How Well Do You Wear Jesus?

“For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 ESV

One of the most loving and beautiful traits of our God is that He grants each of us free will. Some choose to follow Christ, whereas others do not.  In the end, the choice is left up to the individual and it is not our place as Christ-followers to bash those that share differing beliefs.  We are instructed to love, to "encourage one another and build one another up."  Nowhere in the Bible does God appoint us to the position of judge or jury.  We need to love others more, no matter their stance on religion, politics, etc...  It is an honor to bear the name of Christ.  Are you portraying the love of Christ in all of your interactions? 

In Christ,

~John

Praise from a Prison Cell

     God wants you to rejoice where you are blessed and also when you are facing a trial.  Acts 16:25-26 tells us "Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.  Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to it's foundations.  All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains flew off of every prisoner."  
     There are two important things to note here.  First, they were rejoicing while in prison.  They were able to praise God in the most inconvenient or circumstances.  Second, the faithful work of a few brought blessing to those directly around them.  
     We can complain about the cards we have been dealt in life, or we could choose to be like Paul.  Philippians 4:11-12 writes "I have learned to be content with whatever I have.  I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything.  I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little."
     It is always easier to live the "Godly life" when things are going well, but how often do we ruin our witness when life turns for the worst?  Thankfully, when we act in an ungodly way, there is grace and mercy for us all.  "Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begun afresh each morning" -Lamentations 3:23.  So, when things are going as planned, are you going to praise God from the prison, or feel sorry for yourself?