Today I became painfully aware of my failure as a Christian. Today I denied Christ. Not directly but in a Biblical sense.
In church today our pastor’s sermon was about the pursuit of happiness. That true happiness can’t come from trying to please ourselves but from serving others – giving and showing love.
This was the first week that the Church’s University started school, which meant that the church continued to fill up with students all service long. In front of me there was a college student who came early to church and sat by herself at the end of an empty row. She wore a lacy dress in a beautiful shade of red. As church went on a group of students came in and sat at the other end of the row and as the service continued more friends of these, other students trickled in. Now I have often come in to church late and squeezed in with friends on a long row. Unfortunately, today I watched as the row ran out of room until she was only half on the pew. She got up and walked out of the sanctuary. I hoped that she was just going to the restroom or that she was going to relocate to another location – my heart knew otherwise. After church, I looked around, but I didn’t see her and I knew I had failed as a Christian.
To be honest, if I was her I would have also gotten up and left. I would have felt unwanted and uncared for and I would have left feeling alone and unloved. I must admit I had a hard time listening to the rest of the sermon. I couldn’t help but think I had failed as a Christian. I should have walked out after her and invited her to sit with me or asked if I could sit with her. In all honesty, the moment I saw her sitting by herself at the beginning of church I should have asked if she wanted to sit with us. That is what a real Christian would do. It’s easy to lie to ourselves and say that they are waiting for someone and are saving a seat, but really it’s just our own excuses.
Not only was my heart heavy for this unchristian act of mine, but I couldn’t help but think of how often I fail as a Christian on a daily basis.
In Matthew 25:34-40 we read one example of what it means to be a Christian
Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
Too often I am so focused on myself and my own pride that I miss opportunities to be truly happy.
And I am so sorry.
I am so sorry that instead of speaking kindly I make snappy comments, instead of reaching out to those in need I hide inside myself, instead of showing love I let pride blind me.
I know that this is a lifelong journey and I can’t expect perfection instantly, but I am not giving up. I plan to work the rest of my life becoming more Christ like.
I pray that God will continue to work on me and my heart. thankfully I know that He will never give up on me, even when I give up on myself, or even worse give up on Him.
[smoothrecent]
I know that this has been “out there” for a while, but it is all the more true now. Thank you for being a believer who LOVES the Lord and is living for Him.
Thank you so much! 😊 God Bless!
If you can not test your faith what is it worth, I consider the bible a wonderful tool, one that teaches and illustrates valuable principles and lessons for life but not something to blindly accept as entire truth. The real value is that you learn fundamentals of humanity, what it means to be and interact with people and the world around you, which is truly a great blessing, but to choose one road, one path, and follow that path for your entire life limits the possibilities of the experience. The greatest thing you can do in life is Question! and keep questioning, gathering knowledge through experience in your journey, not on a solitary path, but limitless! For many it’s death that is feared, that’s okay most people do, keep your hope for another life, but I think to the well prepared mind death is but the next great adventure whatever it may me, even you simply die and your body returns to the earth and to the stars being a part of further wondrous life, LIVE IN LOVE AND LEARN MY DEAR GIustina!
Dear Friend,
My faith is worth everything. And I was tested yesterday, unfortunately I failed that test. Instead of reaching out in faith and love I sat back and did nothing.
Luckily the Bible isn’t something Christians can accept blindly. A true follower knows that it is God’s word and it will take an eternity to truly come to know. As a Christian I am changing and growing, even though Gods’s word is the same forever. I am constantly learning new things, often times I think I know what the bible is saying on a subject, but only after I have dug deeper and done further study do I learn what God is really trying to teach me and other Christians.
Being a follower of Christ isn’t about following ones religion blindly but about studying the Bible for yourself in the pursuit of being more Christ like.
To be honest I have found more freedom in my faith than in anything else in this world. I love my freedom of choice – which was one given freely by my loving God.
The act of dying can be scary – but to be honest I think I am more afraid of childbirth – but I can’t wait for heaven!
This dying earth is not my home.
My God is teaching me daily to live and love and I will for eternity be learning new things about love and life through Him.
God bless!
I cannot love this enough. I have felt like this SO many times, but the way you put it into words makes it easier to see the flaws in our attitudes.
Thank you! <3