There is only one God

A topic that no one wants to talk about is God, the father of my saviour, mighty Jesus.  So of course at work the opportunity arose for me to speak up or say nothing.  My co-worker came over to tell me that someone recently got declared a new Saint by the Pope. 

She said she prays to the different Saints and she was excited to begin praying to him as well. 

I could say nothing.  My other co-worker was already saying, "Don't talk about religion".  He anticpated a fight, a disagreement of sorts.  I knew what was ahead as well. She would probably get mad, or get offended. Maybe I would be mad or red with passion for her to see and know the truth. The bible says that the truth sets us free and I wanted them to be liberated!

You know what happens next  right?  I spoke up.  "There is only one God.  Why are you praying to a dead man that cannot help you.  He cannot even raise himself from the grave. He can do nothing. He himself was created by God just like you."  I smile in recollection because that challenged everything she believed and maybe some of you are feeling incensed right now.  She said, "I beleive that they do help you...." Another co-worker said, "You both believe the same thing, God is at the head...." 

Well I had to disagree again. No. We do NOT believe the same thing.  There is no other God but God.  There is no other name to pray in but Jesus. I pray only to God the Father in the name of His son and that is absolute with no conditions.  With a boldness I can only attribute to the Holy Spirit I spoke to my co-worker of umpteen years. I told him (the other one left for a smoke break after telling me that this is her religion and I shouldn't say anything) that he needed to be saved, he needed Jesus.  I told him so that he could not say he didn't know and that no-one told him. I didn't want to loose touch with him, and never tell him that there is a God - ONE GOD.  He is more to me than a person sitting on the other side of my desk, he is a friend.

I have been silent on this mostly because I don't want to get into it; I don't want to offend; I don't want to seem too churchy or preachy.  But how does that help those whom I love and care about?  I take this wonderful news with me to Heaven and they go to Hell because of my fears and selfish motives?  God let it not be so.  I pray for many more doors or windows to be opened so that I can preach Christ, the only way by which men can be saved. 

At the cross, at the cross

Today I got a phone call from my friend.  My sister friend is how I really see her, so it really sent a shiver through me when I heard her voice choked with tears.  She still has to deal with her son's Inverted Anus, and this is surgery number 3 for him. 

I admit that for a moment I didn't know how to comfort her. I am not even physically there to offer her a hug, to pat her back and say there there. I am all the way in Canada and she is all the way in America.  So I listened and I muttered words that seemed to do as I intended - calm her down to now just the occasional sobs.  This was hard and I agreed with her that it was.  She wondered why after two surgeries she still feels all this anxiety and fear.  Why is she crying again?  I thought and replied, why not cry?  When we stub our toe in the same spot on different days does it still not hurt?  Why then should this be any different?  Ahhhh, that did the trick. 

She then said "I wish I could do this for him. I wish I could take this for him".  This one statement, caused me to pause. Is this what God said about His son Jesus?  Think about it for a second or two.  If we in our frail humanity and sinful flesh could say and feel such love for our children, what did he feel as He gave up His only son to die for us? 

Yes I know, Easter came and went, with chocolate and the Easter bunny for some, but this really brings me right back to the cross and beyond.   I wonder if God wept to see Jesus beaten and abused.  I wonder if He clenched his fists or stood up from his throne.  I wonder if His heart felt bruised as his son's body was pierced.  I wonder because as a mom, I feel just my friend does.  I want to take spare my son and nieces and nephews the heart aches in life. I want to shield and protect. I want to hide them from evil and keep them safe from harm. I want their walk to be perfect, having no sorrow or woes.  I want their best.  I want it all for them and would sacrifice so that they could. 

John 3:16 declares for all who are willing to see to see "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son...."  His love for us was what kept him from striking dead all those who were persecuting His son unjustly.  His plans was far greater than the hurt and hardship...His plans were for you. Yes, you.  You the one that even now continues to read because God's spirit has drawn you here today.  God loves you.  This is truth and there is no other.  Yes, that same messed up, never got it right you.  He loved you before you were formed and his plans, that including the death and terrible pain of his son, was so that you could live.  He loves you, no matter how you may be feeling right now. He loves you through all your mess and your failures.  He loves you and if He had to send his son Jesus again, He would.  Just for you my friend, God gave his son just for you....

Be Holy as I am Holy

Be holy, for I, the Lord, Your God, am holy. Leviticus 19:2

 This is the verse that has been floating around my head since the last day of March.  It came about as a result of a discussion from one of our infrequent family get together. It was a question as to whether or not grown adults, who professed Christ as their Lord, should be watching shows that promote a life style that is away from their beliefs.   My sister said they are adults and therefore should be allowed to do whatever they want?  That is the issue.  It is not me or her but God’s word that convicts and lays out for those who will follow, a standard that is above and away from what is the norm of today.

God says, be holy as I am holy.  While I am thinking about it, I am examining my own life.  I am looking at the many things that I have allowed my senses to partake of in the guise of entertainment.  I have laughed at the off colored jokes that were laced with immorality.  I have turned a blind eye to shows that have content that are dirty for lack of a better word.  I have allowed the language to leave a stain on me.  I may not repeat it out loud but my mind captures each scene and replays it without a conscious effort on my part.  It sums up to this one word - unholy.

Maybe this is just for me. Maybe the magnifying lens of this verse was to closely examine my own actions as a Christian.  Maybe it is for me to realize that as a child of God, there is a higher standard that is set and I need to live up to it. I need to come up higher and be holy as God is holy.  The question that comes to me now is how can I do this?  How do I live holy in a world that sees nothing wrong with two men in a bed, or speaking about pre-marital sex as an everyday occurrence and a normal part of any relationship?  

After doing some research, I have concluded that God is saying to me be set apart, be the city on the hill, be the light.  There should be some distinction between Christians and non-believers.  There should be a difference that calls others to the light of Jesus Christ that is within us.  There should be a moral standard that is based on the word of God that others can see and know and follow.  So while we are all consenting adults, I will echo Paul’s sentiments to the people of Corinth “Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial….” (1 Cor. 10:23).