Posted on by Christian Armetta

A Gentle Whisper

1 Kings 19:11-13

11 “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

whisper

“Yes My child?” the Lord asserts. “I’m afraid!” exclaims the broken. “I have had enough,” the exhausted continues. “Enter My presence, and I will restore you!” proclaims the Lord. With reverent fear, the fractured soul walks to the edge. He thinks, “Is this the end of my very existence?” At that very moment, the Lord passes by causing mountains to shake, rocks to crumble, and fire to erupt!”

With jolted spirit, the humbled says, “Thank you Lord for speaking to me in such a mighty display renewing a wavering faith.” Yet, a whisper moves gently across your neck as it peacefully reaches your ear. While the earth is resting from an awe-inspiring display of His majesty, His voice, ever so softly, bends your inner ear in order to force acute concentration to His words…”I wasn’t in the mighty wind, or the earthquake, or the fire. I’m standing right next to you!”

You hit your knees as your brain begins to comprehend the magnitude not of what you witnessed with your eyes but from what you heard. You begin to understand that the Lord’s presence is strong enough to move the entire earth; yet, His voice is gentle enough to draw you away from your deepest fears, anxieties, and heartaches to a place of tranquility and peace…His gentle whisper.

My dear friends, are you watching for God to speak through a “mighty wind” or are you humbly prone listening for a gentle whisper? What a lesson in this passage!

Thought: Awake with a renewed perception of God’s voice and presence!

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

Posted on by Christian Armetta

Heart

1 Samuel 16:7

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

different

The world is cruel. Society is ruthless. Peers are vicious. However, as believers we are called to a different standard – a higher one! Mark 12:30-31 says, “30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” [Pause]…Did we just read that correctly? Yes, yes we did! Now who feels the conviction? Me!

I have said it before and I will say again…the world does not have a policy problem, it has a sin problem. These two commandments cut to the “heart” of our problem…love and acceptance. From a sociology perspective, we tend to gather around the norm; it’s safe and comfortable. Sadly, we then begin to point fingers at what society labels as abnormal and different. The fundamental principle is that our hearts are all the same; there are ventricles, valves, atria, and aorta. It pumps blood throughout our bodies all day and night. We truly are not that different underneath skin, muscle, and bone. Yet, Satan has convinced us otherwise.

Matthew 7:1-2 says, ““Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.” Not only are we instructed not to judge, but Jesus clearly states not to judge based on outward appearance. Jesus is always concerned with the heart! 

One of my most favorite examples from such a cruel account involves the crucification story. In Luke 23:41, the criminal states “…for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” The criminal continued when he stated, “42 Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” 43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” Ah, this is a beautiful example of a heart judgment by the righteous One; the only One who can truly judge!

Was Jesus concerned with this man’s looks? No.

Was Jesus concerned with this man’s religious correctness? No

Jesus was only assessing the heart! We ought to be ashamed of ourselves for superimposing our judgment over what Jesus clearly states is more valuable – the heart!

So, the next time you feel the need to condemn your fellow neighbor for not living up to YOUR standards, please humble yourself before the Lord and seek forgiveness. The old adage is true, “When you point one finger at someone, there are three pointing back at you.” Do not judge for you will be treated as you treat others.  Friends, the only way to change your heart it to allow the Master in! Digging into your relationship with the Father is a sure way of living a life like Christ.

Question: Do you have three fingers pointing back at you? Then put your hand down! Instead, lend a helping hand to those you initially judge or condemn.

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

Posted on by Christian Armetta

Did He Really Say That?

Genesis 6:9-22

9 This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God. 10 Noah was the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

11 Now God saw that the earth had become corrupt and was filled with violence.12 God observed all this corruption in the world, for everyone on earth was corrupt.13 So God said to Noah, “I have decided to destroy all living creatures, for they have filled the earth with violence. Yes, I will wipe them all out along with the earth!

14 “Build a large boat from cypress wood and waterproof it with tar, inside and out. Then construct decks and stalls throughout its interior. 15 Make the boat 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. 16 Leave an 18-inch opening below the roof all the way around the boat. Put the door on the side, and build three decks inside the boat—lower, middle, and upper.

17 “Look! I am about to cover the earth with a flood that will destroy every living thing that breathes. Everything on earth will die. 18 But I will confirm my covenant with you. So enter the boat—you and your wife and your sons and their wives.19 Bring a pair of every kind of animal—a male and a female—into the boat with you to keep them alive during the flood. 20 Pairs of every kind of bird, and every kind of animal, and every kind of small animal that scurries along the ground, will come to you to be kept alive. 21 And be sure to take on board enough food for your family and for all the animals.”

22 So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.

Sad-man

Does God really want me to do that? We’ve all felt the tug, piercing, and even near audible call to step out in faith, but we doubt! Instead of placing feet to faith, we entertain our own logic which inadvertently fosters doubt…”Did He really say that?”

Most of us know this passage by heart. We can retell the story in great detail. It’s amazing! After re-reading this passage today, I gleaned even more valuable information. This is actually typical each time I pick up the Word. What about you? The Holy Spirit has a supernatural way of revealing something new each and every time you open the Bible. I love how He peels back the layers.

For me, I was drawn more into Noah’s character than the objective details God outlined in constructing the ark. What did you notice? Genesis 6:9 says it all, “Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God.” What a testimony!

Yes, I fully understand that we are to emulate Jesus Christ, and He alone is our model; however, I would love to be characterized like Noah in this passage. As God looked down upon all the corruption in the earth, He was drawn to this one man because of his faithfulness, integrity, and righteousness. I pray for such qualities! Even more, he walked closely with God. There are many people on this earth that truly have a nice personality; they are even kind to strangers and give to those in need. However, they are still lost because they do not have a personal relationship with their Savior, Jesus Christ. We must remember that “niceness” alone will not get you to heaven. This, of course, is a natural fruit of being a believer, but simply being nice and doing good works will not come close to sanctifying us. 

I urge you to live a life that can only be characterized by righteousness, blamelessness, and in close fellowship with your Creator. What a challenge…or is it? Don’t get me wrong. I fully understand the temptations and worldly draw. However, this is more than a challenge my friends; this is an expectation! All believers are called to live clean and innocent lives as children of God. Therefore, this is more than a challenge; it’s an expectation.

Surrounded by evil and endless mocking, Noah did not waver. According to verse 22, “Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.” In essence, Noah didn’t say, “Lord, let me check my calendar, consult with scholars, or think about that a bit longer because what you are asking is short of insane.” Instead, Noah did what? — got busy for the Lord! I love it! He could have asked so many questions. If you’re like me, you would have attempted to present a detailed outline of pros and cons as part of your business model. I’m just thankful our God is a patient Father because He most certainly has to be patient with me! 

A valuable lesson today:

-God doesn’t need your business model. He wrote the rules!

-God doesn’t need your approval. He IS the Ruler!

-God doesn’t need your analysis. He desires your faith!

-God doesn’t need your doubt. He seeks your conviction!

-God doesn’t need your suspicion. He assesses your dependency.

So, has God asked you to build an “ark” in the middle of a field, nowhere near a body of water lately? Now you’re thinking! What has God called you to do that you think is outlandish? Is it time to be faithful and trust Him? —YES! Do you want to be seen as righteous, faithful, and dependent? —ABSOLUTELY!

Thought: Stop controlling and give in to His calling. What is He asking you to do?

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

Posted on by Christian Armetta · 3 Comments

Refuge in the Storm

Psalm 16:1-11

1 Keep me safe, O God,
    for I have come to you for refuge.

2 I said to the Lord, “You are my Master!

    Every good thing I have comes from you.”

3 The godly people in the land
    are my true heroes!
    I take pleasure in them!

4 Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods.
    I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood
    or even speak the names of their gods.

5 Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing.

    You guard all that is mine.

6 The land you have given me is a pleasant land.
    What a wonderful inheritance!

7 I will bless the Lord who guides me;

    even at night my heart instructs me.

8 I know the Lord is always with me.
    I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

9 No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.

    My body rests in safety.

10 For you will not leave my soul among the dead
    or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.

11 You will show me the way of life,
    granting me the joy of your presence
    and the pleasures of living with you forever.

refuge

There is such comfort in knowing Jesus is always with us. He is truly by your side. Even more, as believers we know that the Spirit of God lives within us. There is never a time when we are ever truly alone. Even though darkness encircles and oppression is eminent, Scripture tells us that the same God who raised Jesus from the dead lives within you and me!

Do you honestly believe that the same powerful God, capable of absolutely anything, lives within you and me?

-Do you feel bound or bold in Christ?

-Do you experience fear or freedom in the Savior?

-Do you feel spiritually paralyzed or spiritually pardoned through the blood of Christ?

-Do you emulate His goodness or live in grief?

Psalm 16:5 says, “5 Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine.” What a reassuring blessing. As believers, we can truly rest on the fact that Jesus is our inheritance, not diamonds, coins, or gold. Our inheritance is firmly planted in the cornerstone of the Lamb. Great things are built upon His strong foundation!

Allow your body, soul, and spirit to rest in His safety. Philippians 4:6 says, “6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” Yes, thank Him even in advance because He is that good and His promises never fail.

Psalm 106:2 says, “Who can list the glorious miracles of the Lord? Who can ever praise him enough?” This passage alone is humbling enough to lay aside all grief, strife, discord, and frustration because my God is glorious; we truly cannot praise Him enough for all His goodness.

I pray that you find peace and comfort from today’s passage. No matter what you’re facing, God is not only protecting you, He is working within you for His purpose. Give Him all honor and praise for He is GOOD!

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

Posted on by Christian Armetta

Distorted

Romans 12:8

8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

Free Wallpapers

Interesting isn’t it? I am mesmerized by the beauty of this abstract light art. The golden rays bend across the darkness to cast beautiful pieces of art. It is almost as if the prisms are attracted to the darkness. The camera catches the bends and arcs through a gorgeous distortion of perception. You can get lost in this for days. Yet, I offer this abstract piece of light art as a discussion tool into how Satan distorts our beautiful art as well.

I find it very interesting [without digging into Biblical commentaries and other scholarly articles], that the apostle Paul emphasized the utilization of these spiritual gifts. In essence, Paul is saying two things:

  1. Do not become complacent thereby underutilizing your special gifts.
  2. Do not allow Satan to distort your strengths/gifts for his purpose.

Honestly, if you are not using your gifts for building God’s kingdom, then you most certainly fall into one of these two categories. God has bestowed such goodness upon His children. He has not only designed but also personally tailored special spiritual gifts for each of His children. There are many of you who are underutilizing your gifts, why? Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal such answers.

There are also times in our lives where we allow Satan to distort our gifts for his purpose. As stated in the passage above, we are instructed to “go all out” when utilizing our spiritual gifts. There is no room for half-effort. Yet, what does it look like when Satan takes our strongest gifts and turns them around?

For those who are givers [like me], this looks like pride and selfishness. During different seasons of our lives, we may say to ourselves, “I’m tired of giving because no one notices or even thanks me—so I quit!” YIKES! This is a great example of Satan taking your spiritual gift and using it for his purpose.

What about those who are given leadership abilities? The passage says to “take it seriously.” Let that soak in for a minute! Are you tired of leading? Rebuke the lies from the devil and lead firmly for the Lord as He directs. Yes, there are definitely times when we are called to be “support staff”; however, when you are called to lead, do so cheerfully and seriously.

What about our believers who are gifted in showing great kindness? This passage says to do it gladly. Do we need to be reminded to show kindness? Honestly-yes. We ALL DO! This applies to every single one of us. There are too many times in a day when our flesh “messes up” a good thing. The struggle is real, I know! What happens when your food order is completely messed up yet you already paid? What does it look like when someone interrupts you continuously? What does it feel like when someone starts to get on your very last nerve? Ah…kindness or entitlement?

Question: What are your gifts? How are you utilizing them…for the Kingdom or for Satan’s purpose?

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

Posted on by Christian Armetta

Service

Luke 22:27

Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.

service

There is nothing more humbling than listening to the testimony of a young man describing his childhood where he lived in deplorable conditions. He painted a vivid picture of extreme poverty; yet he overcame! He went on to say that being raised in Panama City, Panama was very difficult for his family. Naturally as a child living in these conditions, he did not know what Xbox was or even an iPhone. He didn’t fight with his sisters over which t.v. show to watch that evening; conversations revolved around cleaning the mud out of the house every time it rained and if there was going to be any food to eat for dinner that night. He fully understood that even the simple things in life were hard to come by. This was an awakening moment for me.

You see, this young man was the recipient of “Operation Christmas Child” sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse. This young man learned to trust in Jesus through this wonderful organization.

Samaritan’s Purse Mission Statement:

(https://www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/about-us/)

Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ. The organization serves the church worldwide to promote the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

This young man, now living in the United States, travels the country giving his testimony and rallying believers to not only participate in this wonderful ministry but to also volunteer by either packing boxes or delivering them. After watching the video of God’s precious children gleefully opening their Christmas boxes, there is only one response I can make – GO and DO in Jesus’ name. Most children in America are used to opening expensive gifts, gadgets, and clothes. However, these children are thrilled to see pencils, paper, flashlights, and soap…PERSPECTIVE!

I truly do not think we “get it.” Most of us are surrounded by luxury compared to other parts of the world. Honestly, if you have running water and an indoor bathroom, then you are miles ahead of many in this world! We complain when our cell phones aren’t fast enough or our cars aren’t polished enough. We argue to complete strangers over the smallest inconveniences while children are going to bed literally starving.

To this I say – ENOUGH! Our greatest model of servanthood was and continues to be Jesus Christ. God in human form served better than anyone else. He could have easily sat at the head of the table and demanded to be served. However, that was not His mission AND IT’S NOT YOURS! So stop it!

I pray that we humble ourselves and simply give. Give time, energy, and even money if you feel led. Whatever you do…simply serve! There are so many hurting souls. Are we convicted enough to get up from our comfortable couches and plush chairs and get our hands dirty? Are we even convicted enough to go hungry if it meant giving our last meal to a starving family?

Thought: We are quickly approaching the holiday months, and I implore you to simply give! Ask the Holy Spirit to use you in a powerful way.

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

Posted on by Christian Armetta · 1 Comment

Vulnerability

2 Corinthians 6:11-13

11 Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open to you. 12 There is no lack of love on our part, but you have withheld your love from us. 13 I am asking you to respond as if you were my own children. Open your hearts to us!

sitting on bench

While sitting on a newly dusted sofa, she anxiously awaits the knock at the door. Through the deafening clicks from the clock on the wall, she mentally sounds off every painful second…tick-tock, tick-tock. It’s almost as if time itself is reinforcing her deep-rooted insecurities. Each secondhand click brings forth these dreaded words: unwanted, unloved, failure…She is now paralyzed by her own insecurities and fear.

She cannot remember a time when anyone stumbled across her doorstep much less through an open invitation. Today was different. Since giving her life to Christ, she has experienced a transformation through the power of His blood – transformational! Although continuing to fight the inner demons of insecurity, she is choosing to remove tall walls, layer by layer, that have isolated her for years.

While staring at the wall recalling her life’s struggles, she comes face-to-face with her deepest fear – vulnerability. Just at that time she hears the knock at the door. “What do I do?” she thinks. The dark inner voices come forth and say, “Why did you invite them here? You know they will eventually hurt you! You aren’t worth their love anyway so just hide, and they will go away!”

Tears begin to flow from the deep well of personal torment. She stands up in what appears to be self-defeat; the demons cheer as they continue to press her to retreat. Yet, she reaches for the door handle instead of turning to run. The inner voices leap forward in their last attempt to self-harm. She nearly retches as she slowly opens the door all while fighting her inner-demons.

With the most fluid of motions, the church members awaiting outside glide into the foyer where they individually embrace their new small group member. One by one, they speak words of encouragement and thankfulness, “It’s so good to see you! Your home is beautiful. Thank you so much for inviting us over for Bible study today.” Every single word, phrase, and physical embrace marking the true love of Christ through His people appear to wipe away every negative thought. She turns around to find a room full of Christ-loving believers in the same space where she once gave in to self-defeat and depression.

A smile replaces apprehension! As she walks back into the living room, she offers a prayer of thanksgiving. She is thankful for opening not only her home but her heart. She thinks, “I never dreamed being vulnerable would be so fulfilling; thank you Lord!”

Dear friends, there is no greater reward than building God-honoring relationships; however, this requires vulnerability. Do not withhold your love. Allow God to deliver you from fear, anxiety, and doubt. Also, ask Father God to fill you up with His peace where you can share the love of Christ in return.

Thought: Satan loves an isolated Christian! There is power in community. Tear down the walls and open up your heart.

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

Posted on by Christian Armetta

Step

Psalm 119:105

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”

lantern

While leaving work today, God blessed me with a special encounter. As I’ve stated before, nothing happens by chance. I seek God’s face in all conversations, encounters, and even disruptions for God works in all situations. The question then is, “Are you willing to listen?”

Yet, today was different. This was most certainly not a disruption; this was a divine and destined encounter by God. I was running slightly behind schedule which providentially allowed me to run into a dear friend walking out of work on her very last day. You see, we all have been dreading this day for we love her, truly. I thought I had already said my goodbyes, which was hard to do, but I was so thankful to see her one last time – this special time as she leaves her job for the last time.

We cannot imagine no longer working alongside this special friend. She is kindhearted, light, attentive, God-fearing, and just plain fun to be around. Yet, over the past few months, she has had to hold back tears of true physical pain as she deals with a newly diagnosed physical condition. However, through this trial, I have seen her faith grow like the deep roots of an oak. She says with pure determination all while clutching her hands in pain, “I’m going to get my miracle!” This my friends is FAITH!

She is truly taking a single step in faith as she begins a new journey – cautious, nervous, and even scared, but this is where God is made perfect in our weakness. The passage above reminds us that God’s Word is a “lamp upon my feet.” You see, this special friend is living this passage to the fullest! She is taking a single step in faith focusing on Christ to sustain, deliver, and protect her and her family – wow – what a testimony.

With tear-filled eyes and such a heavy heart, we embrace and offer words of encouragement. God IS in control! So, today I encourage you and my sweet friend to keep taking steps of faith, one at a time, focusing on Christ who will steady each step. Even though we are intellectually gifted enough to problem solve many steps ahead, the Word says give it to God because let’s face it…we aren’t THAT gifted! Try to picture Father God sitting high on His throne in full control of the whole world and universe. We have enough trouble controlling our children, work, school, and athletic schedules let alone every single human being, living creature, and universe…o.k. I think you get the point.

It boils down to stop looking so far ahead and simply asking God to steady our next step as it aligns with His perfect will on earth as it is in heaven.

“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34).

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

So, my friend and I parted ways not knowing when we would see each other again, but this special friend will never know how much she touched my life! I pray that you always remember that you are projecting a testimony in the way you live your life – positive or negative! Today, I say thank you Jessie for showing us faith and a positive testimony. You will be missed greatly. We will not cease in our prayers, and we too believe that you will receive your miracle! We will commit to picking up our lanterns and taking one step of faith alongside you.

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

Posted on by Christian Armetta · 1 Comment

Pretending

Romans 12:9

9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.

fake

As we continue our current series on living a genuine Christian life, I would like to further emphasize our responsibility to be real, loving, and true. In turn, I would say stop being fake and stop pretending! Do you really love others? Let that soak in for a minute…do you REALLY? The Bible is filled with accounts of Christ humbling himself to love on others. God in the flesh…serving and dying for us! Whoa!

John 15:13 even says, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Jesus demonstrated this to the fullest by laying down his life for all of humanity, even those who hated Him and didn’t believe in Him. Now that my friends is love! We have zero excuse to live in opposition to His teachings for He paid the ultimate sacrifice.

What does this passage really mean to you? For me, I want to be ever so sensitive to the Spirit that I do not miss a single opportunity to love on others. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not perfect! Yet, I do not want to be engaged in any act that would be viewed or considered unloving by outsiders—why? I truly don’t want to be a stumbling block against the Kingdom. Remember, Satan’s best offense is a rebellious believer! It only takes one off-color comment or bad decision to negatively influence a seeker. Some of you might be thinking, “That’s not me!” However, I would encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth and wash it clean.

We are not only encouraged but tasked with loving others. This takes such work because people can be unloveable. Can we be real for a moment? Of course we can! This world is filled with imperfect humans…yes, you and me included. Therefore, that is a ‘perfect’ recipe for unlovable moments. However, Christ never failed. What a beautiful example! He sought out the different, the strange, the ravaged, the hated, the scorned, the sinner–yes, he sought you! Christ died for the same people we call strange, annoying, and just plain different even today. Who are we to judge His people? Do you feel the conviction as I do?

Where are you dear friends? Is your nose in the air or your knees on the ground? Is your finger pointed to you or your hands lifted to Him? Are your actions self-indulgent or does the sweat from your brow tell a story of servicing the needy? Is your pocketbook cushioned or filled with faith while you place all that you have in the plate? These are the questions we must be asking each other. We must sharpen the flock in order to live and love like Jesus.

Question: What does true love look like to you?

Challenge: Stop being fake and pretending and start influencing others in a positive manner giving honor to God the Father.

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

Posted on by Christian Armetta

God’s Way Out

1 Peter 2:12

12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

God's Way Out

When discussing a “tough” sermon topic on any given Sunday morning, I laugh every time our pastor says, “This Biblical principle must only apply to me because I know ya’ll aren’t as messed up as me!” – with a wink of course. I love how we can admit that (A) WE NEED JESUS because we are not perfect and (B) we are not in this alone.

I wanted to expound upon our topic yesterday, and this passage does just that! What happens when we present as God-fearing believers yet our actions scream otherwise? Sadly, this defines hypocrisy and stumbling block of which we discussed briefly yesterday. I wanted to take this a step further by examining the implications of our behavior. Here in 1 Peter, we see a direct correlation between living honorably and reflecting honor back to the Father. Remember – it’s not about you! Your words and actions should always point others to the Savior. If our words, actions, and behavior point seekers away from the Savior in a way, we are not living honorably and therefore in sin.

This simple, yet challenging Biblical principle, is one that we should print out and tape to every mirror we own! This is a beautiful reminder of our GREAT responsibility as believers. Do you realize that you are that influential? Don’t get me wrong—not in a pride sense of the term—rather, in a spiritual sense. Therefore, we must die to self and be true servants to the One who paid the ultimately price! As you finish out this week, remember to “live properly among your unbelieving neighbors” so that they may see God ALL OVER YOU no matter what situation you are in – returning honor back to the Father.

As we dig deeper, think about how we treat our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Honestly, most of us are extra cautious when it comes to influencing non-believers. I do believe that most of us have a heightened sense of importance and awareness which helps guard our thoughts and words.

What happens when we repeatedly gossip about our fellow believers?

What does it look like when we are often quick to anger to those we call brother or sister in Christ?

What impact is felt when we are the complainers in all situations, especially when it comes to making changes in church procedures?

What stumbling block is deposited for all to see when we give very little personally and then fail to dig any deeper for an offering or church/community volunteerism?

Yes, it stings-I know! The purpose behind this message is one of sharpening. As we come together in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ask God to reveal your strongholds. Most importantly, give him the key and let him CLEAN HOUSE! Remember, the only way to a successful life, filled with the Spirit, and giving honor back to the Father is through God – “God’s Way Out!” By doing this, you are choosing to live an honorable life where non-believers AND believers alike see Jesus all over you. In the end, you want others to mimic Christ – not you! It’s time to clean house so choose God’s way out.

Thankful,

Christian Armetta