Backstabbers and Christians

Lord,

I'll be honest, they are some days I feel like not even getting out of bed. The way to the world seems to be on my shoulders and I can't bear to pick it up. It feels like everyone who should be with me is against me. It is especially in these times that I need your grace. Sometimes it is easy to think that I am all alone, but I am not for you are always with me. Help me in this day, and in all my days to come, to turn to you for my strength. May your love and grace penetrate my soul so that it may radiate from my heart to others in need.

In Jesus Christ name I pray,

Amen.

2 Timothy 4:10-17b

Beloved: Demas, enamored of the present world, deserted me and went to Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Luke is the only one with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is helpful to me in the ministry. I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak I left with Carpus in Troas, the papyrus rolls, and especially the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me a great deal of harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. You too be on guard against him, for he has strongly resisted our preaching. At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it.

Oddly, I can identify with what Paul is writing here. Sometimes the path the Christian is extremely difficult. Sometimes it so difficult that may one may wish to give up. Those who we thought had are back, turn out to be the same people who would choose to put a knife in it. But I've come to realize this, but the devil can work through those closest to us. There have been several times in my life where I have been close to giving up on my faith, or at least practicing it boldly. It's at times like these where I remember a line from a TV show that I used to watch. It goes something like this, "son know that if they're shooting at you, you're probably doing something right..." The devil wants nothing more than for good to Christians, so that they do not become better Christians and bring others into the faith. As Christians it's obvious that it's easy for us to disagree. Make no doubts that our division often comes as a temptation from the devil. We must be strong and we must love each other. Where the devil tries to divide us and persecute us, we must come together, and love and share that love which comes from God, with each other.

Luke 10:1-9

The Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this household.' If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves payment. Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, 'The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.'"

I have read this passage several times, and thing that strikes me today, is that Jesus sent them out with no money. In this day and age it would seem completely ridiculous to go out on a journey without any money. But when I sit and ponder this point it comes clear to me that as a Christian I should rely completely on God. So often we go out into the world and we trying to be self-sufficient. I heard a sermon recently on how we should take the self, out of self sufficient. If I have learned anything as a Christian, I have learned that I should rely on God, for good things come from him. Not that I can't do good things, but I am easily swayed to do evil. When I do good it is because of God's influence, so I should rely on him 24/7. When I try to rely on myself not only do I separate myself from God and his love, but I am also working alone outside my true source of love. In this state I am weak and vulnerable, I am easily tempted info pray to sin. I should rely on God always because he will always give me what I need. I laugh to myself, because often I am frustrated because they do not have what I want, and often what I want is not what I truly need. I tried to remind myself daily bed everything That happens in my life is a gift from God. That yes, even tragedy, is a gift from God. All things that God allows a light in my path is to help me to become the Saint I am made to be. So as I go out into this day, I will look to God for strength and I will look towards my fellow Christians for community. For I am not made to live in this life alone. I am made to love God and all I meet, with all my mind, heart, soul and strength and to share the good news of the gospel so those that are lost may find the way home to heaven.

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