Getting Real With God

Getting Real With God In the past six months and especially in the past few weeks, I've been fortunate enough to spend some time with several people who are being very real with God. These aren't people who have gone up in front of the congregation, made an empty proclamation of belief, walk around saying "I'm Saved", and sit on their ususal place on the pew where they continue to walk in and out of the sanctuary every week unchanged. These are people who have truly asked God into their heart, have a very personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and pursue God in their everyday lives. 　 Psalm 24:5-6 (New Century Version) 5 They will receive a blessing from the Lord; the God who saves them will declare them right. 6 They try to follow God; they look to the God of Jacob for help. Selah I have met these disciples of our Lord in prayer group meetings at my home church, at break time on my job, and at the local tattoo shop! These men and women have opened their hearts to each of us in these small groups and gotten very real about their feelings, views, questions, and relationships with God. These people don't just go to church on Sundays and sit through the sermon and return to whatever life they live outside of church. These disciples go to Sunday school, get involved in bible studies and small group studies, seek out spiritual retreats to be with other disciples of Christ, read and study their bibles, and walk in the ways of the Lord. They aren't 'playing Christian'. They are Christians in the truest sense of the word. I have seen them open up about how God has helped them through the darkest of times in their lives, how giving in to God's will has taken the stress out of their lives even in tough circumstances, and how they want to learn more about our Lord. I feel so blessed to have these people in my life. They don't give you lip service by acting holier than thou on the outside while they're full of lies and unchanged by God on the inside. 　 Matthew 23:27 (New King James Version) 27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 　 These disciples of Christ don't walk around acting or claiming to be perfect. They are true to themselves, to those around them, and most importantly to God! They admit they are flawed individuals as we all are and they share that with other believers and non-believers. They know that we are all a work in progress and by sharing this with others, they draw more and more people to our Lord. They don't walk around telling people that they're going to hell for smoking a cigarette or drinking a beer. They don't put down women for wearing a little makeup or jewelry. They don't try to scare people by telling them that the world is ending and that they'd better be right with God or they're hellbound. No; they share with others what God has done in their lives since the asked Him into their hearts. That is how they bring more people to Christ. They are a living example of God's work in our lives and by living the way they live, they make others think to themselves "I want what they have!" They show both the believer and the non-believer love. 　 1 John 4:11-13 (New Living Translation) 11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. 12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. 13 And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us All I can say, is that I pray that all of you who are reading this are being real with God. He knows what is really in your heart. He knows His followers and He knows who is putting on a show. I hope that you all are trying to be a living example of what a Christian is. I hope you all are showing everyone what a difference it makes to have God in your heart and in your life. By doing this, you are witnessing the gospel to everyone you come into contact with. You may even be bringing more sheep into the flock. 　 Matthew 28:19-20 (New Living Translation) 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." God bless you my friends. Pete 9-26-10