Crossroads Community Church

May 21, 2014 · 0 Comments

What a glorious morning God blessed us with. On this Victoria Day weekend we praise God for the legacy of freedom we have in our country to follow and worship Jesus Christ. After lively worship Pastor Don shared announcements and prayed,” Dear Father God we ask for healing for those who are ill, we ask for provision for those in need in our community, we thank you that you hear our prayers, in Jesus name, Amen.”

Pastor Don began with a question, “Does your outside match your inside?” We have learned from Matthew 7:1 that we should not judge others, rather we ought to examine our own conduct. Just because we claim to belong to God, does not make us better than others, however we do have hope and grace to personally become better than we were the day before without comparing ourselves to others. Israel; God’s chosen people presumed to be better,” You who call yourselves Jews are relying on God’s law, and you boast about your special relationship with him,” Romans 2:17. However God wanted them and now us to do as Exodus 19:5 says, “Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me.”

God chose a nation to portray to the world the way He wanted life to be lived according to His will, they were to be an example just as we are to be today. Although the Jews were special to God, they eventually took it for granted, they thought they were above others because they were bearers of the law,(Romans 2:18-20). They enjoyed the perks of their status and lorded it over the people but they themselves seemed to forget to be the example of God to them,(Romans 2:21-24).

Today we still have the privilege to be called children of God, and we can feel special and proud of that but our way of life should reflect that we follow Jesus. We should not think of ourselves higher than others who love God or those who don’t. Our mandate is not to judge but to love them into knowing God through Jesus. Just as the Jews we too fall short of God’s perfection and we needed Jesus to show us the way. Now that we have been taught what is right we ought to live by what we have learned and encourage others to do the same by our good and loving example. Being judgemental and hypercritical never inspired anyone to follow Jesus, however when people see someone genuinely living the way they profess to love Jesus, that will draw people towards Him. When we allow the Spirit of God to help us, He will guide us, nudge us when we are not doing what is right and show us the way out, also fill us with peace and joy when we do what is tight.

God’s people had the truth, knew the truth and agreed with the truth, they had plenty of “Religion” but had developed an attitude of pride and presumed that it was enough, they didn’t believe they needed help to please God, they did not see that their hearts had to be changed to be right with God,(Galatians 2:16). There is no human ritual that can earn the grace of God, our hearts must be bare and humble before God and realise and confess that we need Jesus to save us. He makes us right with God, acceptable and able to please our heavenly Father,” (Romans 2:25-27).

Beloved our outward expressions flowing from a changed and grateful heart such as Baptism starts with a cleansed and surrendered heart to God,” (Romans 2:28-29). Baptism is a response to God’s redemptive work on the cross, His cleansing us from sin and showing us mercy where we deserved punishment and giving us grace to walk by faith before Him,(1 Peter 3:21). So let us practice what we preach, If we are talking the walk, then we ought to be walking the talk so others we see and put their trust in our God! Have a blessed week walking with the Lord, Asherey Shalom. To learn more visit www.shelburnecrossroadschurch.ca