Jesus was talking to the Pharisees and the teachers of the law when he said, People look at you and think you are godly. But on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and evil. They were concerned about their reputations but neglected their hearts. I think it's easy for Christians to fall into this trap - they go to church and youth group, know their Bible, volunteer at kids church... But they also criticise and judge people, don't love their neighbours, don't help the poor... Jesus described these people as tombs that were decorated on the outside but full of bones on the inside.
Are you more concerned about doing the right thing so that you look good and holy to others? Are there some dead bones such as judgement and criticism that you need to sweep out? I want to be known for the sharing the love of Jesus, not for my faultless church attendance. A great conversation about sex and shame - thanks Switch Youth. I love this verse. Sometimes we think that God is too big and important to care about our problems, but nothing could be further than the truth. Here is 1 Peter 5:7 in several different versions:
Turn all your anxiety over to God because he cares for you (God's Word) Give all your worries to him, because he cares for you (Easy to Read Version) Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you (Good News Translation) Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you (New International Version) The language is very active - turn, give, leave and cast imply active. Giving your anxiety, worries and cares to God is not a passive thing. It's not just telling God about your worries - it's giving them to him and not taking them back. There is nothing too big or too small to give God. What are you worried about? Your studies? Your family? A friend? A test? Feeling alone? Being bullied? A bad diagnosis? Financial worries? Give them to God because HE CARES ABOUT YOU! I am having a medical procedure today which makes me really anxious. I woke up during the night last week worrying about it so I prayed and gave it to God. He gave me his peace that passes all understanding. I'm still not looking forward to it, but I can sleep at night and I'm not stressed out. In Mark 12 Jesus was asked, 'what is the most important commandment?' In verse 30 he answered, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.' In the Old Testament, the Jews were given Ten Commandments and many laws to obey. In the New Testament Jesus gave us just two - love God and love others. I love God, but I don't always love him with ALL my heart, ALL my soul, ALL my mind and All my strength. It's my life's goal to learn to do this though. We get distracted by loving the world and our affections are split between God and the world. God wants all of our affection though.
If you follow Jesus wholeheartedly it will be reflected in how you spend your time. if you spend more time on social media, Netflix and listening to the latest hits than reading the Bible, praying, serving others and worshiping, you might want to re-evaluate your life. I'm not perfect. Spiritual growth is a journey. Pick one spiritual discipline, such as prayer, and find more time to include it in your day. Find things to help you do this like setting an alarm, using a prayer journal or finding a quiet place free of distractions to pray. What small step towards loving Jesus with all your heart, soul, strength and mind can you make today? James 1:2-4 (NIV)
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. It sounds daft to be happy about going through trials and difficult situations, but Paul explained that they help us develop perseverance and maturity. I like how The Message Paraphrase puts it. James 1:2-4 (Msg) Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. It's impossible to see all of the painting when you are standing with your nose up against it. It's not until you take a step back that you can see the whole picture. Life is like that. When you're in the middle of a difficult season, like a global pandemic, lockdown, a serious health condition, family breakdown, it's very hard to see anything else. Sometimes it's not until years later that you can see how that difficulty helped you become a better person. When I'm in those seasons, I press into Jesus - I read my Bible, pray, praise, spend time with Christian brothers and sisters. It's in those times I can relate to what God told Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9 My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. It's by the grace of God that I get through. Just like Winter ends, the seasons of life don't last forever either. I'm a Summer person and sometimes it feels as though Winter is never going to end, but it does. I have to remind myself that Spring is coming and then Summer after it. In the middle of your trials remember that the difficult season you are facing right now won't last forever and that God is helping you through it. |
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