doing it, its ok if you dont agree, it crosses over into your own plans and disturbs you but thats ok, it isnt going to steal your salvation if you only live for yourself.

But friends here is the wisdom, not one of you not one of us knows how long we have on this earth, not one, we think it is wise to think about the future but we dont think of eternity, eternity is the place we are going.. each of us, this is the place where we will see what we have worked for on the earth adn spend an eternity with our reward.

You may say well im ok I am not interested in rewards, I will say in return then it is because you dont trust Jesus, because he talked about it all the time, he knows the value.

yes we are all on our way to meet the king, dont let that be seperate from what you think of as your life, let your view of this world and heaven be the same, let Gods kingdom come to earth in your heart today and find what makes him happy, not what only makes you happy.

I tell you the truth, if you sek his good then you will have more on this earth and in the life to come than you ever imagined.

There are warnings against only living for ourselves too, there are servents who were given much and returned much, there were servents given little and returned nothing and the Lord was and is still displeased with this.. does it matter what God thinks??

You dont have to go out right now and finish studying or sell all your possesions and move to india, thatas not what he is saying, but where you are today, look for a way to step out of your routine and do something that you know is right but makes you feel uncomfortable.. go over to the homeless person and buy him a coffee, share the gospel of your hope and tell me afterwards, wasnt it worth much more than gold.

little by little we can train ourselves to live a life of Love, genuine love, imagine taking this person this leper in the picture into your life, praying for the leper without thinking of yourself
what about eating at the same table as him?? now past your initial reaction and the sick jokes that can rise in our hearts.. look at the picture again, this person is no different than you, inside there is a spirit trapped in a broken shell.

Look at the picture and Love him, you will feel it if you choose to.. do the same with the ppl on the street and it wont be long before you are building the courage to talk and love those you never dared to before.

The Lord be with you