NOTE: This is not meant to be preaching to anyone in public, nor to change anyone’s views of their religion, it is not meant to be offensive. We were given the task to write freely, and this is what fell on my heart.
What are our reasons for doing what we do, for believing what we believe, going where we go.
There is no doubt in my mind that when a soldier is deployed across seas they know why they are going, to keep us in America safe giving us the freedom that so many of us take for granted, what many of us do not realize is freedom isn’t free.
And neither is our religion, i understand the constitution states that we have the freedom of religion. But if we look deeper there is a small cost to truly have this profound faith. We have to turn from the world, we have to start looking, and thinking different based on convictions we feel. No longer do we watch certain shows, or think certain things, or dwell on the negative things in life.
Galatians 1:10 says
“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
Too often we try to please the fellow man, or try to seek acceptance so that we “fit in” or so that we might be popular. We change the way we act around certain people just to seem cool for the moment. We disregard our values, or our morals/ what we know is right and wrong just to feel that moment of completeness.
Matthew 6:1-18
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
do not focus on getting rewards, We live in the world where almost anywhere we go, there is a reward card. Where if you spend this much , you can get this.. Or you go to piggly wiggly and you get a special price for using your card. Nowadays there is a reward card for practically everywhere. We spend a certain amount in hopes of a reward, I feel like this type of thinking has drifted into the church setting, many people may give, whether its money, or its a service with the mindset that God will somehow bless them, instead of just doing our part because we know we should. Its says in that scripture that we shouldn’t let our left hand know what our right hand is doing, in another sense we shouldn’t have to compare ourselves to others, we shouldn’t make giving a contest. Because then why are we giving at all there is no positive motive. Also it could mean that we should not be dwelling on what we could receive in return we should want to help out without wanting something in return.
When we go to a church function whether its a rally, or a camp and we decide to go just because a friend of ours is going; why are we going? Where is our motive; are we going to have a life changing experience, or are we going to have fun and meet friends, or anything besides going to feel God. I feel too often we take this experiences for granted myself included. When we go to these events do we truly go into them with the expectation that God is going to do something great? Or do we go in with the mindset that its just another church service.
Do we go to church because we have to or do we go because we want to…
now i want that to sink in, and i want all of us to really think about this, when we go to church do we do it because we have to or do we go because we want to. Remembering that Christ died for us and that he took up our cross and died for our sins, so that we may have a chance to live eternally with him.
I don’t want any of us to be standing on the fence, easily pushed or pulled in any direction, We have that chance right now to declare that we are going to put our motives in check and that we are going to do what is right. We have the chance to make things right with our God.
These alters are open, I want you all to come up and make things right with God. I want you all to choose your path, who are you going to serve, and you better know why you’re serving them. Friend, i am telling you today that this world isn’t going to last forever, so you better get your shoes on, and be ready for the time of his coming.
