THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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I went to the dermatologist the other day to have some skin cancers taken off. The Physician's Assistant was new, and didn't know me. While she was looking over my face and head, I told her a joke. She laughed heartily and said, "You must be a Christian."
I said, "Yes," and gave her one of my cards. She said she'd look up my web page, and then began using the liquid nitrogen on my face. OW! Twenty-four times she popped me with that little can!
When I got up to leave, I turned to her and said, "Girl! You just burn me up!"
She smiled and said, "Yup! That's my job!"
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John 17:15
I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
KJV
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Jesus did NOT pray for Christians to be taken out of the world. Therefore, it should not be the driving desire of the Christian to leave the world until Christ calls us home. Heaven should be a hope; a realization of eternal rest. But we should not withdraw from facing the world each day, even though it just "burns us up!"
Jesus DID pray that Christians be kept from evil. Therefore, it should be the driving desire of Christians to maintain a pure life even in this tainted world. The world needs living examples of righteousness. We are to have "no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." (Eph 5:11) Yes, sometimes that means we might "just burn others up." But we should speak the truth in love, and remember that's our JOB!
Two ways you can do the job with quietness and sureness.
First, be consistent. The devil is on the watch to point out to others any inconsistency in your behavior. Pray for strength from the Lord. Live believing He gives you that strength. After all, He prayed for that purpose. Live as Daniel so that men may say, "We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God." (Dan 6:5)
Second, be useful. As Christians, often we think we should avoid conflict. But God did not place us here to avoid it. Rather He expects us to live IN it, endure it by His strength, and reprove it with our life and words. Honor is not won by the soldier who always retreats.
Let us walk IN the world, though we are not OF it.
Let us be loving and kind, but truthful.
Let us never hide, but stand strong.
How can we point to Christ, without pointing to truth?
Love ya,
Bruce