Tuesday, January 7, 2014

The bible isn't a list of rules, but the instruction book for your life.


I recently found myself trying to think back to how I saw things when I wasn't right with God. I was trying to think like someone I was trying to push closer to God. I was seeing someone who I really cared about so unhappy, angry all the time, stressed out to the max, drinking, depressed, and just plain out miserable. I tried for months talking to them about God. I would text them bible verses, tell them how I got closer to God, and explained that God has a specific plan for everyone. I told them to have faith in the Lord, and to pray about what was bothering them, and to go to church to learn how to be how God wants you to be. I found out the hard way that it's not up to me to push someone back to God. The more I talked about God to this person the more aggravated they would get. I finally just stopped talking to them about it and started focusing on me and my Christian influences. Sometimes people need to see the love of Jesus through you. They may need to learn it from watching you. I not only prayed for God to come back into this person's life, but I also prayed for God to change my heart and for me to stop judging this person, and to let me find happiness in The Lord, to were this person wouldn't upset me with their behavior. And guess what? Since then, this person has gotten closer to the Lord.

But while I was going through that struggle with that person I tried to remember how I reacted when people used to invite me to church, or try to tell me about God, or how I looked at religious people. I didn't think very good thoughts to be honest. I mean, when you are doing whatever you want to do, you kind of see it all as rules you have to follow. Who likes rules anyways? How can you be happy when you think God wants you to stop doing things "you think" you like to do. Or you think you can't be "cool" being a christian and living the way God wants you to live. But now that I'm saved and have grown with Christ I know that those thoughts were SO WRONG. I had it all wrong. I mean, isn't the reason most people aren't living for Christ because they are too selfish to let go of earthly things for the ONE person that loves us so much that he died on the cross for us??

Since I now know the truth I will share it. I realize it might not matter if I do, but there is still a possibility it could open some body's eyes and bring them to know Christ. Christianity isn't a "do this and don't do that" mentality; it is a "when you come to know Jesus all thoughts change." When you get saved, and start reading the bible, and praying you WILL see a change. God will start moving in your life, and once he does it is a high like no other. I have been so moved by God before that I cried all day. Not because I was sad, but because I was so overwhelmed by His spirit! It was the most awesome feeling EVER! When you experience God you WANT to do what he wants you to do. It isn't rules I feel like I have to follow. I have no interest in doing the stuff I used to do that wasn't holy. I now look at the people that do the things I used to do and feel so bad for them because they aren't living the good life. They think they are living the good life of being able to do what they want, but there is NO OTHER WAY to be the happiest you have ever been without Jesus. He brings you peace like no other, happiness like no other, love like no other, and a new "you" like no other person or thing can.

If you say you are saved, and say you are a christian and you haven't experienced any of that; then answer these questions: Do you pray every day? Do you read the bible, or bible verses every day? Do you go to church? Do you try to know God better, or try to find out what it is God has made as your calling? Can you do better? Of course you can! Everybody can do better. Why? because even your very best is no where close to how Holy Jesus Christ is. The bible says we should be more like Jesus. But none of us can really be like him because He is sinless, and we are all sinners. We can try our hardest to be like him though. The harder you try, the better you can get; and the more you live the way you should, the more blessings you receive. I'm not saying I'm a perfect Christian. I still struggle with doing what is right at times, but the more I surrender my heart to the Lord, the easier it gets for me to do right. And no matter how bad I mess up, Jesus is still going to be there to help get me back on track.

Something else I hear alot "Christian's are so judging." I've realized that most Christians aren't really judging. They are trying to help someone have a life that is better than they have ever had, or they are trying to share the word of God like they are supposed to do. I feel like Christians are so misunderstood, because so many of the things true Christians do can only be understood once you are saved. I didn't understand any of it until I started trying to understand it. Once I started to understand it I wanted to understand it more, I couldn't get enough. I wanted to know more, and more, and more. It was amazing how I could be struggling with something, and open my bible app on my phone and read a bible verse or read my daily devotional and it would help me about what I was struggling about! That is the power of God! He will talk to you through scripture, and other Godly things. He is always listening to us, and wants to help us have an easier life. He already knows what is going to happen, so why don't we just put all of our trust in him, and have stronger faith in him? Yes, it's hard to do. But I've found the more I let go, the more peace I have.

So, am I saying the bible isn't a bunch of rules to follow? That people actually want to live that way? Yes, I am. Once Jesus comes into your heart you will see for yourself that doing even the best, you will feel like it comes to no comparison to what you should be doing for someone who loves you as much as God and Jesus does. I once told the person I mentioned in the beginning of this: "I finally know why it's called getting "saved". Because I am saved from the person I used to be, I'm saved from all of my unhappiness, and I'm saved from going to hell." Now these changes don't happen all at once. You have got to get to know God. Try the best you know how to. I used to not be able to understand the bible and what it was saying, But the more I read it, the more I started to understand it. Sometimes I still might not know what it is saying, that's when I look it up in another version of the bible. There's King James Version (KJV), New King James Version (NKJV), New International Version (NIV), The Message, and TONS of other versions of the bible that can help you understand it better. The Bible is God's word. When the Devil tried to tempt Jesus in Matthew 4:4, Jesus said to him, "Man Shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." The Bible is like instructions for your life. Everything you need to know is in the Bible. It tells us how to be good Christians, tells us how to be husband and wife, it tells us how to be parents, and how to be children, and every single thing about life that you need to know is in there. God's word is to help keep us on track, and to guide us through life. Psalm 119:105 says "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

*Don't worry about others and what they think about you, worry about you and your relationship with God. In the End, He is all that matters.  


*2 Timothy 3:16-17 "All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."




 
 
 
 
 
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