Today's Chapters: Jeremiah 22-24
Message Title: Christian Discrimination
Okay, I am going to talk about a touchy subject, one that I know will turn some heads, but it has to be addressed because things are getting out of hand. A woman asked a simple question on an open forum about a clothing store that declined to make wedding dresses for a lesbian couple due to their religious beliefs. I am not about to address whether or not the couple were right or wrong to refuse to serve them, but I am going address an issue that we must be aware of, Christian discrimination. Jesus tells us how we are to handle those who discriminate against us. “These things I command you, that ye love one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” - John 15:17-19.
The world truly does hate anything that has to do with Jesus, and while we cannot do anything about them, we can do something about us. The word Christian, means to be Christlike, to live as Jesus did when He was here. Does Jesus agree with everything that people do? No. He actually gets angry with them, but He is forgiving. Zedekiah was the last son of the house of David to reign as king in Judah, and he was not a very good king, in fact, he was down right evil. That did not stop God from giving him one last chance to repent. God sends Jeremiah to speak to him.
“Thus saith the LORD; Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and speak there this word, And say, Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, that sittest upon the throne of David, thou, and thy servants, and thy people that enter in by these gates: Thus saith the LORD; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place. For if ye do this thing indeed, then shall there enter in by the gates of this house kings sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, he, and his servants, and his people. But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by myself, saith the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation.” - Jeremiah 22:1-5.
To love one another does not mean that we are to agree with everyone or actually go against our beliefs to get along with them. It does mean that we are to have respect toward one another, to make the right judgment, and to show Christ through us. We are the only people who can help the lost find Him. God loves us so much that He never stops trying to get the lost to receive His Son. Shouldn't we offer the same courtesy as we were given?
If we refuse
Christ, that is on us, not God or anyone else, after all, He warned us.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the
world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be
saved. He that believeth on him is not
condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not
believed in the name of the only begotten Son of
God.” - John
3:16-18.
Every day we are told that we must accept every lifestyle known to man, yet Christians are being targeted for who they stand by, not what they stand by. Even fellow Christians have condemned others for simply standing by the Word of God. Oh, by the way, those who use God's Word to condone or justify ungodly behavior will face their own condemnation. Even though David's seed would no longer reign in Judah that did not mean that God was done with them. God was angry at the wicked and vile acts of the very people that claimed His name. Through Jeremiah, God addresses those who are condemning His people.
“Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD. And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD. Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.” - Jeremiah 23:1-5.
Notice the word, Branch, Jesus is not the actual seed of David, He is the Branch of God, sent to execute correct judgment and justice upon everyone. Incidentally, those who believe in the Son, and receive Him are one of His branches. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” - John 15:1-4.
The world and worldly Christians might knock us down for standing by God's Word, but they cannot keep us down. God will always pick us back up! While the destruction of Jerusalem was definitely coming, God was not about to leave His people to be destroyed with it. Through an odd illustration of edible and inedible figs, God promises that He will always protect His people, even if that means he has to put them in captivity for a while.
“Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good. For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up. And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart. And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith the LORD, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt: And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.” - Jeremiah 24:5-9.
Over the years I have learned just how cruel and mean the world, and quite frankly, many Christians are. You know what? We have no right to question anyones faith or lifestyle, but we do have a right to live by our faith and life with Jesus. We do have a right to live by the Word of God, and we do have a right to choose not to participate in something we feel goes against God. I have one word to say about people who deliberately stir up trouble for Christians so they can have their glory, accountable. We are the ones who must face God, not the person who stirs the pot. We are accountable for the things we do and allow to happen, but do not think that the bad figs are off the hook. They too must face God, and they too will be accountable. “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” - Matthew 12:35-37.
Today's Prayer: God, It's heartbreaking to hear and see so many Christians being targeted as haters, bigots, and hypocrites. Every time you turn around another state or country rules that we cannot discriminate against race, religion, or sexual orientation, which they have a right to do. However, there are no rights for the Christian who is being discriminated against living in obedience to You. God, put Your hedge of protection upon us, let us not be intimidated or manipulated into going against Your beliefs. Keep us safe, and be with those who are being persecuted, touch them and give them peace of mind, and hope for an expected end. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure That You Are Going To Heaven? Visit: God's PriceLike Us On Facebook: I'm Following Jesus
©2014 I'm Following Jesus
Every day we are told that we must accept every lifestyle known to man, yet Christians are being targeted for who they stand by, not what they stand by. Even fellow Christians have condemned others for simply standing by the Word of God. Oh, by the way, those who use God's Word to condone or justify ungodly behavior will face their own condemnation. Even though David's seed would no longer reign in Judah that did not mean that God was done with them. God was angry at the wicked and vile acts of the very people that claimed His name. Through Jeremiah, God addresses those who are condemning His people.
“Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD. And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD. Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.” - Jeremiah 23:1-5.
Notice the word, Branch, Jesus is not the actual seed of David, He is the Branch of God, sent to execute correct judgment and justice upon everyone. Incidentally, those who believe in the Son, and receive Him are one of His branches. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” - John 15:1-4.
The world and worldly Christians might knock us down for standing by God's Word, but they cannot keep us down. God will always pick us back up! While the destruction of Jerusalem was definitely coming, God was not about to leave His people to be destroyed with it. Through an odd illustration of edible and inedible figs, God promises that He will always protect His people, even if that means he has to put them in captivity for a while.
“Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good. For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up. And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart. And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith the LORD, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt: And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.” - Jeremiah 24:5-9.
Over the years I have learned just how cruel and mean the world, and quite frankly, many Christians are. You know what? We have no right to question anyones faith or lifestyle, but we do have a right to live by our faith and life with Jesus. We do have a right to live by the Word of God, and we do have a right to choose not to participate in something we feel goes against God. I have one word to say about people who deliberately stir up trouble for Christians so they can have their glory, accountable. We are the ones who must face God, not the person who stirs the pot. We are accountable for the things we do and allow to happen, but do not think that the bad figs are off the hook. They too must face God, and they too will be accountable. “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” - Matthew 12:35-37.
Today's Prayer: God, It's heartbreaking to hear and see so many Christians being targeted as haters, bigots, and hypocrites. Every time you turn around another state or country rules that we cannot discriminate against race, religion, or sexual orientation, which they have a right to do. However, there are no rights for the Christian who is being discriminated against living in obedience to You. God, put Your hedge of protection upon us, let us not be intimidated or manipulated into going against Your beliefs. Keep us safe, and be with those who are being persecuted, touch them and give them peace of mind, and hope for an expected end. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure That You Are Going To Heaven? Visit: God's PriceLike Us On Facebook: I'm Following Jesus
©2014 I'm Following Jesus
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