Are we being good Ambassadors?

One of my favorite statements from God's Word is; "at just the right time . . ."   

• 2 Corinthians 6:2 says; "For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you."
• Romans 5:6 says; "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly."
• Galatians 4:4 says; "But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born . . . "

These are some of my "go to" verses when I'm waiting - I truly believe that at just the right time God acts - He answers prayers, He provides, He speaks, He opens our eyes and our heart. He even gives me a devotional quiet time reading that I need for that specific day . . . like today!

Interesting passage today: Matthew 17: 24-27

Some tax collectors approached Peter and asked, "Does your teacher pay Temple tax?" Peter - with haste answers, "Yes, he does." Jesus, of course, used this as a teaching opportunity !

Jesus: "Peter does the king tax; his own people, or those he conquers?

Peter: "those he conquers".

Jesus: "then citizens are free!"

Of course a king would not tax his family - and Jesus, well, He is the King of kings and owes nothing! But, Jesus goes on to tell Peter that they don't want to "offend them", so tells Peter to go fishing. He tells him that the first fish he catches will have a coin in its mouth. Jesus told Peter to use it to pay taxes for both of them.

A couple of things stood out to me as I read the commentary on this passage:

1. Jesus had the solution. He was supplying the resources, but - He had Peter go and get it. "Ultimately all that we have comes to us from God's supply, but He may want us to be active in the process." Being a Christ follower is a hands-on experience. We aren't to just sit back and watch, we are to be actively involved!
2. Earth is not our permanent home, but Jesus shows that we still need to be responsible citizens and cooperate with the authorities.

Corinthians 5:20 says: "So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, "Come back to God!"

Just as an Ambassador to another country keeps the local laws in order to represent the one who sent him - so must we! We are to be upstanding citizens, doing what is right because - when we say we are a Christ - follower, a Christian, that means we represent Christ! It's our job to shine a positive light on HIM!

Today, as I was having a moment - one of those when Satan creeps in your thoughts and you react before you realize it. One of those moments when my attitude was anything but shining a positive light on Jesus! In that moment, God reminded me of my Bible reading for today and I was convicted by the question asked by the commentary writers . . . "Are we being good foreign ambassadors for Him to this world?" Am I being a good ambassador for Christ?!

I wonder how different my testimony would be if I, as a Christian, was better at encouraging than complaining?

I wonder how different my testimony would be if I did everything for Jesus and let go of any selfish motives?

I wonder how different my friends, acquaintances, and family would be if I stood on the balcony cheering them on, instead of hiding in the basement dragging them down.

Being a positive ambassador is a choice, a challenge, and one I accept!

"Heaven Forbid"

 "Heaven forbid", a phrase we've all probably heard a time or two.   Usually when we hear this, the person speaking wants to prevent something from happening that they think will be harmful, hurtful, or even tragic.  None of us want to see hurtful or tragic things happen, especially to those we love!

Matthew, Mark and Luke all tell of the time that Peter said to Jesus,  "heaven forbid. . . "  Peter was a devoted follower and friend of Jesus and he loved him very much.  He had just heard Jesus tell of the things that were about to happen to him.  Jesus told His disciples that He would suffer and many terrible things would happen at the hands of religious leaders.  Jesus told them "He would be killed, but on the third day He would be raised from the dead."    

This did not set well with Peter! He spoke up and said to Jesus; "Heaven forbid, Lord. This will never happen to you!"  

At that moment Jesus turned to Peter and said, "Get away from me, Satan!"  I wonder what expression was on Peter's face when Jesus reprimanded him!?!  

Jesus went on to say to Peter, "You are a dangerous trap to Me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God's."   Peter's exclamation wasn't out of disrespect, but one of sincere love and lack of understanding.   Jesus was Peter's friend and he didn't want to see harm come to Him, especially death!  Peter's quick reaction was probably fear based and the need to protect Jesus.  It's almost like Peter had the idea that He was Jesus' bodyguard, as if Jesus needed Peter to protect Him.  

But Peter didn't understand that had Jesus not suffered, died and then raised to life - he would have had to pay for his own sins. 

Like Jesus, we all have well-meaning friends and family who love us and only want the best for us. They don't want us to be in pain, to suffer, to be heartbroken or experience tragedy.   And, we feel the same about them!  We want to protect them, to shield them from hurt and hardship.  But like Peter, we don't see the BIG PICTURE that God sees, that God designs and allows.  

Satan wants nothing more than for followers of Christ to leave Jesus out of their daily and future plans, choices and decisions!              Jesus says, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. IF you hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it" 

The advice that our friends and family gives us can sound tempting - we don't want the painful situation either - and if there is a way out, please tell me!  But Jesus says - you MUST give up your own way.  Being a follower of Jesus Christ isn't the easy way out!  As Shadrach, and his friends discovered - sometimes it means standing in the fire! 

This is one reason why being in God's Word and having a personal relationship with Him, one where you are daily engaged with Him, is so important! 

It is GOD's voice we need to hear in our heads, not the voice of    "the world". 

Matthew16:21-28; Mark 8:38-9:1; Luke 9:1-27

 

Comparisons

As human beings it comes very natural to us to compare things, and even though that's not necessarily a bad thing - it can be.  It really depends on what you are comparing.  For example, if you're comparing the cost of groceries bought from Publix or Neighborhood Markets - well, that could really help your budget!      If you're comparing Alabama football to well, any other team - you get the picture, and I digress.  :)  

Unfortunately, too often  I compare myself to others, which was / is not a good thing! When I served as a Kids Minister, I even compared myself to other Kids Ministers!  I was always looking at what other Ministers were doing in their churches, not to get great ideas, but  instead I'd question myself, wondering if I'm doing enough, or doing the "right stuff"; sometimes I even wondered if I was supposed to be in ministry!  These were not healthy comparisons.  

I'm reminded of a time in Scripture when Jesus was speaking to Peter and asked him how much he loved Him; Jesus actually asked him three times. Scripture says that Peter was hurt that Jesus would feel the need to ask more than once. But, of course, Jesus had His reasons.  I think He wanted Peter to dig deeper, to sincerely search his true feelings and the motives for why he was following Him.          (John 21:21)

After Jesus' questions, Peter then turns around to see John standing there and he asked Jesus, "What about him?" 
Jesus said, "...What is it to you? . . . As for you, follow me." 

In other words, maybe Jesus was saying - don't worry about what someone else is doing, or what they have, or what My plan is for them; you do what you know to do.

I read the accounts in Matthew, Mark and Luke about the time Jesus asked His disciples "Who do people say I am?"  They responded, with probably the common answer, - John the Baptist, Elijah, or a prophet.   Then Jesus asked the same question to the disciples and Peter replied, "You are the Messiah!" 

Jesus said to Peter, "You are blessed! . . . My Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being." 

Why would Jesus do that? Why would He ask what "the people"  believe, and then ask His disciples that same question? 

I think, because - while it's not necessarily wrong to know what others think, we need to have our own thoughts!  I need to know in my head and my heart who Jesus is, and I need to have a personal relationship with Him based on the Holy Spirit's leading and teaching.  

I heard of friend say, the church isn't influencing the world, the world is influencing the church.  I believe that statement holds a lot of truth!  It's time for believers, for followers of Jesus Christ, to take a stand!  We need to stop worrying about what "others say" about what we believe and how we live, and live like we know what we believe and trust the One we follow!  Yes, I need to care about others, I need to love others, I need to share Jesus with others - but how can I do that if I don't know Him personally and trust Him completely?!  Looking to others isn't going to teach me how to do that - only God can!  It is with HIS strength I can love others, live for Him and lead others to Him! 

Oh my, how I shudder to think how often Jesus has looked at me to say'  "What's it to you?"   He is probably saying,  "Look at ME and compare your life to Jesus."  I know that I'm to be in this world but, not of this world. I'm to live by Jesus Christ example!  

I wish I had learned the comparison lesson earlier in life and ministry. And, I'm not saying I've conquered the need to compare - but I am better.  I've learned that to compare, is okay - but I have to stay in my lane, on my path, and remember this is MY journey.  I've learned to look and learn and move on.  

I've learned to "trust in the Lord and lean not on my own understanding!"