Expect the Unexpected

We have a God of surprises and sometimes shocks. We live in a world of roadblocks and barriers. At various times throughout history, people have tried to create Utopia. A perfect world.

For each of us, our utopian vision is different. A paedophile would want certain things available in their utopia that I would find gross and offensive. What would a thief want? Or a footballer? Or the homeless guy you just walked past with barely a glance?

Have you ever heard a person say, “I don’t want to go to heaven if there is …” or “… if there is no …”

Or “If so and so is in heaven I don’t want to go.”

Or “my heaven is …”

We have a God of surprises and sometimes shocks. We live in a broken world, which is more dystopian than utopian. There are things being done on this planet, right now, that I find gross and offensive.

But what am I going to do about it? It is obvious I can do nothing to change a person. God can change people but I cannot. Neither can you.

But we can live differently, we can choose not to be a part of the wrongs in this world. We can choose not to fill our heads with mindless storylines from banal soap operas. We can choose to live out our faith by using our hands, feet, eyes, ears and mouth for His glory alone. We can choose…

Life with God.

Real faith is not some ritualistic speech or question and answer session during a religious service. Real faith is not warm fuzzies being around people who feel the same. Real faith is not a mind game. Real faith is not something to merely believe.

Real faith is an action word. Faithing. Real faith is something we do. If we are living with God we are faithing with God too. We are (some old guy said) the hands and feet of Jesus in this world now. And he was right and so we need to show this world a better way of living.,,

Not with words, not with conundrums and impossible mind games. But with our actions.

Let our actions speak of our faith.

Let our actions speak of our love

Let our actions speak of our gentleness

Let our actions speak of our patience

Let our actions speak of our joy

Let our actions speak of our peace

Let our actions speak of our kindness, faithfulness and self-control.

After all: Matthew 22:36-40

36 ‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’

37 Jesus replied: ‘“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”[

38 This is the first and greatest commandment.

39 And the second is like it: “Love your neighbour as yourself.”

40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.’