Easter Sunday was great. My mom came up and went with me to Church, and I was very proud that my Pastor (Marty Grubbs) chose to do an 'un-safe' sermon..meaning it was a sermon who might have irritated a few people. I thought it was great, and I thought it was a sermon that needed to be preached!
He was talking about what it means to "Follow Jesus".. We all know those people who claim to believe in God, but want to put no effort into the following OF God. They claim they are smarter than most pastors, or that they don't have to go to church to serve the Lord, they say the don't believe in "Organized Religion" so they choose to not attend a church..etc.. the list goes on and on, and I'm sure you know some of them. I'm sure some of those statements above are true, but when you get right down to it. If you want to have a relationship with God, you have to put a little effort into it..Its like they are saying "I want the Good parts of God..the blessings, the praying, the heaven part of it..but I also want to do whatever I want, whenever I want without any repercussions, or without putting any effort into my relationship with God". Well we all know that doesn't work..That sounds like a pretty ONE-sided relationship to me.
Marty also mentioned the fact that there are so many people out there when asked "What are you teaching your kids about God" that say "Oh, I'm just going to let them figure it out on their own" or "Once they are older they can form their own opinions".. What if we said that about School, or about sports? Most parents would never do that..If their kid was failing math, they would get a math tutor, or make them study harder.. If you want your kids to be good at athletics, you start them off in a program early, teach them how to play, get them coaches, cheer them on..etc.. But what about what you teach them about Church? Or about a God that loves them unconditionally, even when they are failing math, or losing a soccer game? Wouldn't it be nice for them to know that they always have someone to talk to about things they are upset about before they go to bed each night? Would it be nice for them to know that as much as their parents get mad at them, or they get into trouble, that there is God that made them special just as they are, and that will love them no matter what? Yet I never hear of anyone hiring a Tutor for God's word.. Makes me sad too.
I'm so blessed to have had a family that brought me up in a church. Is it the same church I attend now? No, as I got older I was able to form my own opinions..but I'll tell you this, there were many times when my parents got divorced that I told all my troubles to God, because I KNEW he was there. I had read about him in my Sunday school class, and I knew his stories. And I knew he was my friend, and a father I could turn to when I didn't feel like I could talk to my parents. I knew that he had the power to make me feel better when I was sad, and I knew he could mend my heart when it was broken. I can't imagine not having that kind of power in my life. So now that Easter has passed, I hope that more folks will continue to try to find the Lord for themselves, and also for their friends and families, and kiddos. Sometimes, as a kid, we need someone to talk to ABOUT our parents, lol, and God is always a good choice. He may not always talk back, and he may not always give us the answers we like, but he's always there..Always providing, always loving, and always proud to call us his. Just like a great parent.. Hope you all had a great Easter..
"Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me,
and do not forbid them;
for of such is the kingdom of heaven.""
Matthew 19:13-14 New King James Version
and do not forbid them;
for of such is the kingdom of heaven.""
Matthew 19:13-14 New King James Version
