sometimes, it just takes one interaction

Our God is capable of anything and does unimaginably more than we could ever imagine, but today as believers, I believe that we expect everything to be fixed right away. I mean think about what has been going on the past 14 months, I believe there are tons of Christians hoping and praying for God to just get rid of the mess. 

That's not a bad prayer to pray by any means, we should be praying with confidence like that. But what happened to celebrating just one small interaction? 

In life, when we focus on all the things that haven't been done, we forget the work that is actually being done. 

As I reflect on a passage from John 4 that we read earlier this week in our bible study, the story about Jesus and the Samaritan Woman is something I can't get out of my head..

To sum up John chapter 4, Jesus was on a journey and he was on his way to Galilee. On his way to Galilee he made a pit stop in Samaria. In Samaria, Jesus knew that Jacob had a well there so he sat down wearily and exhausted from his walk. Soon a Samaritan woman approached him and he asked her to give him a drink from the well. This caught her off guard because Jews and Samaritans typically had nothing to do with each other. 

Then Jesus and the woman got into a pretty significant conversation, where Jesus ultimately explains to her that anyone who drinks the water that is from God will experience a living water and have eternal life. Then as their conversation was wrapping up, Jesus tells the woman everything he knows about her and she learned quickly that Jesus was the Messiah.

Excited as all get out, she ran back to her village and started telling everyone what had just happened to her and what she experienced. Because the woman told the Samaritans that Jesus told her everything that she ever did, many of them believed in Jesus.

What sticks out to me even more is this:

When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village. So he stayed for two days, long enough for many more to hear his message and believe. Then they said to the woman, "Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world." (John 4:40-42)

Many Samaritans believed because they saw and heard Jesus as well. All because the lady was bold enough to ask Jesus a lot of questions, and then she was so excited she told everyone. 

Many people believed because of the lady and Jesus' interaction. Not all people, scripture didn't say that all people believed, but many did.

So what is holding you back from sharing what God is doing in your life? One small interaction could change the lives of many people for all of eternity. Now I know it's easier said than done to talk about what God is doing in your life, but it's okay. If it makes you feel better, ask one of your friends... if it's alright that you share what God has been doing in your life. 

Be bold, share your story! 

Godly sorrow

I will start by asking a personal question. How do you feel when you sin? Do you feel sorrowful because of the fact that you sinned? Or do you feel bad about the the results of the sin?

To be complete honest, if you asked me this question when I woke up this morning, I would've had to think long and hard before I gave my answer. 

Godly sorrow and worldly sorrow, what exactly does that even mean?

"Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leave no regret, bit worldly sorrow brings death." (2 Corinthians 7:10)

"Godly sorry brings repentance that leads to salvation" refers to the sorrow for our sins that results in changed behavior. Many people are sorry only for the effects of their sins or for being caught. ("worldly sorry") 

Compare Peter's remorse and repentance with Judas's bitterness and act of suicide. Both disowned Christ. One repented and was restored to faith and service; the other took his own life. 

Think about your life...Being completely honest with you, one of the ways I probably sin the most is just talking about other people. I really try hard sometimes not to do that, but when I am with a group of people, things just come out sometimes. For example, Godly sorrow would look like this, I recognize that I sinned, I ask for forgiveness and then will be restored to faith and service. Worldly sorrow on the other hand, would look like this, I realize I said things that I shouldn't have and I just feel bad about it all day. I can't get it out of my head, and I just feel awful.

Think about how many times a day that happens and how many times we just feel so bad about the mistakes we made. We are not perfect. We all sin everyday. Now instead of being sorrowful and feeling super bad about yourself, repent and be restored. 

I hope this encourages you all and helps you understand how to get rid of that feeling of worldly sorrow, I have been there, and it doesn't feel good. My prayer and hope is that your Godly sorrow leads to a change in behavior...I know it has for me, and I hope it can be for you as well. 

What will I be doing?

Recently, I have been a part of a small group of guy in my office who have spent time reading our Bibles over zoom together for the past three weeks. Every morning at 5:45 we are all logged on and ready to go! This has been an awesome experience because when there are a group of people studying the Word together, the Holy Spirit helps us all understand scripture in different ways.

I wanted to share something we talked about as a group the other day that really made me think, and I figured it might be a good thing to read before you all get your day going. 

....A question that we should be asking ourselves this: What will I be doing when Christ returns?

"And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight." (2 Peter 3:14)

Make every effort to be found living peaceful lives...do you do that right now?

I try, but I am not great. I am a pretty positive and optimistic guy, but I have may days where I am down...But I try. I have my days where I do a lot of good things, and there are days where I don't. We aren't all going to live these perfect lives waiting for Christ to return, but we can make every effort. 

I don't know about you but I don't want to get caught watching the paint dry. I don't want Christ to return and be shocked at what I am doing or even worse disappointed. 

When negativity, doubt, dark thoughts, sin, and pretty much things that wouldn't please God comes over you, I strongly encourage you to make every effort to be mindful of what you are doing all of the time. Don't get caught up in the wrong crowd at the wrong time.

Because I don't know about you, but I can think of no better feeling than to be doing something pleasing to God when Christ returns. I just picture the most genuine and happy smile I could ever imagine...

Make every effort my friends. 

bad circumstances

How do you react in the bad circumstances?

I know that one of the most impactful ways that we as believers can be a light is by how we act when we are in a bad/difficult situation. We have the ability to be a light no matter what we face and it's often one of our best ways to show Christ's love to unbelievers. 

"...in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights, and hunger..." (2 Corinthians 6:5)

Being put in jail would cause many people to become bitter or to give up, but Paul saw jail time as one more opportunity to spread the gospel of Christ. Paul recognized that his current circumstances weren't as important as what he did with them.

What if we saw every bad situation as another possible opportunity?

He turned a bad situation into a good one. 

We may not be in prison, but we have plenty of opportunities to be discouraged - times of indecision, financial burdens, family conflict, political unrest, or even the loss of our jobs. 

How we act in such situations will reflect what we believe in.

Recently, I have had some difficult passing some pretty difficult exams, and it's been so easy to get down on myself and be negative. But I have had to learn that won't get me anywhere. If I get down on myself, pout, and am super negative, how will that come across to others? I know that won't represent Christ very well.

I've had to take some time to myself, but most importantly get back to it. I have had to trust God's plan for me and trust that I am learning something through this exam taking journey that he has taken me on. 

I am choosing to react to this in a way where I won't give up.  Paul never gave up when he was in prison, hungry, sleepless, and beaten. Why should I? Why should you? 

My encouragement for you, like Paul, is to look for ways to demonstrate your faith even in bad situations. Whether or not the situation improves, your faith will grow stronger.