Isn’t it a tragedy that many men and women are living miserable lives, refusing to listen to Jesus and failing to receive the healing that He wants to offer us. We must challenge ourselves to consider whether we are really giving Jesus our full attention and receiving the healing that we need. Stubbornly refusing to pay attention to Jesus is like a foolish person refusing to go to the doctor when he is hardly able to breathe. Jesus offers much more than an inhaler to help an asthma sufferer breathe. He offers life in its fullness as well as eternal life, for Jesus is “the way, the truth and the life.”

Some people do listen temporarily to Jesus’ words, but not for long enough to receive long lasting benefit. Many of us are a bit like the patient who goes once to the doctor but does not actually take the medicine or return for future treatment. We can’t really blame the physician when we remain sick and neither can we blame Jesus if we do not allow Him to help us.

In Jesus’ parable some of the seed fell on “rocky places where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.”( Matthew 13:5-6). Jesus explains in verses 20-21 that this type of person hears God’s Word ‘with joy’ to start with but this is short lived for,”As he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.”

This is a real wake up call isn’t it? The church in the west has got used to having it easy. Typically, many Christians do not see the need to immerse themselves in the Bible because they enjoy a superficial awareness of Jesus. Sadly many pastors do not challenge their congregations to dig deep and to become mature Christians. Rather than expecting to be tested and challenged by difficult circumstances, many people who have a shallow belief in God, give up the moment they face difficulty. James wants us to expect trials and to rejoice in the maturity and strengthened faith that result from facing such challenges with Jesus: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1: 2-4)

It is essential that we realize that Christians must expect persecution in the same way that soldiers expect to be attacked. When we tell others the good news about Jesus (“sowing the seed”), we must not adapt the message to make it more acceptable. This might make us more popular but it would stop people discovering the only truth that can set them free. If we do not teach about sin and Hell, non Christians will not realize why they need Jesus’ offer of salvation. Christians are to suffer, and if we seek God’s help throughout the trial, our faith will become more mature and Christ like. Christians will be persecuted for their faith, just like Jesus was.

It is unpopular to teach that Jesus is the only way, and proclaiming a more tolerant message would lead to less opposition. However avoiding teaching the truth would lead to significant disappointment one day. Our goal must be to share the good news about Jesus and the bad news about our sinful state, irrespective of others’ responses. We need to explain that Jesus offers the only way to escape the eternal punishment that we deserve, and the only way to get to Heaven: a destination that so many look forward to. Instead of giving up, Paul describes how he and his companions respond to hunger and brutal persecution in 1 Corinthians 11-12: “When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it: when we are slandered, we answer kindly.”

Jesus will bless those who suffer or who are persecuted for His sake. We must not harden our hearts or give up the moment trouble or persecution challenge us, like a seedling that shrivels in the sun because it has so little root or depth. If you are experiencing opposition for being a Christian you are probably doing a good job of presenting Christ. Keep going, dig deeper into the Bible and persevere because Jesus loves you and your rewards in Heaven will be great. Our lives must not be about pain avoidance or seeking popularity now. “Now” is short lived but eternity is forever and our focus must be on pleasing the eternal king: Jesus.

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Christians should expect persecution

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Vote YES on Prop 8

Already teachers in California are expected to teach about marriage:

California Education Code 51890 allows a teacher to teach ‘marriage,’ which now means homosexual ‘marriage.’ A portion of the Code states:

a)…all educational programs offered in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, in the public school system, including in-class and out-of-class activities designed to ensure that:

(1) Pupils will receive instruction to aid them in making decisions in matters of …family… health, to include the following subjects:

(D)…marriage and parenthood.

Unless we support Proposition 8, our children in California will be taught that homosexuality is right and good from kindergarten up, in the public schools. One might imagine that parents could opt their children out of such instruction if it conflicts with their religious views. Experience in Massachusetts, where homosexual marriage is already law, suggests that this will not be possible.

David Parker, the father of a kindergarten kid, insisted that his son should not be taught about homosexuality. The result was that he went to jail. Please watch this video to find out more about this:Opposing Proposition 8 will not result in more freedom. In fact it would result in many kids being taught a form of sexuality that many parents do not believe is healthy or right. It would restrict parental freedom.

See the video here.

The Bible clearly teaches that homosexuality is wrong. In first Corinthians 6:9 Paul writes: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of Heaven.”

In the same way that we would not want teachers to encourage our kids to steal, or get drunk neither should we want them to teach our kids to view homosexuality as a normal, valid life choice. Certainly we should not hate homosexuals, we should care about them and love them. This does not mean that we should change God’s Law to accommodate their behavior. I would like to encourage you to respond by voting YES on Proposition 8.

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Proposition 8

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