A Few Challenges Social Media Presents to Our Faith

Fellow Believers in Christ,

Today we are able to reach out and touch anyone regardless of where they are in the world thanks to modern technology. This is good when we reach out to that long last friend or family member or use it to keep up with loved ones spread across the country or perhaps in some other country. However wonderful this technology is it comes with flaws and challenges that test our faith as Christians. Paul reminds us in Romans 12:1-2 that the way we live our lives is the way we worship God. Therefore it is important to consider our actions in a technologically advanced society and the impact that they will have on those that receive them. Will they know that God lives in us by what we post, tweet, or share with others?

Jesus cautioned of two shortfalls He noticed in His society that are still ones that will trip us up in the modern technology age.

1. When giving to the needy we must not flaunt all the gifts of time or financial gifts that we give to the poor. Instead we are to give without seeking notice (Matthew 6:2-4) and praise from those around us. It is God that gets the glory and not us. Modern day social media makes it so very easy to say look at me and notice what I have done. This attitude leads us to start thinking of others not as good as ourselves, which is a very dangerous place to be when trying to live our lives in worship to God.
2. Proverbs reminds us that gossip can destroy confidence between someone you once trusted (Proverbs 11:13) and can destroy friendships (Proverbs 16:28). The technology we have today allows us to fire off our thoughts immediately as we press send which is not always the best course of action. I have done this before and then regretted what I wrote and how I said it. Using our words to gossip about others does not permit us to tell others God's story.

The question I was faced with this week as I Romans 12:1-2 was this: Am I living a life that daily honors God and does all that I do worship Him? If it does not I need to change my life so it does honor God daily.

I leave you with Paul's words found in Romans 12:1-2 (NIV 2010) to read and reflect on. I hope that they move you this week like they have me.

Romans 12:1-2 (NIV 2010)

¹ And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. ² Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Your Brother in Christ,
Mike

Faced with a Mountain in Your Way

Fellow Friends of Christ,

Today, I was talking with a friend and who felt they were up against a huge mountain in their life path, and they asked what do you do to move past it. I responded that someone that desires to climb a mountain with any level of success and reach the mountain peek seeks out someone familiar with climbing that particular mountain.

God sometimes places mountains in our path to to allow us to grow and become the person that He has created us to be. It is difficult to see the rewards of climbing the mountains of life and growing as you go take each step. Paul wrote to the church in Philippi that with God all things are possible (Philippians 4:13), so no matter how bad you think things are God is with you and has never left your side.

Remember in this life and the next you are never alone and always have the support of the creator of the world, because with Him everything is possible. God is our guide and has climbed every mountain that we will ever face, so we need to let Him guide us.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike

A Friend of God

Fellow Believers in Christ,

In John 15:14 (NCV) Jesus said, "You are my friends if you do what I command you". While just two verses before this He gave us the command to love one another the way that he loves us.

Recently at work I ran across an individual that is not so easy to love. No matter how I have tried to reach this person and stear them in the right direction they seem to choose the wrong way. I wanted to give up on this person and clean my hands of them completely, and my wife looked at me and let me know I was not acting much like a Christian. Following a brief chat with my chaplain this morning I read these words that John pinned thousands of years ago.

It is far to easy for us to love those that are easy to love, but God has called us to love even our enemies. God has seen to it that this certain individual is going to be around me for some time to come. He sees that this is an area that I need to work on so that I can earn the right to be called a friend of God.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike

God's Timing is Not My Own

Fellow Believers in Christ,

Recently, I have seen God working in my life, but in order to see Him prodding me along the path that He has designated that I follow it has taken over a year and He had to close one door and open another to allow me to see all of the little things that He used to get me to this point.

Our culture is in such a rush to get things done now, however when we are in a rush it is easy to miss the small subtle clues that God has left for us along our path. That is why it is important to take time to get away and get into God's Word and listen for His still and quiet voice. Reflecting on the past during this time is a good way to seek those clues that God placed in your life and mine.

However, God does not leave us here, yet we are left with a decision to be made. We can choose to correct our path and follow God's direction for our life or we can decide to do our own thing. The choice is a personal one for each of us, but as Joshua said as for me and my family we will serve the Lord.

Your Brother in Christ,
Mike

The Power of One

Fellow Believers in Christ,

I was reading in John 4 a few days ago and the story of the woman at the well and her interaction with Jesus has stuck with me since then. What I find most compeling about this story is that Jesus did not look past her when others in that day and age did because it was the thing to do. He knew that she had value. By taking time out of His very busy schedule to spend with this one woman many people came to know and accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. I love that old song "It Only Takes a Spark" the lyrics that I remember go like this. It only takes a spark to get the fire going. That's how it is with God's love once you experience you want to pass it on. Today, reach out to a person in your life that you would not normally approach and show them that they have value and meaning. Who knows what impact that person will have on the world or the Kingdom of God because you made them feel special.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike