A World In Need Of Us

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.  They are of the world.  Therefore, they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.  We are of God.  He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us.  By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.  Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; for everyone who loves is of God and knows God.  He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.  In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through HIm.  In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  Beloved, if  God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1 John 4: 4-11 NKJV

As christians, we often face a double sided view of the world around us.  One could say that we are indeed strangers in a strange land, mere visitors.  For our home is not here in the world we see, but is secured in our eternity in heaven which we do not yet see.  In this world around us we see much of which runs contrary to that which we believe.  There are thefts, murders, diversity and favoritism.  All of these, of course, run opposite to that which God has in mind for His children.  Yes, we are here but for a season, but it is during our time here that we have a unique opportunity presented to us.  As we look at that world which surrounds us, we often see plenty of people whom it must have crossed our minds once or twice are surely meant for Gods eternal punishment.  Be they criminls or simply those who have mistreated us, we often judge these children of our living God as deserving punishment.  The truth we are often too afraid to face is that we ourselves once walked as those we now seek to condemn.  And yet, our Lord in His loving kindness and mercy, willed that we ourselves would have His call placed upon our hearts.  For not for this, we ourselves may very well have ended up as just another of the worlds lost sinners.  How many times have we ourselves been judged by that very same measure which we use on others?

For with the heart one believes unto rightousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the scripture says, "Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame."  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.  For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD will be saved."  How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?  And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard?  And how shall they hear without a preacher?  And how shall they preach unless they are sent?  As i tis written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!"  But they have not all obeyed the gospel.  For Isaiah says, "LORD, who has believed our report?"  So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10: 10-17 NKJV

Who was it that first planted the very seed of the love of God into our hearts?  Was it a pastor, a teacher or simply a friend?  Whoever it was, God placed someone in our path who would reveal His truth unto us.  Had we known Gods truth until then?  Were we, as we so often see in those around us, simply one who followed the course of this fallen world?  How different would our lives have been had we not met that person who first spoke to us about our loving heavenly Father?  I often think of the course my own life could have taken had it not been for a very few who, heeding Gods calling on their hearts, spoke to me of His love for His children.  For this I am grateful.  Knowing this, where do we now stand in our thoughts of those who may have wronged us in some way?  Who is it that will speak to them of the love and forgivness of our heavenly Father?  Do we trust that God will place that call on anothers heart, or will we heed the call to speak the truth of Christ Jesus to a world in desperate need of Him?  All we need do is look around us to  see a world in desperate need of the word of Jesus.  Will we speak of Him?

~Scott~