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A Christiannewsle/ler dedicated 10 uniting and encouraging Ihe body of Christ in the Ozarh.
ISSUE#25
HOvV TO STAY TRUE TO JESUS
hrOUgh thc intcrnct it's possiblc to find out how
to do just about anything. Thcrc arc a numbcr of
~ wcbsitcs dcdicated to explaining how to do things;
even such things as how to celebrate Hallowccn or how
to grow potatoes in a garbage can. What thc body of
Christ needs to know how to do more than anything is
how to stay true to Jesus in a depraved. sinful culture and
world.
What could be more important for us in this present
agc with all that's happening in America and around the
world than to cleanse oursclvcs and draw near to God?
A right rclationship with God is our only rcal hopc of
having our needs met in troubled times that sccm to bc
hcading our way.
The Lord reveals to us through His Word that He
wants His peoplc to get closer to Him bcfore it's too late
- seek His face early. Isaiah 55:6. "Seek ye Ihe Lord
while he may befound call ye upon him while he is
near. " This is so important for LIS to realize. Psalm
32:6-7. "For this shall everyone thaI is gudly pray 111110
thee in a lime when thou mayesl be found: sure!.v in the
jloods of greal walers Ihey shallnol come nigh unlo him.
Thou are my hiding place; Ihou shall preserve me from
Irouble:. Ihou shalt compass me about with songs of
deliverance. "
Psalm 9:9. "The Lord also will be a refuge jiJr Ihe
uppressed a refuge in lillles of trouble. And Ihey that
know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou. Lord,
has nol forsaken Ihem that seek thee. "
On thc flip side. if we arc not in right standing with
thc Lord, wc're told inl'roverhs I:27-28 that when
distrcss and anguish comcs, "Then shall Ihey call upon
me, but I willnol answer: they shall seek me ear~v.but
October 2008
Ihey shallnotjind me." Isaiah 55, "Lellhe wicked
forsake his way, and Ihe unrighteous man his Ihoughts
and leI him reIurn unlo Ihe Lord, and he will have
lIIercy... he will abundamly pardon" (verse 7).
Jamcs 4:8. "Draw nigh 10 God and He will draw
nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners and purify
your hearts, ye double-minded"
I know that many Amcrican Christians fully expect
to bc rapturcd out of here before any major trouble comes
and. of course, there is a catching away for those who are
alive and remain at the coming of the Lord (I
Thcssalonians 4: 15 and 17). One thing we should
certainly do though is be strong in the Lord now in case
we do experience turbulcncc in our lifetimc. We're told
by Jcsus himsclf, "He Ihat shall endure ulllo l!Ie elld. Ihe
same shall be saved" (Matthew 24: 13).
It's imperative that we stay true to Jesus through
whatcvcr wc may have to go through in our lives. God
has not givcn us the spirit of fear, but of powcr, lovc and
a sound mind. We nced not bc in fcar, but placc our trust
in Him. "Trust in Ihe Lord wilh all Ihine heart and lean
nol ulllo Ihine own underslanding. In all Ihy ways
acknowledge Hilll and He shall direcI Ihy
palhs "(Proverbs 3:5).
The scriptures tell us in Philippians 4: 19 that "God
shall SUPP~I' all our need, according 10 Ilis riches in
glor)'." I bclicvc that there is one way we. as
ambassadors for Christ, can makc God richcr: We can
glorify Him with our words and our actions. As wc give
Him glory, he becomcs richcr in glory and accordingly,
He supplics all our needs.
We havc nothing to worry about if wc arc in right
standing with thc Lord and staying truc to Him.