HELP

Do you consider yourself “good”? What makes you good? How about “godly”? Do you consider yourself godly? Paul gives us an example of an action that is considered “godly”:

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. ²Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. ³If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important. Galatians 6:1 - 3 (NLT)

Notice that being “godly” is not the same as being God! The second half of verse one is the clue….”be careful not to fall into the same temptation…” God cannot be tempted (James 1:13) but we can.

So the next time your thinking you’re too “good” or too important to help someone, rethink it. Do what God would do, and has done for you; help your brother or sister. Don’t beat them up or ignore them…help them in an attitude of love, understanding that you too, have the same potential for weakness.

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HYPOTHETICAL

Here is a passage from Paul’s letter to the church in Rome. Immediately below it is a hypothetical letter to the church in “Anytown,” America. How far off is it?

Romans 2:17 - 24 (NLT) ¹⁷You who call yourselves Jews are relying on God’s law, and you boast about your special relationship with him. ¹⁸You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught his law. ¹⁹You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness. ²⁰You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God’s law gives you complete knowledge and truth. ²¹Well then, if you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal? ²²You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but do you commit adultery? You condemn idolatry, but do you use items stolen from pagan temples? ²³You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it. ²⁴No wonder the Scriptures say, “The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.”

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Anytown 1:1 You who call yourselves Christian’s are relying upon God’s grace, and you boast about your special relationship with him. You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have his Spirit living within you. You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness. You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God’s grace and indwelling Spirit gives you complete knowledge and truth. Well then, if you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you cheat on your taxes or not return the overage when given too much change? You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but do you occasionally lust after another in your heart? You condemn idolatry, but do you perhaps worship your car, boat, home or other material possessions just a little too much? You are so proud of knowing what is right, but you dishonor God by ignoring it. No wonder it is said of you, “Those without Christ curse the name of God because of you and your hypocrisy.”

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It doesn’t have to be that way! Pray for each other. Encourage each other. Pray for revival. Seek the face of the Almighty God. Just because you are not acting that way doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be praying for and hurting because others in Christ’s church are.

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)

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JUDGMENT

If you never read the Motor Vehicles guide to safe driving, you would still be subject to the rules of the road. If the police officer stops you for running a stop sign, explaining to him that you didn’t know what it meant will not prevent you from getting a ticket.

In the same way, Paul tells us that ignorance of the law is no excuse before God…

When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it. ¹³ For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight. ¹⁴ Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. ¹⁵ They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. ¹⁶ And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life. Romans 2:12 - 16 (NLT)

The day is coming…for those of us that have surrendered our lives to Christ, He is our covering…

For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3 (NASB)

Those that have rejected Christ will have to appear before Him

I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. ¹³ The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. ¹⁴ Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. ¹⁵ And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:12 - 15 (NLT)

Choose today to accept Christ’s sacrifice on your behalf. Your past will melt away in His glorious presence.

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PLAIN

There are consequences for eating too much…it tends to cause you to gain weight! Since those consequences are so plain, why is it that we still overeat?

Chances are, it is because we are relying on ourselves to break the habit, rather than trusting in God.

The consequences of the weight gain may be increased illness and dying earlier than we might have, but the consequences of remaining in a life of sin without Christ are much more devastating.

Look at the simple way that Paul lays out the pros and cons of good and evil:

There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, ¹⁰but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 2:9-10 (NASB)

The correct choice is plain…Choose the goodness of Christ!

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JUDGMENTAL

Who do you know, including yourself, that has never done anything wrong? Go back in your memory as far as you can, did you ever tell a fib? Did you ever let someone else take the blame for something you did? We’re all human and we all have made mistakes at some point in our lives, so how can we pass judgment on someone else who is or has made a mistake?

Here is what Paul has to say about that in his letter to the church in Rome:

Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. Romans 2:1 (NASB)

There is only One who is qualified to judge people on their actions and that is the One True God. Isaiah says this of the Almighty God in the 9^th verse of the 26^th chapter of the Old Testament book bearing his name:

For only when you come to judge the earth

will people learn what is right.

A better path is to try to be understanding and show some empathy toward those who have or are in the process of making mistakes.

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DARKSIDE

Wouldn’t it be cool if there were a checklist of things that pleased or displeased God? I have great news…there is! Paul gives us a list of things in his letter to the church in Rome. The things he lists are actions resulting from people rejecting the Almighty God.

Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. ²⁹Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. ³⁰They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. ³¹They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. ³²They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too. Romans 1:28 - 32 (NLT)

…those who do these things deserve to die…

Turn toward God, do those things that please Him in the power of His Holy Spirit as you walk with His Son Jesus Christ. Choose life!

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