Ed Christian's World

The Gospel Cures Every Kind Of Stupid…

Brains vs. Prejudices / Stupidity / Tolerance

Prejudice: Prejudice is an assumption or an opinion about someone simply based on that person’s membership to a particular group. For example, people can be prejudiced against someone else of a different ethnicity, gender, or religion.

Stupidity: Given to make unintelligent decisions or acts : acting in an unintelligent or careless manner : lacking intelligence or reason : brutish.

Tolerance: Is about accepting the fact that you cannot have your way in all circumstances in life. It also means you accept that others are different and have different abilities. If you can appreciate these differences, you are said to be tolerant.

When do we, as Christians, learn when to focus only on Jesus and not on what is happening in the world? We all know Satan is trying to control us and the world, so why isn’t God the center of our world instead of everything else? 

Jesus first teaches us that the greatest of all commandments is to love God with our whole being because God is the foundation of love. It is only by loving God that we truly learn how to love. Right away, Jesus continues it with loving your neighbor as yourself because once we put God at the center of our love, we learn how it is to genuinely do the same for our neighbors.

Prejudices, everybody has some, even though they don’t like to admit to it. Some work very hard to show theirs, while some work very hard to lock theirs up. I like to think I fall in the latter group.

As a Christian, I try to put God first and think before I engage my mouth. Sometimes, I fail, especially when it comes to someone degrading another over something petty or stupid.

Yet, over the years, I have found that very few people take the trouble to use their brains as long as their prejudices are in working condition. Is it because of the way they were raised or just peer pressure to be one of the gang? Why is it so easy to take the stupid route rather than follow the Bible?

Either way, it is wrong if you are a Christian. It shouldn’t matter if their skin is a different color, their ethnicity is different or if they believe differently than you do, you are God’s representative here on earth and as such should embrace all He stands for in your relationships with all who cross your path. Sometimes, we just must ask ourselves: What would Jesus do?

There are no coincidences in life. God places these people in your path for a reason, and I’m pretty sure it isn’t for you to downgrade them or to turn your back to them. For all of us who lived the Christian faith, we have definitely heard the phrase “Love Your Neighbor As Yourself. Mark 12:31.” But what does it really mean to love your neighbor as yourself? Do we truly understand the way Jesus Christ intended?

Did you ever consider that He just may be testing you to see how you would react? What would you say if that stranger you just placed judgment on, turned around, and said, “Let’s have a cup of coffee because we need to talk”, and that person just happened to be God?

The problem is that too many Christians fail to engage their brains before they open their mouths and, in doing so, makes the whole Christian community look bad. God gave us a brain and the power to use it to meet any of our goals. Yet, we seem to find it easier to put our prejudices in front of our brain like it never exists. As Forest Gump said… Stupid is as stupid does.

In Jesus’ commandment, He taught us that it is not about asking who our neighbor is. Rather, it is about our own willingness to be a neighbor, ready to love. It is obvious in the parable of the Good Samaritan that our neighbor can even be a complete stranger who we can expect nothing from in return. But, following the commandment of Jesus means being a neighbor to everyone, and most importantly, it is about us being that good neighbor. It starts with ourselves.

Let us remember that on the sixth day God said let us create man in our image… and in the third chapter of John it says Jesus came to redeem all men… The time has come for all Christians to live up to their commitment to God and follow His commandments. Love your neighbors as yourself and as I have loved you.

By loving our neighbor as ourselves, Christ has made it impossible for us to fail because we are very good at taking care of ourselves. We want what is best for us, and by making our own selves as the benchmark of how we should love others, Jesus has shown us how to truly love our neighbors.

Another important teaching in loving our neighbor as ourselves is that we realize that we should not wait for when we feel loved before we start to love others. We do not have to wait until we feel that we have a surplus of self-love before we give it away to our neighbors. The commandment made it perfectly clear: love your neighbor exactly as you love yourself. No more and no less.

Grandfather always preached the golden rule: Treat others as you would like to be treated. Respect others, and they will respect you. Then, he added this statement: “No matter what you do or no matter what you say, love isn’t love until you give it away.”

These lessons, as well as others, are taught in the Gospels. Open your Bible and read it all, and then you will learn how it has an answer for every question in life. It just may offer you some insight on how to avoid being stupid.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Non-miracle Days…

The Bible records many miracles: the judgments of Egypt, the virgin birth, the miracles in Acts. We think, if only I saw those miracles, I would believe without doubting.

We think in those days miracles happened all the time. Not so. You’re reading only of those days where miracles did happen, not the many days they didn’t. The Hebrews saw the Red Sea part, yet soon afterwards, they started doubting God.

Seeing miracles doesn’t mean you can coast without faith. It takes more faith when months and years pass; you have to remind yourself of what God has done. Don’t say, if you lived in those days, and saw the miracles, you would have overcoming faith.

You do live in those days. It’s still the Book of Acts. The Spirit still moves and God is alive and well. You have seen miracles; the greatest is salvation, and many more answered prayers and His grace in your life.

It’s not about seeing miracles, it’s about living the miracle every day. Choose to believe; it won’t matter if you see a miracle or not, because your life will BE the miracle.

Reference: John 20-21

Believe that God works in the everyday miracles in your walk, today look with discerning eyes His miracles working right in front of you and within you.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Hollow and The Nail…

Who could hold the oceans in the hollow of His hand? Picture the depth of the oceans being in the hollow of God’s hand. Amazing!

These hands that can hold the oceans in its hollow, that formed galaxies, became the hands of a baby in Bethlehem, and then became the hands through which nails were driven–hands bleeding on the cross, accomplishing our redemption.

These hands that were pierced and impaled on the cross proved more powerful. In the weakness of God came His power and salvation. Remember the hands of God, the power of salvation.

You won’t win the fight by fighting the world’s way or be powerful in the world’s strategies or in your own strength. It’s the power of the pierced hand; the crucified hand. Humble yourself and you will be exalted.

Die to yourself and you will rise in His power. Surrender your will and you will overcome the world. The hands of Calvary didn’t hold the oceans in its hollow, but held nails and blood.

By this power you will win your battle, my friend. There is no greater power than the crucified hands of God.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. Romans 1:16

Humble yourself and surrender your will to God today. The battle is won only in the blood and the power of the Lamb.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love.always,

Ed

Lord of Mars Hill…

The Jewish people considered Mars Hill, in the Greek world, as pagan, a place to avoid. But, Paul was grieved when he saw the idols, because the place really belonged to God.

He spoke to the people on Mars Hill as if they were made in the image of God and belonged to God, calling them to be accountable; to repent.

We need to do the same. We concede sinful people to the enemy, and by doing so, we grant the enemy full ownership. We stay away, not trying to win them over.

That devilish person doesn’t belong to the devil. That satanic place doesn’t belong to Satan. That sinful person doesn’t belong to sin, but to the Lord.

The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. That means you can’t concede or relinquish them or accept them as lost or as enemies. You have every right to intervene, challenge them, call them, lift them out of the pit, confront the enemy’s false ownership; bring them to the Lord alone.

Fight the good fight. Go to Mars Hill, my friend, win them over. For the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.

We know that we are children of God,  and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 1 John 5:19-20

Seek out those in the dark places and reclaim them from the pits of sin. Fight for their souls and be that Spiritual Warrior.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Down The Mountain…

Now Masada is the mountain fortress in the middle of the wilderness in Israel. Many tourists seek to ascend Masada on foot, and buy a T-shirt that proudly says, “I climbed Masada.”

Last time I was there, we didn’t feel like climbing Masada. So I and a few others decided to descend Masada. It is holy to go down mountains.

You see, Moses didn’t just go up the mountain, he also went down. If he just climbed up the mountain it wouldn’t be complete. He had to come down.

See, we go up in the Lord, but we have to go down and bring what we’ve received from God back to the world. Even the great commission that started in Jerusalem is on the mountain.

So the disciples had to go down the mountain to the great commission. So you too; you receive from God; His love; His word; His glory; His truth, and you bring it to those who need it.

It’s only complete when you do it. You need to go up the mountain and receive the blessing, but you have to go down the mountain to give it away.

 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. Acts 11:19-21

Meet with the Lord today and receive the blessings of God on His mountaintop, then take it down the mountain to give it to those who need His Word and His love.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love.always,

Ed

The Colors of the Serpent…

The Bible speaks of the enemy in terms of a serpent, a snake; so we can get a jump on his strategies by looking at snakes. Many snakes have bodies filled with shapes, colors, lines and triangles of color, or rectangles and blotches and spots and bands.

Why? They are there to camouflage. So a coiled snake often will obscure itself by these patterns. Other snakes have scales that blend in with the surroundings. Others have stripes that eliminate the sensation of motion.

This says a lot about the enemy and his strategy. The enemy always seeks to camouflage himself as a serpent. He never comes in the beginning and says, “Hey, I am the devil. I am here to destroy your life.”

The nature of serpents or the enemy, is to come in camouflage as good. He will always come as something looking good; a pleasant indulgence that will cripple your walk, or a nice sounding new teaching that will destabilize your faith.

Therefore, be careful. Look through the appearance, beyond the feeling, to the word and Spirit of God. Because only in God is there true life and true joy.

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1

Today examine your walk in the Lord and look for the holes where the enemy has crept in. Keep your faith in God pure by focusing on His word daily.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Elect One Has Risen…

As a believer, the resurrection of Jesus is center in your life. Has it made a difference in your life – a testimony of the evidence that He is risen? This is from ancient Jewish writings from people who didn’t even know the New Testament.

Strangely, they speak about Jesus and the resurrection from this extra-biblical book of 1 Enoch. They write about Jesus, “The elect One shall sit on My throne, and from the conscience of His mouth shall come all the secrets of wisdom.

For the Lord of the Spirit is given to Him and glorified Him. In those days, mountains shall dance like rams, the hills shall leap like kids satiated with milk, in the faces of all the angels in heaven shall glow with joy because on that day the elect One has risen. The earth shall rejoice.”

If this was written by people who didn’t even know the Lord, how much more must we who know the Lord rejoice! It doesn’t matter what else is happening in your life. Your life is to be filled with good news and great joy. Rejoice! The elect One has risen.

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete. 1 John 1:1-4

Share your testimony with those you meet today. Let them see your joy and the love of Jesus in you. Be the beacon of the Good News.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Beggar in my Dream…

I used to go out to share the gospel and give food to the homeless. One night, I dreamt someone begged me to take him with me; he was in bondage and wanted to be free.

There wasn’t room in my car, so I apologized and drove away. As I went, I saw the car growing; there was room. Looking back, I saw a creature pulling the man back into darkness. I missed the opportunity because I decided there was no room.

When I went back into the city, I gave food to a homeless man who said, “Take me with you, I want to get free of alcoholism.” I said, “I’m not leaving you.” We found a Christian to help him. If not for the dream, I might not have pursued it.

An obstacle that keeps us from God’s will is the belief that we don’t have room in our lives; nor in our mind and heart. It doesn’t matter whether there is room. Do God’s will anyway.

Minister; open your life, and your heart to His purposes. He will make room and enlarge your tent. Provide a willing heart, and God will provide the room.

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. Matthew 25:35-40

Today take time with the Lord. Make room in your heart for the will of God. Look to minister and expect the surprises of God.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Waters of Heaven…

We picture heaven as a static place. Not much action with some harp music; not a lot going on. But heaven really is a place of action. Why? Because a river flows through it. And a flowing river is filled with action.

Heaven is a place of waters, not just waters, but living, flowing waters. Water is a symbol of the Spirit of God and the Spirit moves. If you want to live a heavenly life now, then learn from the river that flows through heaven and let the Spirit move through you.

Let His love move you and move in His love. Let His righteousness move you and move in His righteousness. Let His mercy move you and move in His mercy. And as you move, learn to flow because heaven flows.

Now pride doesn’t really flow, it’s puffed up. Selfishness is all stuffed up. And anger is built up. But love flows. Grace flows. Joy flows and peace flows like a river. So get into flowing in God.

Move in the Spirit, flow like a river, because a heavenly life, like heaven, has a river flowing in the middle of it.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Psalm 46:4-5

Be led by the Spirit today, Ask Him to reveal His will to you, then do as the Holy Spirit moves you.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love.always,

Ed

God Bless America…

After September 11, everyone was saying God Bless America, God Bless America. Which God, which America and what blessing? The God of the Bible, the god of political correctness or the god of Islam? Which America?

The America founded to be a light to the nations, or the America that is the chief exporter of pornography and immorality, killing of unborn children with its media that daily blasphemes God?

Which blessing? The blessing of being kept safe and prosperous so we can continue in sin and take God out of every corner of public life? The point is not God Bless America.

The point is, America should bless God! The focus of our prayers are not to be our nation’s prosperity, but our nation’s repentance. So, too, in our lives. We tend to focus our prayers on God blessing us.

More important is that we bless God, that we repent and we live in God’s will. We can’t expect His blessings if you don’t embrace and submit to His will.

Pray and seek for our life to be in His will. Bless God with your obedience and God will bless you with His best.

It is written:“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’” Romans 14:11

Pray for America today, for repentance, for salvation, for revival – and be part of the answer by living in revival today.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed