On Jun 28, 2012 7:34 AM, "eldoret gentry" <eldorets> wrote:
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> Good morning everyone,
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> 2 Corinthians 13:4-For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.
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> Sadly when many Christians think of the word "evangelize" we can easily think about "strategies" as to how to reach people with a "relevant’ act that communicates the message of the gospel. Though that might be effective in getting the message out, is it personally effective in relating to weak and hurting people?

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> If our lives as Christians have no sign of weakness and/or pain that we are constantly bringing to Christ, it leaves many people thinking Christians are more focused on their image as being "good people trying to get to heaven", than a Christ-centered person who lives with a mission and message for all people. So we do this not because we are "good", but because we too are weak and hurting more times than not. But we have a God who is bigger than all the pain, and gives purpose for our past or present scars, so there can be true humility in our service.

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> But sadly many Christians I have come across won’t deal with their past hurts and present weaknesses. But instead try and live an ambitious life that is acceptable amongst the people they know and live around. So there are no testimonies because the pain and maybe the embarrassment is still there, and doesn’t agree with the image we want to project. So we never relate with Christ and His forgiveness as our story to share, but more or less a kind word or deed, that probably leaves people in as much pain that we are still in. Potentially many can be left without a testimony from us of how the gospel gives life and strength through Christ, for a purpose to live and share with others.

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> In His Love, LD
>
> On Jun 27, 2012 5:46 PM, "Soong-Yol Hong" <soongyol> wrote:
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>> Who would you rather be? The world’s smartest person or the world’s most loving person?
>>
>> Things that come with being the smartest: Lots of money. Recognition. Comfortable life. Power (control). Pride.
>> Things that come with being the most loving: Lots of heartaches. Sacrifice. Poverty. Weakness. Humility.
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>> But consider this question: Who do you appreciate and admire most among the people you have known? Are they the smart people or are they the loving people?
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>> If our knowledge of God does not make us more loving, then it’s false knowledge.
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>> "Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." 1 John 4:7,8
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>> How do we make ourselves more loving? How do we love those who are so different? Deeply meditate on what Jesus did for us.
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>> "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him…. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." 1 John 4:10

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>> Our motive for loving those who are unlovely to us is found in realizing how Jesus loved us. Can you think of anyone who would be more different than we are to God? He is a Creator. We are creatures. He is holy. We are unholy. He is perfect. We are sinful. He is infinite. We are finite… And yet, He loved us so much that He gave His Son!

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>> The ultimate test for the genuineness of our faith is in how we love those who are different from us. And to do this, we must be born again. We cannot make ourselves more loving. It must come from God. Jesus must be beautiful to us. Jesus must be desirable to us. If not, why would we love Him in the first place, and love others in the second place?

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>> Pray: Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. I want to see You…
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>> PH