Do You Live Your Faith?
They rejected his laws and the covenant he had made with their ancestors, and they despised all his warnings. They worshiped worthless idols and became worthless themselves. They followed the example of the nations around them, disobeying the LORD’s command not to imitate them. -- 2 Kings 17:15
All those who think that God’s laws apply to someone else, please get in line over to the right. Those who consider themselves “spiritual” get in that line too. Those who believe that Jesus was just another man, follow them to the back of the line. Oh, and people who believe that life is all about the survival of the fittest need to get in that line too.
It seems there will always be a group of people who just can’t be bothered with God. Maybe they don’t believe. Maybe they think He doesn’t matter. Maybe they’re angry at Him and have hardened their hearts. Whatever the situation, they’ve rejected God and His ways.
But even the people of Judah refused to obey the commands of the LORD their God. They walked down the same evil paths that Israel had established. -- 2 Kings 17:19
All those who call themselves Christians, who believe in Jesus as God’s Son and Savior, line up on the left. Those who attend church regularly, tithe 10 percent of their income and read their Bible daily, go to the front of the line. Anyone smirking, get to the back of the line. You obviously missed the parts about not judging and pride as sin.
Do you feel compassion for the poor? Do you give of yourself and your bank account to those on hard times? Do you forgive those who wrong you? Do you help those who make mistakes, no matter how many times they mess up? No? Then you’re in the wrong line.
The world is filled with Christians with hard hearts, a tight hold on the money God gave them, and a judgmental air that indicates they believe they are somehow better than everyone else. Their mouths claim Jesus but their hearts say they are no better than those who have outright rejected His saving grace.
The Israelites persisted in all the sins of Jeroboam and did not turn away from them, until the LORD removed them from his presence, as he had warned through all his servants the prophets. So the people of Israel were taken from their homeland into exile in Assyria, and they are still there.
-- 2 Kings 17:22-23
Look around you. When you see a homeless person do you feel compassion or judgment in your heart? When you encounter a drug addict does your tongue criticize and blame or offer hope and another chance? Do you love the people who seek to harm you? Do you pray for your enemies or do you wish them harm in return?
Living a Christian life isn’t so much about the big things as it is about the small things. Showing people the face of Jesus in us involves loving people we’d rather not be around. It means giving of the blessings God has given us whether we believe the other person deserves it or not. Jesus didn’t just call us to love the people like us. He called us to love the ostracized, the outcast, the addict, the thief.
So which line are you in? Are you sure? Are you really, really sure?
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