Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Judging Others
Scripture:
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Saints,
I know that most of you who read these messages have already accepted Jesus Christ as your personal savior. Now some of you have been in the body of Christ for a very long time, some are new to the body, and still some; have not quite made up their minds to accept him yet.
So often you hear about being in the body of Christ and have often wondered just what does that mean. Well, there are many different ways to look at the body of Christ. One, is his physical body, the symbolic body, the bead of the Lord's Supper, and the institutional body, the church.
Today, I am talking about the church body. The church is comprised of the Head, the Preacher who is the under-Shepard and the congregation, our Christian brothers and sisters, otherwise known as our church family.
Now, I don't know about you, but I was raised to believe that family is very important. One member is very important to all the rest of the family. I had one brother and three sisters. We couldn't fight one another, but we better not letter anyone else harm another sibling. Our parents didn't care what it took, but we had all better get along.
So often those of us who have been in the body of Christ, or in our church family for a very long time, are judgmental and critical of accepting those who are new to the body. We want to judge people by what we see, what we have heard or even by what we don't know about a person.
The scripture says, if ANYONE is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away. Now that doesn't mean that everyone will become a saint when they become saved, but what it does mean is that the things of the past, are in the past. I am on my way to becoming more Christ like. My journey may take me longer than others, but at least I am on my way.
Woe be to the saint who causes one of God's lost sheep who is trying to find his way home, to turn away from the church. There was a quote I used a few weeks ago that said, Even God won't judge others until they're dead, why should I?
Be Blessed
Prayer:
Blessed be the name of the Lord. Our Father, who sits high and looks low. The great I AM. My Lord, my Savior, My Redeemer. We who are a part of the body of Christ come before You this morning asking that You would forgive us for our sins of yesterday. Lord, I ask that if I am being critical of others, that You would help me to see the errors of my ways. "Judge not, lest ye be judged." Help me Father to hide those words in my heart. Lord, I thank You for saving me from the depths of hell. Thank You for loving me so much that You stretched out Your hand to me and welcomed me into the kingdom. Lord, Someone is standing at deaths door this morning. I ask heavenly Father, that You would welcome them into Your kingdom with open arms. Lord, comfort the families of those who will have to release a loved one into Your care. Father, the rain is falling outside this morning, it is dark and cold. But we know that eventually, the sun will shine. We are thanking You right now for our sunshine. Continue to touch, bless, anoint, heal, and comfort every saint that is represented here today. Touch those unsaved members of our families as we continue to tell them just how wonderful You are. Thank You Father for blessing me. Thank You Father for keeping me. Thank You Father for saving me. I Love the Lord. He Heard my Cry. His mercy endures forever. We submit our prayers in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Saints,
I know that most of you who read these messages have already accepted Jesus Christ as your personal savior. Now some of you have been in the body of Christ for a very long time, some are new to the body, and still some; have not quite made up their minds to accept him yet.
So often you hear about being in the body of Christ and have often wondered just what does that mean. Well, there are many different ways to look at the body of Christ. One, is his physical body, the symbolic body, the bead of the Lord's Supper, and the institutional body, the church.
Today, I am talking about the church body. The church is comprised of the Head, the Preacher who is the under-Shepard and the congregation, our Christian brothers and sisters, otherwise known as our church family.
Now, I don't know about you, but I was raised to believe that family is very important. One member is very important to all the rest of the family. I had one brother and three sisters. We couldn't fight one another, but we better not letter anyone else harm another sibling. Our parents didn't care what it took, but we had all better get along.
So often those of us who have been in the body of Christ, or in our church family for a very long time, are judgmental and critical of accepting those who are new to the body. We want to judge people by what we see, what we have heard or even by what we don't know about a person.
The scripture says, if ANYONE is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away. Now that doesn't mean that everyone will become a saint when they become saved, but what it does mean is that the things of the past, are in the past. I am on my way to becoming more Christ like. My journey may take me longer than others, but at least I am on my way.
Woe be to the saint who causes one of God's lost sheep who is trying to find his way home, to turn away from the church. There was a quote I used a few weeks ago that said, Even God won't judge others until they're dead, why should I?
Be Blessed
Prayer:
Blessed be the name of the Lord. Our Father, who sits high and looks low. The great I AM. My Lord, my Savior, My Redeemer. We who are a part of the body of Christ come before You this morning asking that You would forgive us for our sins of yesterday. Lord, I ask that if I am being critical of others, that You would help me to see the errors of my ways. "Judge not, lest ye be judged." Help me Father to hide those words in my heart. Lord, I thank You for saving me from the depths of hell. Thank You for loving me so much that You stretched out Your hand to me and welcomed me into the kingdom. Lord, Someone is standing at deaths door this morning. I ask heavenly Father, that You would welcome them into Your kingdom with open arms. Lord, comfort the families of those who will have to release a loved one into Your care. Father, the rain is falling outside this morning, it is dark and cold. But we know that eventually, the sun will shine. We are thanking You right now for our sunshine. Continue to touch, bless, anoint, heal, and comfort every saint that is represented here today. Touch those unsaved members of our families as we continue to tell them just how wonderful You are. Thank You Father for blessing me. Thank You Father for keeping me. Thank You Father for saving me. I Love the Lord. He Heard my Cry. His mercy endures forever. We submit our prayers in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
