Bible

Scandalous Once More

/ pastorpete51 / 3 Comments

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”             John 16:33 NLT

Not long ago Vice President Pence faced protesters as he spoke at a “Christian” university then this week David Roark, communications director of the Village recently was uninvited from a graphic design conference. Of course these are just two well known examples that point out something lots of us have been sensing for quite a while. Christianity is once more thankfully and thoroughly scandalous! This not only should not come as a surprise to us who call ourselves followers of Jesus it should be an encouragement. Maybe after a generation of our struggles to become socially acceptable we ought to be glad that being shunned puts us a little closer to the master. Paul said that His preaching was considered pure foolishness to the important people of His day. All His press coverage was negative, but God was always near in to listen to his prayers. It is much better to be scandalous here and accepted in heaven than popular on earth but a sorrow to our Jesus.

4 Lessons on Faith from Ducks on the Pond

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Stick together when danger approaches…

Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Heb 10:25

Just Keep Swimming!

Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Hebrews 10:38 KJV

Follow Mom and Dad they know where to go!

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
Ephesians 6:1‭-‬2 KJV

Why worry about tomorrow? I was only born yesterday!

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34

Tell the Neighbors

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He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed and received my sight.” John 9:11 ESV

When Jesus changes your life or mine other people will want to know why. That may not be as dramatic as healing a man blind from birth but when God intervenes we are not the same. It feels intimidating talking to our neighbors about God and not everyone wants to hear your story for the right reasons. But if we are honest with others about our own problems and how God helps us to get through them, there will be some who will want to know more.

What also catches my attention every time I read this story is the crazy way Jesus goes about healing. He spits on the ground, makes mud and then smears it on this guy’s eyes. That I have definitely never seen at my church! While the details of how God fixes our issues may seem strange His results are undeniable. Maybe God chooses what seems different to catch people’s attention. We might be embarrassed but then nobody really thinks much about the mud on our eyes. They are mostly amazed at the Savior who gave us back our vision. God saw something in you and me when no one else would give us a second glance. God didn’t choose us because we were the best and the brightest. He chose us when we were blind so that we could say; “Now I see!”