Truth Convicts

When you are walking with a friend have you ever noticed how your steps begin to harmonize with one another? Walking one-in-other is more a propriety when walking and talking with Christ. 1 John 2:6 says, "Whoever claims to live in him must walk as jesus did." It is the path of righteousness through following Christ’s example and realizing your oneness with the father as Christ himself did. When you find him at the end of those footprints and synchronize your walk towards righteousness with Truth as an escort you will ask simply, is this right-eous or wrong? Remember, however, that all decisions are relative to your perception. So try to take into account others feelings and see if they are justified, otherwise you are making a decision you don’t agree with which qualifies as wrong in my opinion. The Bible is not a set of rules to follow; it tells us that keeping relationships healthy is most important. Some might say you can never be like Christ and I say to them never tell somebody to be like someone and turn around and say it is impossible. We need to teach our children from a coaching standpoint. A coach never says, the other team is bigger better and faster so do your best but you will never win. Believing in Christ is what the Bible says we need to do to overcome the world. So perhaps we should define the word believe when it is used in this context to mean BE LIVING in Christ. The faith in Christ it takes to overcome the world, which the Bible says is achievable, is not the golden ticket to heaven mentality many Christians seem to embrace. The Bible is clear about the lifestyle we ought to be embracing and I am pretty sure it’s radically opposed to our contemporary American view of what it means to be happy...also known as The American Dream. You’ll be surprised at the amount of injustice you unknowingly allow to transpire around you on a daily basis. The beginning of your lifelong divinity quest is by far going to be the most difficult on your newly found path. Expect to be bombarded by all of the skeletons in your closet that you think you hide so well and trust me, people know your stuff better than they know their own. That’s why Jesus said, "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" Matt. 7:3 You will answer to yourself, and others unfortunately, for all the things you’ve allowed inside and outside of you. You will find questions you never new you could ask and see the ones you haven’t yet dealt with. You will question your every motive and turn your focus toward changing your attitude and not so much on the changing of others. You will see family, friends and complete strangers in a whole knew light. The change in you will create a new world out of you. When you climb the ladder a rung higher than the rest of crowd you will see others like you who have laid down their lives to be a witness for the Truth. You will recognize them by their unique walk. They firmly walk in the light of their humility and stand for something worth dying for. They are the ones who put no weight on what the world might say about them even though they are a minority. It’s with this brotherhood that you will find strength, love, and accountability. It is miraculous the things you can achieve and the pressures you can withstand when you are wholly confident in your decisions. You must be quick to apologize with humbleness and sincerity when you have wronged another, and eager to forgive when you have been wronged. The carrying of judgments on your self or on others, which some call “demons,” will make you ill and halter growth. Jesus taught us about criticizing others when he said, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matt. 7:1 Darkness loves it when we spend much of our time trying to justify our negative thoughts toward others. The intolerance of others should be taken lightly but considered only so far as to strengthen or change your current stand. Never for one minute allow your ego to believe its right all the time about all things. Have your ethical core poured in concrete but remain pliable on matters possibly subject to change. There is always room for more knowledge and with more knowledge comes further understanding which then translates into wisdom (and by knowledge I mean information filtered through discernment). There will be those who are rungs above you on the ladder so remember that even though it’s great to see the world through fresh eyes, don’t stop to compare yourself with others. Don’t be surprised if the world hates you because He is in you, just remember that they first hated Him and it is through Him we have the strength to run this race. Be faithful unto death, keep your watch on the prize and be cautious not to stumble or cause others to stumble. ”Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.” 1 John 2:10 The Bible also gives ecclesiastical instruction on how you lovingly hold fellow brothers accountable for their actions. Until then, hold strong and be the salt to the world.

God bless.