🕧In The Middle With 🫵

 

There comes a moment when we all must realize that life is short, and in the end the only thing that really counts is not how others see us, but how God sees us. — Billy Graham -

Colossians 2:16 (KJV) Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

It is so easy to judge others, we hear it all the time. If those were my kids I would…… If my wife or husband did that I would……. If my boss said that to me I would….. why in the world do they look like that…. I know I missed a bunch but you get the idea it is easy to judge others to make us look good. We should never forget what Jesus said in  Matthew 7:3 (KJV) And why  beholdest   thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

Let us not forget what we have already read in this chapter.  Verse 10  “ye are complete in him” complete meaning that you don’t need anything else. Some believe if you don’t go to church singing in the choir then you are hell bound. It didn’t read you are complete in him if you attend church and sing in the choir, or anything else added. I think you should attend a good Church because that is where you will learn more about your Savior, but church is not a requirement for heaven. How do I know that? Well the Bible says we are complete in Jesus. If you go and read in the book of Luke chapter 23 you’ll find that Jesus is being nailed to a cross on a hill called Calvary. On that hill called Calvary there are two other men. Now what is interesting is what happened to those two other men who were placed on crosses, one on each side of Jesus. Jesus in the middle of two thieves. One of those men never sees his sin while the other does. Both men are guilty of the same crime. Why is Jesus in the middle? Why not on the outside? Both men had the same distance to Jesus. The same is true today all of us are sinners and we, like those two men, have the same opportunity. Read it for yourself.

Luke 23:32 (KJV) And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.

Luke 23:33 (KJV) And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

Luke 23:39 (KJV)  And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. Was he on the left or right side? I don’t know. Jesus doesn’t take sides.  Both needed Christ the same as you and I.  

Luke 23:40 (KJV) But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation How bout it, death fastly approaching don’t you fear? 

Luke 23:41 (KJV)  And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

Luke 23:42 (KJV)  And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. Ye have not because ye ask not.

Luke 23:43 (KJV)  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.  

  What happened? One of those guilty men saw Jesus as his Savior and said “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom” that was it. How did Jesus respond? “To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” that thief was complete in Jesus Christ which means he didn’t need anything else. Neither do you and I. Well what about going to Church? You don’t need a high School diploma to get a job. Later in life most will go get a GED and some will even go to college. Why? Because it helps them get better jobs and more money. What does that have to do with the Church? Church helps you learn more about Jesus. Why is that? Because the more one knows about Jesus the closer one walks with Jesus and not only that the more one knows about their Heavenly home where they will soon be. I will agree there are a lot of people that go to Church that do bad things. But I go to Church to learn and yes sometimes my feelings have been hurt like back in the 70’s I was bringing those to my church that were not the same color. Every Sunday I would take off in an old school bus and go pick up 40+ kids, many of a different race. One woman didn’t like it and she made a big deal about it, but you know what? I kept on doing what I was doing. What was that? going into the highway and hedges and bringing in boys and girls that needed to hear about Jesus and not only that I was talking to their parents too. I wish I could tell you more about the time and the nights I spent in the places where white people didn't go after dark. The houses I sat in and the friends I made. I still remember those days and often wonder what happened to those kids and their parents. None of those who hurt my feelings ever experienced anything close to that because they let fear get the best of them. Sometimes God sends you where others won’t go. Complete in Jesus no matter what Country, no matter what Color. Got Jesus? What could I want more!