Responses That Reflect Your Calling

What they call you is up to them, what you answer to is up to you. - Anon

Saul once called David a boy, but after the Goliath event he realized David was a warrior. WOW!

Winebibber, glutton, friend of sinners, Beelzebub! Those who despised him had many names for Jesus, most of them unflattering and downright mean. But he never forgot who he was nor his ultimate calling - SAVIOR. People of the world today are not much different than people then, this we know for many of us have had some unflattering names, gestures, and remarks hurled our way. It just goes with the territory. The question is how we respond, if we respond. Remember, you don't have to attend every argument/fight you're invited to. But if and when we do, may we like Jesus remember our ultimate goal - to reflect God in all we do in word and deed.

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me." - Matthew 5:11

Church like Jesus

Most people don’t really have a problem with Jesus, just the ‘church’ that claims to represent him. – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The Israelites loved being God’s chosen nation, but His laws and commands left a lot to be desired. Hmm!

Things aren’t always as they appear. It's a truth I’m sure we’re all somewhat familiar with, and one we need to make sure does not apply to us. In our proclaiming the relevance of Christ for today’s world, we need to make sure that it is Christ’s message we are sharing and living and not simply our convenient version of it. Yes the world is as sinful today as it was in the time that Jesus walked the earth physically, and though we do ‘hate the sin’ they practice; we must not project that hatred on to them, lest we will never reach out to them. Jesus ate and communed with sinners and looked for every opportunity to mingle with them in hopes to cleanse, purify and save them. Our challenge is not to ‘condemn’ anyone but to try and love them to repentance just as Jesus did. God will be testing us all in some measure today.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus sake.” – II Corinthians 4:5