Today Karen brought to life the story of Elijah. One who stayed true to his convictions in the face of his own misery and potential death.
Psalm 40 was our responsive Psalm another lesson about the truth of conviction in the Lord and the strength that conviction provides in all we do.
In this time of false ideologies, hate and bigotry we must remember that our convictions as Christians are to follow the teachings of Jesus and the will of the Lord.
Jesus did not teach hate nor bigotry nor racism. Jesus taught us love and inclusiveness.
The Bible teaches that God loves all, not just a few.
Revelations 7:9
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.
Frequently we find the differences and what divided us but our belief in the Lord is about the all inclusive. As we struggle with the resurgence of those who see a superior and inferior we remember the words given to us.
Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
The story of Elijah reminds us that the Lord and our Teacher Jesus will put us to the test and hope to find our fidelity to our beliefs not when things our easy but when they are hard.
We are often asked to ignore the words of Jesus and take the easy way of hate and bigoty. For blaming another is far easier than accepting the responsibility for ourselves.
What did Jesus answer to those who would entrap him?
Matthew 22:34-40
Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
A very important reminder when those who hate appeal to the easy and simple
The Lord's Blessing
Noral