No Justice Without Jesus...
MY FELLOW BELIEVERS IN CHRIST: The fight again racial injustice and socio-economic disparities is NOT over, BUT this war requires spiritual armor. There is NO justice without Jesus (Jeremiah 23:5). It will not happen with just talk alone, with just stories and history alone. It is through Christ who changes hearts and minds of others.
““The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.”
Jeremiah 23:5 NIV
Believers: When someone calls believers together are we not unified by Christ’s death on the cross? (John 17:23)
“I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
John 17:23 NIV
I believe this struggle is not fought by fans of Christ, but followers.
My need to share comes from a strong urge to share what I believe God is sharing with me. I am transitioning from fan to follower. You see, Christ allowed and still allows anyone to follow Him. But, he asked those who walked with him when he was alive to deny themselves. (Luke 9:23, Matthew 16:24) He asks them to understand they may be persecuted, simply by following him. He asks that they comprehend their lives, their plans on this earth no longer matter. He explains that love is no longer a noun but a verb that moves people (Romans 5:8, 1 Corinthians 13:4, 1 John 4:7, 1 John 4:10)
Believers, fans who know the stats, cheer from the stands, go to the games when it’s convenient...but not willing to get in the game and take a few hits, get knocked down and get back up - this is not what he calls us to do! He explains To follow is to listen and heed to his direction.
I believe fear is at the base of the negative emotion and thoughts driving the division of racial tension. This fear is sometimes real, and depending on who you are it’s sometimes irrational.
BUT BELIEVERS LISTEN, fear is not of Christ. Fear is our call to lean on God. Fear is driven out of an inability to control the situation, not knowing what will happen (1 John 4:18) We cannot be fearful if we believe because our home, our eternity is with Christ. No matter what!
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
1 John 4:18 NIV
We cannot be fearful to take steps to move our lives in a direction that shows others we follow Christ. We must be sincere (Romans 12:9) and humble (Ephesians 4:2) I believe that denying yourself includes your plans, your selfish thoughts, whatever he asks of you to MAKE ROOM for Him. And that’s not easy. But this battle is bigger than us and if we want to allow God to move in us we must let him go before us NOT just use Christ’s name out of convenience without following his directions.
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”
Romans 12:9 NIV
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”
Ephesians 4:2 NIV
What kind of world would we have if the love that is required of Jesus’ followers would be shown by all believers. What would the body of Christ look like if we were no longer fans, but all of us became followers?? If we denied ourselves and did right by others - all the time???