David's blog

So Jesus told them, ‘I am not teaching my own ideas, but those of God who sent me. Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or merely my own. Those who present their own ideas are looking for praise for themselves but those who seek to honour the one who sent them are good and genuine. John 7: 16 − 18.

I have seen it and hopefully I am not like it. People like bits of the Bible especially when it fits in with their own world view. Pressure groups rise up and they seem to represent their calling but if you look deeper they only have ideas based on what they read. They haven’t actually sat down and found out what it really means then, now and in the context of the whole text. You can see the warning signs when they are bringing praise for themselves and patting themselves on the back for being so good. If they write anything, little is said about God, and when they do they say Jesus would support this without any in depth of evidence from the Bible, or take one verse out of context to suite their twisted opinion. This in turn leads to people rejecting the good news of Jesus rather than embracing it based on a negative Jesus never would endorse. We need to think carefully for we are keeping people from Jesus and providing an alternative which leads them far away from God. People use words like ‘truth’ to justify there position, but it is used more as a threat than a real care for others, a kind of statement like, ‘you better change or else.’ This is not the gospel, Jesus never did that with non-believers. Jesus spent time with them, loving and understanding them, and because of that their lives were changed. We who are christians need to support each other and act out of love for each other rather that getting cross and angry when there are differences or a sudden fall into sin. We need to return to speaking and acting like Jesus, and accept that people no longer believe. They will more likely not change on an argument on who is right. And if we examine a lot of non-believers, they often been hurt by christians.

Let’s start afresh and introduce Jesus to people, show  a God full of love and grace.

A lady was healed by Jesus by just touching him. Imagine having a condition that caused you to be rejected by friends, family and society. Every day that you get up, it’s there again, a feeling of not being liked, everyone hating you. You have tried everything but still there is no change, and has cost you your life savings.

Where do you find hope in these types of situations. Healing is what we desire. To receive physical healing would be great, but that leaves us still broken inside and an outsider but Jesus is concerned for our whole healing.

By seeking the woman after her healing Jesus brings inner healing, an acceptance,  and something we all desire, affirmation. We all long to be loved and accepted and Jesus can bring it.

You are the light of the world. A city on top of a hill can’t be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on top of a lampstand, and it shines on all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

When you get up in the morning, what are your intentions? Do you live a life for others or just for yourself? Jesus calls himself the light of the world and the above verses encourages us to do the same. It is not the kind of verse that encourages us to bash people over the head with a Bible but to live like Jesus, and by doing so people will notice and want to know why. We need to be brave and show people Jesus, this is what they need! Especially when there seems to be so much hostility. Pray and God will guide you, and he will lead you to the right people.

One of the men with Jesus pulled out a sword and slashed off an ear of the high priests servant. Matthew 26v51
Have you noticed that there are people who say they believe in Jesus but their actions and words show the opposite. It gives Jesus a bad name! This is especially true when Christians try to engage in public life. By doing so they put people off Christianity and it gets to a point where people no longer listen, not because of Jesus but because of those representing Jesus. We need to look again at the life, words and actions of Jesus, and then introduce that to the world. It is like putting their ears back on!

How do we conduct ourselves with others. We take the model of Jesus and use that.

If you have been hurt or deceived by someone who you are friends with or someone who is highly respected then you are not alone. It is even more hurtful when it is someone close or someone with the same views as us. An experience I have had was someone who made me feel important and gave me great responsibility. But as time went on and so called better and more skilled people came on the scene, I was slowly pushed out. They continued to say nice things to me but their actions showed what was at their heart. Then one day it is over and you are left in the wilderness with confusion and anger. A part wants to find reconciliation and another part revenge.

I look at the injustice of Jesus hanging on the cross, killed by his own people. It brings comfort to know Jesus experienced the same pain as us and so much more. But the good news is that he continues to love us