Last week I spent some time with one of our sales teams in Virginia.  Within that group there are two Christian men that stand apart.  I found myself, as a fellow Christian being drawn to their conversation.  I felt a need to participate but couldn’t seem to engage because absolutely no words came to mind.  One evening we were at dinner and the two I refer to were sitting together at one side of the table, away from the others.  I was in the middle between two conversations, participating in neither but listening to one.  I was listening to a conversation about how the Bible states that it is difficult to get through the gates of heaven.  Following that same line of conversation they went on to talking about the fact that due to the state of the Church today that many pastors were on their way to Hell.  I walked away from last week feeling “lukewarm” due to the fact that I had no words of contribution to their “Christian” conversation.  I was telling my wife how I felt and she very quickly said, “maybe the Lord did not give you any words for a reason.”  The “lukewarm” feeling quickly left when I realized that she was correct, I had no need to participate in that conversation as it was not edifying or beneficial at all.

So here it is spoken plainly.  Some Christians may view me as lukewarm due to my lack of desire to judge.  It is not that I do not see things in this world that are wrong; it is because I am not worthy nor can I judge this world.  I have too many issues of my own to pass judgement on the sin of others.  If I pay too much attention to the sin of this world and the people in it, then I am allowing myself to be distracted by the enemy.  Satan wants to take our focus off of the root cause and place it onto the symptoms.  The symptoms of this great disease are divorce, addiction, abortion, greed, and many more.  The root cause of these terrible symptoms is all summed up in a lack of true communion with the Father.  We need to pray, we need to love, we need to extend the same grace that we have received from Jesus as He hung on the cross for our sin.  Please don’t be distracted and allow yourself to focus on the many symptoms that exist in this world, but instead take a step back and pray for revival and the salvation of the masses.  With salvation comes repentance and with repentance comes the disappearance of symptoms.

When I spend time reading Romans I get a small glimpse of the true grace of God.  Adam sinned, because of his sin every human being after him committed sin.  Reflect on this for a minute, how much sin has been committed in this world to this point in time?  Now because of the death of one man (Jesus), we have received abundant grace.  Now reflect on this for a minute, because of the gift that we have received through the death of Jesus, ALL sin has been wiped away.  What kind of grace is that?

There is so much information and many different topics that could be discussed out of this verse but I want to focus on a reoccurring thought that I have and had again last night as my wife was telling me a story.  Let me start by saying that I am a sinner and without God’s grace I would go to hell, pretty plain and simple.  I often try to extend the same grace that God has extended to me but I fail miserably and often judge and condemn others in my mind and speech.  Do I intentionally try to hurt people?  No, but I do sometimes.  I know that I have this weakness and I am super conscious of it because, by no means do I want to hurt the cause of Christ. 

As the title of this topic suggests we as Christians can be the worst examples of Christians and we must work together to change that stigma.  Our judgements, our comments, our ability to openly condemn the leaders of this country and others, our ability to portray ourselves as better and holier than thou, has caused serious damage to the people that do not have a personal relationship with Christ.  How many of you have had a conversation with somebody and they bring up an example of something that a Christian has done to them and that is the reason that they will not go to church?  Now is that a excuse, maybe.  But it doesn’t matter!  We must be humble enough to say; you know what you are right, we have a screwed up, and I am sorry.  The amount of mercy and grace that flowed out of the cross in incomprehensible.  Billions of people, including ourselves, have lived on this planet and their is enough mercy and grace for each of them if they are willing to accept it.  We must exude that same grace and mercy in our personal lives.

My challenge to myself and you is to share that same mercy and grace.  We must be careful with the words that come out of our mouth because the world hears them and it does have an effect.  We, as Christians, have one purpose on this earth and that is to spread the same gospel that we accepted as the Truth.  This is a tough purpose as has been demonstrated by many Christians throughout the centuries.  Let’s work together on trying to make this purpose a little easier by choosing our words and our actions carefully.  Be careful with how you throw your “Christian” perspective around in conversation because it can come across as being awfully condemning.  Share the same awesome mercy and grace that Jesus has extended to you.  Meditate on that mercy and grace daily and let it fill your mind and body.  Read Romans often to understand what you have been dragged out of and saved from.  The world is in bad shape; it needs to be thrown a life line instead of being condemned.  We are the hands and the fingers of a most Holy God and we need to make sure that we act accordingly.  Share the love that Christ shared with you!

The girls stayed with grandparrents last night, so my wife and I decided to spend an extended time in worship and prayer together alone.  As we were laying there on the living room floor during worship I heard that familiar small voice.  It went something like this, “Scott I want you to pursue Me because I enjoy it when you seek My heart.  I will answer your questions but I will not answer before you pursue me.”  It made me realize that our Father requires our love and our pursuit of Him.  He is a jealous God and He wants us to run after Him.

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you (Matthew 7:7, NKJV).

If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14, NKJV).

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age, Amen” (Matthew 28:19, 20).