- araratchurch
- Jun 11
- 3 min read
““Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven. “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. ‘I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be right in your own household!’”
Matthew 10:32-36 NLT
For the most part—unless someone has some complex emotional or psychological issues—we all want to be liked and to get along with others.
Additionally, along with the desire to be liked and get along with others, is the desire to fit in with a group. And certainly, as Christians, we must show ourselves friendly. Our dealings with all people must be done in an attitude of love: “Nobody cares how much you know if they don’t know how much you care.” An attitude of love is supposed to be the sign of being a true disciple of Christ (see John 13:35).
All that being said, there comes a time when what you believe as a result of your relationship with God in Jesus Christ, may—by itself—make you offensive to even those who are the closest to you. In our opening scripture, we see Jesus referencing this very dynamic.
Now, some may feel torn to a certain extent, feeling that their relationship with the Lord is somehow alienating them from those they love. As such, this may cause them to want to just keep their convictions to themselves to avoid controversy. They may even come up with some conscience-satisfying rationale that makes their silence palatable, somehow serving “the greater good.”
Sadly, we are entering into a time where there is increasing pressure to conform to a certain way of thinking, or, at least “go along to get along.” In fact, it seems that other faiths are much more ltolerated and defended by the world system than our Christian faith. Even many churches have taken down their crosses, stopped talking about sin and the need for repentance, neglect talking about the soon coming of Jesus Christ, or operating in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Sadly, the list of things churches will no longer do, or things they wouldn’t have done before, but do now, grows longer and longer. Child of God, you cannot find that rationale or doctrine in the Bible.
Indeed, we are supposed to be salt and light. We are not to take part in sinful behavior, but rather expose it by our own example of obedience to God. Unfortunately, some of the behavior in which Christian churches or individuals take part under the guise of being more “inclusive,” actually border on—or have completely slipped into—behavior that denies Christ. And as we see (again referencing our opening scripture), this doesn’t work out well in terms of eternity.
John warns us to not be surprised at the fact that the world hates us.
“We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.”
1 John 3:12-13 ESV
Peter instructs that living a holy lifestyle will cause us to be slandered, but that the day will
come when those who do so, are judged for it.
“Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you. But remember that they will have to face God, who stands ready to judge everyone, both the living and the dead.”
1 Peter 4:4-5 NLT
Remember: Experiencing loss of friends, family, even those we dearly love, because of our relationship with Jesus Christ, puts us in good company.
““If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.”
John 15:18-21 ESV
Yes, think of it, if they hate Jesus, the God Man who lived a perfect life and died for the sins of the world, it shouldn’t be surprising that there will be those who hate us as well. Yes, we are in very good company.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Jun 10
- 3 min read
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV
Jesus told a parable about an unjust judge, illustrating the importance of persistence in prayer.
“And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.”
Luke 18:1 ESV
Jesus went on to say that a widow was finally granted justice because she wouldn’t give the judge any peace until he ruled in her behalf.
“He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’”
Luke 18:2-5 ESV
Jesus then made the point that if a judge who didn’t fear God or respect man would do the right thing because of a widow’s persistence, how much more will God bring justice for His people who refuse to relent in prayer.
“And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily.”
Luke 18:6-7 ESV
Jesus then added that whereas that is true, it is also true that many people will give up seeking after the Lord, that when He returns, He will find them no longer standing in faith.
“Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Luke 18:8 ESV
Actually, the fastest way to lose heart, to lose our stand of faith, is to stop seeking after the Lord in prayer. Think about it: Jesus encourages us to be persistent in prayer, and in so doing, persistently receive from the Lord. As well, our faith will stay renewed through whatever we may endure.
Remember, prayer is not hard to understand. Neither is it complicated to do.
Prayer is communicating with our Father. It’s that simple. And when we stay mindful of Him, we set ourselves toward an ongoing attitude of prayer.
When asked by His disciples, how they ought to pray, Jesus gave a very simple prayer.
“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
Matthew 6:9-13 NKJV
Praying this simple prayer every day, is a good place to start your prayer journey!
Additionally, through the infilling of the Holy Spirit, we now have the Lord’s Spirit continually communicating from us to the throne of God.
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
Romans 8:26-27 ESV
Child of God, let us humble ourselves before our Father and ask Him to bring us back to the chamber of prayer where wisdom is dispensed, justice is birthed, mercy is received, healing is realized, and circumstances are bent to the will of God.
“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”
James 5:16 NLT
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Jun 8
- 2 min read
“The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.”
Proverbs 19:23 ESV
(We continue our discussion from last time.)
It begins with the small child trying to wrestle their chubby little hand from the protective hand of the parent. From that point forward, it seems that it is within human nature to resist authority, while assuming that happiness and contentment can only come by doing what seems right in our own eyes.
Tragically, many children have been hurt when they have escaped the watchful care and keeping of a parent. Yet, there is a greater tragedy that exists: Those who God has created, often resist His rule and control.
Now, God does not seek to control us from a need to exert power over weak beings. Rather, as is the case with loving parents, His desire is for our good. He alone knows the way to keep us safe, out of trouble, developing into who He made us to be.
When Jesus offered for us to come to Him and share His yoke, He promised that in so doing, we would find rest for our souls. He assured us that His burden would not be overwhelming. Indeed, His yoke is only becomes grievous to those who resentfully fight against it.
Ironically, many times the same people who reject the yoke, or control of Jesus Christ, readily submit themselves to the evil ruler of this world, who is actively seeking their destruction.
Child of God, how tragic it is that we lose our rest—and possibly our soul—when we resist, or refuse the Lord’s rule.
Remember, the only way to be able to walk in His authority, is to walk in obedience to His authority! Rebels to His rule will end up subjected to Satan’s will for their life. And friend, that’s a terrible fate!
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!