3 Challenges I was not ready for

 

Wake the Faith up Slayer… This is Garth Heckman with the David Alliance and you can reach me at

TDAgiantslayer@gmail.com 

 

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3 challenges I didn’t expect in following Jesus.

 

I thought as a young man in his teens and twenty that being a good strong Christian was pretty simple. You ready your bible and you pray… the more you do those the better of a Christian you become. Sure there is some truth to this, but honestly I know a lot of people who read and pray a lot and they really actually come across as arrogant, self righteous snot balls. 

 

I have friends who post on social media people who are false prophets… they list all types of pastors, teachers and the like that I listen to. They speak of these people with disdain… as far as I know - the people they speak of believe the same tenets that they believe in as far as the gospel is concerned - but they get called false prophets because they don’t agree with them on all of their theology… but my point is this- I see a lack of love in their hearts for those who are different. 

 

HBR lists being able to work with those you don’t like as one of the keys to long term success regardless if you are the boss or the employee. 

In fact they state that one of the benefits is that it causes you to look for the good in those situations. I agree completely. or as Helem Green said “do not judge your walk by your disciplines or your education but rather by how you see those who hate you”. Its a great reminder to me when I feel the nudge to lash out or even hate… well… that Im not all there yet when it comes to being the disciple I should be. Its a good reminder of what I need to work on. 

 

1. Struggling to love others the way Christ loves.

No matter how sinful someone is, no matter how lost they are, no matter how vindictive they are and no matter how much they hate all things Jesus…

God still loves them and wants them to know his love. 

WE do know that God is a patient God and long suffering. Our sin is just as bad as anyones… and we must learn to love like Jesus loved. 

This isn’t something that you clench your teeth and grimace through… this is something that only comes when you ask God to do a work in your life and give you his heart for the lost. 

John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

 

Its a command, not a suggestion. And that word there for love is based off of the root word Agape- Gods love. I will need Gods love to love like God. 

As a serious follower of Christ you will be pushed more than ever to love those you can’t stand- expect it, embrace it and ask God to help you love them. 

Growing up as a pastors kid I was in the presence of some amazing men and woman of God. Fantastic preachers, teachers and some of the most supernatural gifts I have ever seen… and I used to think that these were the signs of a great Christian… 

As I have gotten older what I see in scripture and what I critique someone by is completely different… I now go by really only 2 of Christs commands: 1. Do you actively share the gospel. Because this is heart test #1, and secondly Do you LOVE those that hate you… in fact Jesus said that is how the world will know that we are truly his disciples. 

Do you want to be known as a true disciple… then we must follow the command of loving those who hate us.