2-24-23

Matt 10:20 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

Have you noticed it yet? I live a pretty sheltered life. I go to church, I go to work, we go out to eat, but I am not exposed to too many people in a normal week. Especially outside my “circle”. 

I noticed it a few years back when someone I knew was on Facebook. She is about my sons’ age. I posted an article, which in fact, was not as “in your face” as some of my posts are, but it did imply God’s way is the best way. Her new husband came back strong in opposition. He made a really harsh statement against “family values”. I asked him, “what can you possibly have against family values? You have a family.” He went on to tell me that anything that “God” suggests is too confining and racist, homophobic and so on. He “unfriended” me. I haven’t missed him. I post things in hope of inspiring, uplifting and making non followers think about God. But another verse comes to mind.  

Matt 7:6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.”    

I am not positive what the writer was really referring to, but I have taken this verse to mean that some people will not listen to anything regarding God and there comes a point where we leave them alone with that conviction.

Romans 1:28 “Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done.” 

Recently, there has been a lot of controversy over the “Drag Shows” that are coming to our small communities. Sandwich Oprah House recently hosted one. I started reading all the conversations on the Sandwich community Facebook pages. I soon realized, as vocal Christians, we might have been outnumbered, or maybe just that the other side was more vicious. Calling the opposing side all sorts of names, including racist, hateful, bigoted. They also called us names that made it sound like we are nuts because we follow Jesus. The term “Jesus Freak” was used as well as others. They say it is easier to be mean to people online or Facebook because you may never have to look that person in the eye. They will one day, have to look God in the eye. They WILL, one day, kneel before His throne.

Romans 14:11 “It is written: “’As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’”

They may not believe now, but they will. The wages of sin is death. We cannot escape it. We all sin. BUT for those of us who follow Jesus, we are made righteous by his sacrifice. He did so that WE may also live forever with him in heaven.

I heard something this week. Jesus’ gift is like a bottle of water to a man who has been in the desert. Jesus can offer the life saving gift as we would offer the life saving water to the thirsty man, but if he does not receive it, he will die. Don’t miss this gift!! Eternity is a long time.

Lord, show us how and when to talk to others about you. Give us words so that we may plant seeds of hope. Amen.

Shirlene Peterson