The Christian Journal - June 2007
24 pages
Published by
The Christian Journal
Copyright :
CREATION 2007
June 27 thru June 30
Page 24
Don’t Wait Till It’s Too Late!
By Nancy Canwell
Christians Are DifferentBy Fred Wikoff
Continued On Page 17
“The purpose of the Christian life is
not to escape dangers and difficulties
but...
[More]
CREATION 2007
June 27 thru June 30
Page 24
Don’t Wait Till It’s Too Late!
By Nancy Canwell
Christians Are DifferentBy Fred Wikoff
Continued On Page 17
“The purpose of the Christian life is
not to escape dangers and difficulties
but to demonstrate that they are handled
in a different way.
” Ray C.
Stedman in,
Authentic Christianity
One of the gross misconceptions of
accepting Christ as our Lord and savior is
that our troubles are over and life will be one
happy event after another.
But this is not the
case.
Just the opposite is true: “Do not think
that I have come to bring peace on earth;
I have not come to bring peace, but a
sword.
” Matthew 10:34
From the very beginning, Christ’s
ministry stirred controversy and mixed
reviews.
Early opposition by the
Pharisees was just a sign of worse things
to come.
Loved by the oppressed, but
despised by the religious elite, Christ
cautioned his disciples: “I send you
out as sheep in the midst of wolves;
so be wise as serpents and innocent
as doves.
Beware of men; for they will
deliver you to councils, and flog you
in their synagogues.
” Matthew 10:16-17
With this ominous warning from Jesus,
why would anyone think that the Christian
life is going to be trouble free? Indeed, I
have often felt that when my life seems to be
going too smoothly it’s a sign that I should
stop and make sure that I’m not neglecting
God’s calling.
Satan likes nothing better than for
Christians to find great comfort and
satisfaction in attending church regularly,
but too often leave their beliefs at the
church door when they venture out into the
community.
This passive, tolerant behavior
might avoid friction and promote harmony
and favor among neighbors, but is this what
Christ intended?
When we accept Christ we sign on for
a life of extended service.
We are Christ’s
front line in a battle with Satan for the souls
of mankind.
We need to expect to engage
the enemy daily.
We need to expect ridicule,
disrespect, and disputes at every turn for we
are not of this world: “I have given them
your word and the world has hated them,
for they are not of the world any more than
I am of the world.
” John 17:14
With Christ living in us we are different,
and when anyone is different they are looked
upon with fear and suspicion.
It’s up to
us to alleviate this fear and suspicion by
demonstrating that Christ is the truth, and has
a gentler and better way to deal with life’s
problems: “love your enemies and pray for
those who persecute you.
” Matthew 5:44
“Do not resist one who is evil.
But if any
one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to
him the other also; and if anyone would
sue you and take your coat let him have
your cloak as well; “and if anyone forces
you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
Give to him who begs from you, and do not
refuse him who would borrow from you.
”
Matthew 5:39-42
All of us need the Holy Spirit’s guidance
to live these commandments.
To live the
Christ-like way places us last and everyone
else first .
.
.
a direct turnaround from the
world’s win at all cost mentality.
With
Christ in us we are suddenly a threat to
Satan and those he controls.
And when
we joyfully live a life of service, filled
with gentleness, concern, and love for
others, we demonstrate the truth of
Christ’s glory.
Make no mistake.
The trials will
always be there.
Trials provide an
opportunity for Christian growth and
maturity which can demonstrate to the
world Christ’s way.
That’s why James
says: “Count it all joy, my brethren,
when you meet various trials, for you know
that the testing of your faith produces
steadfastness.
And let steadfastness have
its full effect, that you may be perfect and
complete, lacking in nothing.
” James
1:2-4
“For whatever is born of God overcomes
the world: and this is the victory that
overcomes the world, our faith.
” I John 5:4
Fred Wikoff writes from Eugene, Oregon.
EugeneSpud@msn.
com
Here’s a question for those of you who
are married: What would you be willing to
give up for your spouse? Watching sports all
day on Sundays? A habit that annoys them?
A tendency to nag? Or how about a kidney?
That’s exactly what Cindy gave up for her
husband, Chip.
She gave him one of her
kidneys.
(recent associated press article)
You see, as a child Chip had juvenile
diabetes.
Later when he and Cindy
married, she’d promised in advance to be
a donor, should he someday need one.
Last
September when he was hospitalized for
kidney failure, she knew that his condition
was life threatening.
So she kept her wedding
promise, giving him a part of herself and
saving his life.
It sounds like a romantic love story,
doesn’t it? But it gets even better.
Chip
and Cindy were in the process of getting a
divorce.
After ten years of marriage they’d
decided to split-up, date around, and work
toward divorce.
But Cindy’s unselfish act of
love renewed their feelings for each other
and all divorce plans ended.
I wonder what would change if those
of us who are married found out that our
spouses had a
life threatening
illness? Would
we suddenly
become gentler
with our words?
I think so.
Would
wequitnitpicking
about the little
a n n o y a n c e s
that don’t really
matter?Ithinkso.
Would we long
to turn back the
clock and relive
the years? I think
so.
Would we bargain with God, promising
that if our spouses live, we’d change and be
better partners? Yes, I think so.
So, why wait? Some years ago my husband
attended the funeral of a man who’d been
killed instantly in an accident.
After the
funeral, the man’s wife burst into tears,
laying out all her regrets and “if onlys” for
the relatives to hear.
But it was too late.
He was gone.
The time to
appreciate our
spousesistoday—not
tomorrow.
Tomorrow
isn’t guaranteed, but
today is.
If we wait
till they’re gone and
only then realize
how much we love,
need and appreciate
them, they’ll never
know.
And we’ll be
left with a double
grief—not only the grief of losing them, but
also the grief that comes from realizing we
can’t change the past.
God had a much higher ideal for marriage
PrayNorthState
A Ministry of Gathering
Page 11
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Fighting Battles
Page 22
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