To Open or Not, My Mouth

It's all about the long haul I suppose. I often hear myself saying, "It's a marathon, not a sprint." In that refection I read the following lines and I ponder how often I do not praise my brothers and sisters in Christ when they do well sharing their faith, oh I do so often when not in their presence, but I should probably share my gratitude face to face more often. I cannot tell you how many times I have almost walked away from an opportunity to share my faith, but then I persevere after being encouraged by positive words from another. Sharing our faith is sharing love, and God is after all, love.

Thessalonians 1:1-5, 11-12

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the Church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters, as is fitting, because your faith flourishes ever more, and the love of every one of you for one another grows ever greater. Accordingly, we ourselves boast of you in the churches of God regarding your endurance and faith in all your persecutions and the afflictions you endure. This is evidence of the just judgment of God, so that you may be considered worthy of the Kingdom of God for which you are suffering. We always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith, that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ

I read the lines below and again I hang my head a bit. I'll be the first to admit that I am not always a good Christian. I am broken, a sinner and I make mistakes. I don't always like it at the time, but I like it when people call me out on my shortfalls. We as Christians will only become better in our faith and in our walk when we compassionately "check" each other when we fail to love like Christ. I don't like to call others out when I see them acting wrongly. I don't want to be the bad guy, but that's just it. It's not about me, it's about my brothers and sisters, and me loving them, trying to help them become better people and Christians. I need to get over myself and my ego and love and help our community grow, compassionately.

Matthew 23:13-22

Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You lock the Kingdom of heaven before men. You do not enter yourselves, nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You traverse sea and land to make one convert, and when that happens you make him a child of Gehenna twice as much as yourselves. "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'If one swears by the temple, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gold of the temple, one is obligated.' Blind fools, which is greater, the gold, or the temple that made the gold sacred? And you say, 'If one swears by the altar, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gift on the altar, one is obligated.' You blind ones, which is greater, the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? One who swears by the altar swears by it and all that is upon it; one who swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it; one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who is seated on it."

Jesus,

I am a sinful man. Please forgive me. Help me to serve, help me to love and help me to be humble so that your glory may shine and that love may grow on this earth. Help your Church to grow in love, that we may congratulate each other as we grow and share You and our faith and that we may help each other get back on track when we see one of our brothers or sisters start to stray. Send Your grace that we may grow Your Church with love. In Jesus Christ's name I pray, amen.

And that's all I got to say about that.