"Bubble"

I've realized lately how much of a Christian "bubble" that I live in so much of the time. God kind of popped that bubble not too long ago. I think it was good for me. It gave me a new or more realistic perspective I guess. God has been blowing me away the past couple of years with different kinds of people and perspectives and ways of living. It has humbled me a lot actually. He has been chipping away at my self-righteousness and pride.

Recently though, God showed me how blessed I am. He also made me take a look at the "outside" world. People are hurting. They are searching. They are empty. I have what they are looking for, the gift of Life. How will they know if we as Christians keep this eternity altering news to ourselves? It just broke my heart to look into these precious peoples' lives and know who the Solutions is but having them not understand, even making fun. It is not my job to change their hearts. I am not the Holy Spirit. I am called to be obedient, to love them. This is not saying that I endorse what they are doing. God must change their heart. I must simply speak the truth in love and take every opportunity to love them as Christ does.

Are we doing that? Are we truly showing the world Christ's love? Christ loved us when we spit in his face and crucified Him. Should we expect better than our King received? Recently I was "persecuted" in a way. It was more in the form of the way I live my life being made fun of in a "fun/joking" way. It was almost constant. They just couldn't fathom someone living a pure life in certain areas. To me, it's not so unusual, but to them it was a total shock. It didn't really bother me in the sense that I was ashamed of it. It was just a very eye-opening experience. It makes me want to reach out more. This also means that I need to be firmly established in my faith, unmoved.

"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35

I know that a big problem with us Christians is being a hypocrite. We preach one thing then live another way. We are judgemental, unforgiving, selfish and prideful. This is not an accurate reflection of who God calls us to be. I am guilty of all of these things. We need to live more transparently. We are no better than anyone else. The only thing that seperates us from the rest of the world is that we have chosen to be washed in His blood. We all deserve death, but Christ offers life. Let's look at Christ's life and really see how He truly lives. May we follow hard after Him.

Jessica