Heart Readers
"You yourselves are our letter, inscribed on our hearts, known and read by everyone. It is clear that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
Such confidence before God is ours through Christ. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God. And He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." 2 Corinthians 3:2-6
The Apostle Paul in his second letter to the early believers in the City of Corinth (the Corinthian church) told them that they are living testimonies, the tangible proof of their ministry. Meaning, the life that they are living, is the living breathing Word of God, the bible, the gospel which those who do not know Christ read with their eyes and their ears
They Look At Them
Yes, they do. In fact, those who do not know Christ will be able to know Him through those who do. A lot of people actually read those who do believe like they would a book.
They look at everything Christians say and do. So like how the teachers of the law and the religious leaders of His day followed Jesus or have Him tailed everywhere He went -- listening to every word He says or reporting back what they have witnessed.
Agenda
Not for good reason though as they were waiting for Him to mess up. They even created scenarios in which they expect to entrap Him into saying and doing something "wrong". But the more they "stalk" Him and the more they put up "traps" for Him, the more people are amazed at Jesus and turn to believe in Him.
Post Jesus
Now after Jesus left for heaven, it was His closest followers and then the early leaders of the church who took over to be the living breathing letter, the living walking bible, the gospel which people read.
Like the Apostle Paul who along with his team taught the Word of God to the cities they went to, such as Corinth, Antioch, Athens, Philippi, Berea, Rome, Ephesus, Galatia, Tyre, Listra, Laodicea, Thessalonica and many others.
This they were able to do through the Spirit of the living God.
Countless times, people who became followers of Christ became followers themselves because they were amazed at how those who do follow Christ, conduct themselves and live their lives.
New Creation
Many who started as skeptics or seekers just could not understand how someone who used to live an unGodly life, suddenly is transformed and become a totally new person. Curious, they want to know the reason for such a supernatural transformation.
And when they do find out, some are also surprised to find out that they have become believers and have become transformed from the inside out. And the cycle continues.
Wheat From the Chaff
Of course like in everything else, there will be true believers and those who only profess to be -- those who say they follow Christ but they do not know Him at all.
Once the Spirit of God indwells in a believer, he lives in accord of the Spirit.
And through the way they live their lives (through their fruits), people will be able to tell.
An apple tree will not bear pineapples. In the same way, someone living in the Spirit (as opposed to the flesh) will show the fruit of the Spirit.
The fruit of the Spirit of God is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23a).
And normally it is when the going gets tough, when these fruits come out in season. For when one is weak, is when the Spirit is strong.
Lent
There is a difference between those who know of Jesus and those who know Him. This Season of Lent, let us really get to know Him who is the Word of God.
Sadly, some were just born into the faith but know little of what they profess to believe. Some were brought up with no concept of God or a different god. And the rest were born or groomed to despise Christians.
The Season of Lent is a great time and great opportunity to get to know what Christianity is all about. And it is all about Christ.
Lent - Day 1
Such confidence before God is ours through Christ. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God. And He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." 2 Corinthians 3:2-6
The Apostle Paul in his second letter to the early believers in the City of Corinth (the Corinthian church) told them that they are living testimonies, the tangible proof of their ministry. Meaning, the life that they are living, is the living breathing Word of God, the bible, the gospel which those who do not know Christ read with their eyes and their ears
They Look At Them
Yes, they do. In fact, those who do not know Christ will be able to know Him through those who do. A lot of people actually read those who do believe like they would a book.
They look at everything Christians say and do. So like how the teachers of the law and the religious leaders of His day followed Jesus or have Him tailed everywhere He went -- listening to every word He says or reporting back what they have witnessed.
Agenda
Not for good reason though as they were waiting for Him to mess up. They even created scenarios in which they expect to entrap Him into saying and doing something "wrong". But the more they "stalk" Him and the more they put up "traps" for Him, the more people are amazed at Jesus and turn to believe in Him.
Post Jesus
Now after Jesus left for heaven, it was His closest followers and then the early leaders of the church who took over to be the living breathing letter, the living walking bible, the gospel which people read.
Like the Apostle Paul who along with his team taught the Word of God to the cities they went to, such as Corinth, Antioch, Athens, Philippi, Berea, Rome, Ephesus, Galatia, Tyre, Listra, Laodicea, Thessalonica and many others.
This they were able to do through the Spirit of the living God.
Countless times, people who became followers of Christ became followers themselves because they were amazed at how those who do follow Christ, conduct themselves and live their lives.
New Creation
Many who started as skeptics or seekers just could not understand how someone who used to live an unGodly life, suddenly is transformed and become a totally new person. Curious, they want to know the reason for such a supernatural transformation.
And when they do find out, some are also surprised to find out that they have become believers and have become transformed from the inside out. And the cycle continues.
Wheat From the Chaff
Of course like in everything else, there will be true believers and those who only profess to be -- those who say they follow Christ but they do not know Him at all.
Once the Spirit of God indwells in a believer, he lives in accord of the Spirit.
And through the way they live their lives (through their fruits), people will be able to tell.
An apple tree will not bear pineapples. In the same way, someone living in the Spirit (as opposed to the flesh) will show the fruit of the Spirit.
The fruit of the Spirit of God is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23a).
And normally it is when the going gets tough, when these fruits come out in season. For when one is weak, is when the Spirit is strong.
Lent
There is a difference between those who know of Jesus and those who know Him. This Season of Lent, let us really get to know Him who is the Word of God.
Sadly, some were just born into the faith but know little of what they profess to believe. Some were brought up with no concept of God or a different god. And the rest were born or groomed to despise Christians.
The Season of Lent is a great time and great opportunity to get to know what Christianity is all about. And it is all about Christ.
Lent - Day 1
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