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Bring Back the Joy --- B B t J . O r g
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WE ARE GOD'S REPRESENTATIVES
We are being constantly warned that these are "the end times." I don't wish to offer this as part of "gloom and doom." But rather to say that we are representatives of Christ's in these end times. Peter (Acts 2:17) quoted Joel 2:28 to indicate events that would occur "in the last days." Each generations has been said to have been worse than the previous one. When September 11, 2002 occurred, many thought the world was coming to an end at last. No matter if time is indeed at the end or not, there are things we should be doing. In past postings, I have continually said that we need to read and become familiar with our Bibles. That the Bible is the instruction manual for mankind. It gives us patterns of behavior. How we control ourselves is a reflection on God. Others view us with the measuring stick of what they think the Bible says. A friend recently emailed me the following story: Who are we portraiting in what we have done (or not done) today? "I was sitting at a stop light this morning. The lady in front of me was going through papers on the seast of her car, and when the light changed to green she didn't obey its command - a green light is a commandment - NOT a suggestion. When the light turned to red, and she had still not moved, I began (with my windows up) screaming epithets and beating on my steering wheel. My expressions of distress were interrupted by a policeman, gun drawn, tapping on my window. Against my protestations of, "You can't arrest me for hollering in my car," he ordered me into the back seat of his. After about two hours in a holding cell, the arresting officer advised me I was free to go. I said, "I knew you couldn't arrest me for what I was yelling in my own car. You haven't heard the last of this." The officer replied, "I didn't arrest you for shouting in your car. I was directly behind you at the light. I saw you screaming and beating your steering wheel, and I said to myself, "What a jerk. But there is nothing I can do to himfor throwing a fit in his own car. Then I noticed the 'Cross' hanging from your rear view mirror, the bright yellow 'Choose Life' licence tag, and the 'Jesus is Coming Soon' bumper sticker, and I thought you much have stolen the car." Author Unknown This story illustrates that we are the respresentatives of God on this earth. This man through symbols was declaring that he was a follower of Christ. The policeman did not think that the man was exhibiting the qualities of Christ. Paul gives simple instruction for behavior in I Thessalonians 5:14-22 . I have changed some of the thoughts to make more sense. 1. Warn them that are idle and naughty 2. Comfort the timid; support the weak 3. Be patient toward all men. 4. Don't pay back evil with evil; do what is good to yourself and others 5. Be joyful in any situation 6. Pray constantly 7. Give thanks for all circumstances 8. Do not quench the Spirit's zeal within you 9. Don't despise prophesyings 10. Test everything, holding on to the good 11. Avoid even the appearance of evil Certainly the author of the story above didn't obey these instructions. Upon reflection, I see that I fall short in a number of areas. But that's what life is about. It's normal that we aren't perfect. The wonderful thing is that we don't have to be. Yes, we should endeavor to do good. But when we fall short, God loves us anyway. We can admit our weaknesses and ask for forgiveness. And all the while we are doing so, we can be praising God for his love, that he cares for us. What God really wants is for us to love him. To have an attitude of wanting to follow his Way. He understands that we are human. As long as we are desiring to follow him, if we slip, he still loves us and erases our sins and errors. |
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