The Cure

Since I got out of college, I've been paying very close attention to current events. I read and listen to the news everyday (usually when I’m procrastinating from doing something else). The more I read, the more opinions I hear, and the more I observe, one thing has become abundantly clear: America is going downhill.   After church I often go to a Sunday school full of, well… let’s just refer to them as really experienced (old) people (I hope some of them read this, just so that they can see that I just called them all old). We recently have been learning about the Constitution and how our forefathers based it all on Biblical principles. We've been talking about how our country was shaped by extremely godly men. We've also been discussion the decline of our schools and the decline of our society as a whole. Needless to say, IT’S A WHOLE LOT OF DOOM AND GLOOM!

Fortunately, recently we got to the point where we needed some answers. We needed to know what we can do about it, and after thinking about it for a while, it came to me. The answer to all of our problems in this country and in this world is very simple.

Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

It’s that simple.

If we spread the gospel, then we change hearts. If we change hearts, then we change minds. If we change minds, then we change the country. We do live in a country that is run by “We the people” so instead of focusing on changing the policies of our nation, we need to change the people of our nation and the only one who can do that is Christ.

So, fellow Christians, don’t be discouraged. We have a big job to do, but our God is bigger. We need to simply start doing our part. We need to let the grace and love of our Savior to flow through us to the point that people will truly see that we are different, and want to be different too. We need to start stepping out of our comfort zone, sharing the gospel with anyone available.

Tell them the good news. Let them know that Jesus loves them and died on the cross so that they could be saved, if they just trust in him no matter who they are or what they've done.

We need to change the direction this country is going, and the only way to do that is through the people. The only way to truly change the people is through Christ.

 Fortunately for us, Christ promises, right there in the great commission, that he is with us always. So, as you step out of your comfort zone, you can take comfort in the fact that you have our Savior, who is far bigger than any problem you could ever face, with you always.

Priorities

I recently decided I wanted to purchase something that is rather expensive. It certainly isn’t something that I need, but all of my friends have one now, so of course I want one too. I, being the smart husband that I am, asked my wife if I could spend the money. She said no. I was shocked. All of my friend’s wives just let their husbands buy it, and I had to make a deal with my wife in order to get it. The deal we came up with was I had to work a second job on Saturdays until I raise enough money. When I agreed to this deal, I remember how shocked my wife was that it was such a priority to me that I was willing to work Saturdays for it. As I watched how shocked she was, I secretly hoped that she would sympathize with me, and just let me get it because she knew how bad I wanted it. It didn’t work that way.

Either way, this item was such a priority to me that I was willing to give up my only spare time to get it. That got me thinking about priorities. You see, it’s easy to see people’s priorities in life, because if it’s truly a priority that’s what a person will spend a majority of their time and energy on. It’s pretty obvious if you just take a second to look at their life.

What are your priorities? If you are not a Christian, your priorities are probably making money, having fun, family, friends, and all sorts of other things in this world, and these things make sense. I’m not putting them down by any means, because if you’re not a follower a Christ these things are all you have. If you are, however, claiming to be a follower of Christ, and these are your main priorities, then we have a problem.

I recently was going through Romans chapter 12 with my Indian Lake youth group and it starts out with a verse that is very clear about where your priories should be. The first verse is probably the hardest verse in the Bible to sell to your average Christian today, and yet it should be automatic… It should go without saying. Verse 1 is Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God- this is your spiritual act of worship.

At first, when I felt God calling me to go through Romans 12 I was a little worried. How was I going to sell this verse? How was I going to convince a bunch of kids, who’s only priority, is getting a new cell phone, that they should offer themselves to God as living sacrifices? This was going to be no easy task, but then I looked at the beginning of the verse. In view of God’s mercy. I then realized, this is how I will sell it. I would go on to make them really take a good hard look at God’s mercy. We went through step by step the end of Jesus’ life. I talked about, and I attempted to really make it real to them that Jesus came to earth and didn’t have to. Lived a life full of love and grace, and didn’t have to, then was betrayed by one of his followers and was taken to be beaten, mocked, spit on, screamed at, had his friends deny they even know him, was crucified, and to top it all off, before he died, he asks God to forgive those CRUCIFYING HIM and HE DIDN’T HAVE TO! He could have gotten out of all of that at any point, but he didn’t. He died for us, and then he defeated death for us in the resurrection.

I don’t know about you, but when I take a look at what Jesus did for me it makes offering my body as a living sacrifice look like an opportunity. An opportunity, to live for a God that was willing to do all of that for me.

So, where are your priorities? Take a good honest look, and I’d be willing to bet that they are not where they should be.  If you’re starting to think to yourself, “but I don’t want to change,” then you simply need to take another look at God’s mercy. If it’s real to you, it will change your priorities.