Day 26: 50 Days of Impact

To take for granted that you will have the opportunity on your death bed to repent is a gamble. We should know all to well that death can sneak up at any moment an we may not be given a last breath to make a choice on where we spend eternity. Many wait until they have lost everything to accept Christ. We don’t have to wait until everything is falling apart to trust God with everything. Even when your life feels perfect, without a relationship with Jesus we are missing the purpose of life. What is holding you back?

 

“Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.””

Luke 23:42-43 NLT

 

“In times of trouble, may the LORD answer your cry. May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm.”

Psalms 20:1 NLT

 

Picture this, Jesus, beaten by the Romans, mocked by the Jews, his friends had left him, and now he is hanging on the cross. Now to top it off as he is hanging their, the two criminals next to him start talking. One openly mocks Jesus. This criminal who is sharing the same penalty as Jesus, who deserved his fate, was mocking Jesus who was innocent. The other criminal goes to defend Jesus. He knows something is going on and eagerly and openly defends Jesus the innocent.

 

When he finishes rebuking the other criminal, he turns his attention to the one he was defending. This criminal may have had the importance of Jesus revealed to him either by the Holy Spirit, or maybe he had heard Jesus talking earlier in his life. We won’t know exactly what compelled him to ask the dying man next to him to remember him in heaven.

 

But an awesome reminder of Jesus forgiving power is displayed here on the cross. This criminal called out to Jesus, and Jesus didn’t ignore him, he didn’t make him say a prayer, he didn’t make an altar call, he answered his cry. This displays the awesome forgiveness of Jesus. King David wrote that the Lord answers are cries in times of trouble. This criminal may have remembered this as he hung on his cross and knew of the psalm as a child, but for whatever reason he cried out to Jesus to remember him, the pint to remember is that Jesus answered his cry.

 

So today those around us who are hurting, dying, depressed, out of work, angry, they all need Jesus. He is right there waiting for them to cry out to him. It is never to late for someone to come to Jesus.

 

Dear Jesus, I need to keep sharing your love with those around me. Help me this Easter weekend to invite friends, coworkers and family to experience the love of Jesus. Give me the boldness to invite people to church this Sunday. Let your messages all over this world from in the hearts of those who may only attend church once or twice a year. Break hearts and change lives this weekend. Amen

 

Day 21: 50 Days of Impact

No more then ever we are coming to realize that words have more harmful effect then some generations told us. The old saying “sticks and stones may break our bones but names will never hurt us”, was the mantra of my generation as a kid. We now come to see mental illness and other problems arise due to low self esteem and low self worth due to the way people have been treated. Sticks and stones will break you bones, but they heal. Words cut deeper and leave scars that are harder to heal. Jesus is the ultimate healer and he can heal your hurt from the words that have cut you deeply.

 

“The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.”

Proverbs 18:21 NLT

 

The tongue is the most powerful weapon we have. It can destroy and build up. As the proverb reads ‘bring death or life’. But how can words bring death? Mean words that hurt people based on their appearance, mannerisms or disability has lead to many suicides or even mass shootings from an angry individual(s) looking for revenge and answers. How many women have chosen an abortion because they were talked into it? Our words can lead us down roads we never want to be on.

 

But in contrast our words can bring life. Not only our words. The words of Jesus bring LIFE. He taught us how to live life. He showed us what it means to use words to build others up.

 

Words are only useful and powerful in the giving of life if we open our mouths and use words that bring life. We can sit and talk to our friends about everything from weather, to news, politics and sports. But when it comes to the import things in life like a relationship with Jesus we treat those words like poison.  We think, sure it is honey to our lips, but sharing it they will only be bitter to theirs. Rejection is what we fear. But if we don’t try then we will never know.

 

We need to break these preconceived notions that people are always going to negatively respond to the message of Jesus. If we believe the words that Jesus spoke about life then we need to believe that Jesus not only loves us but he loves everyone and they need to hear about his love for them.

 

Dear Jesus, to often we fear that you will be reject if we speak about you. Prove us wrong. Holy Spirit guide us and show us who to share with giving us the words to speak. We are not given a spirit of fear, so help us to live that way, proud of being a Christian wanting to share the love of Jesus with others. Amen

 

 

 

 

Day 42: Original 50 Days of Pray Revisited

 Thoughts on Day 42: We as a people are, for the most, part quick to jump all over someone when they do something wrong. We see this today especially with the media quick to run stories not always checking the facts. These stories, rumours, half truths or even full truths can break trust between the best of friends.  We quickly lose trust and our opinion fades. But is this just one incident? If a limb on you tree dies or is sick you don’t chop down the whole tree? No, you prune the sick or dead part and encourage it to grow again and live. I say this because I feel that many people have seen faith as sick or dying due to one or two incidents or experiences, and instead of pruning the bad part they just chopped the whole tree down in their lives and moved away from it. I am here to tell you that they never got it all and the roots are still there waiting.

DAY FORTY-TWO

But how can people call for help if they don’t know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if they haven’t heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them? And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it? That’s why Scripture exclaims, A sight to take your breath away! Grand processions of people telling all the good things of God! But not everybody is ready for this, ready to see and hear and act. Isaiah asked what we all ask at one time or another: “Does anyone care, God? Is anyone listening and believing a word of it?” The point is: Before you trust, you have to listen. But unless Christ’s Word is preached, there’s nothing to listen to. (Romans 10:14-17 MSG)

Are you trusting that Gods word is for everyone? Do you care that there are lost people out side your door? Do you truly believe that Jesus wants to save the lost? Or do you think that some people are beyond saving?

Our actions truly speak louder than words, but it doesn’t mean we should be silent. When we walk the walk, we need to be able to talk the talk. Back it up.

One of the hardest things I am coming to realise is that people’s trust and respect for you can be lost in one action or deed. Someone may have high regard for you, and when you screw up, because we are still human, and do something opposed to our normal character, how quickly they are to judge and say something like “well that’s not very Christian of you”.

We should then apologize for our actions, and if we are sincere, then continue on, if they choose to keep that view of us from now on there is little we can do but keep on walking in Christ and pray they will see that one or two moments in time does not define who we are.

But pushing past that, are you a sight that takes others breath away? Meaning, when someone sees you, or talks to you, are you different than the world or do you conform? When around the water cooler and a dirty joke is told do you stay and laugh or do you excuse yourself from the situation? When you see a fault at work do you work to correct it or bring it to a superior’s attention, or do you just ignore it?

All these things and more are show people around you who you are. If they can trust you, then when you tell them about the God whom you trust in, they will be more willing to trust Him.

Dear Jesus, am I trustworthy to my peers and in my job? Do people see the trust I have in You? I want to be trustworthy in the life You have given me so that other will see the love and trust I have in You. Please share with me the trust I need to make my life a mirror of Yours. Amen