I had a Bible Study scheduled for today already but the thing about writing as led is that, when you feel like you should change things, you change things.
I leave too many conversations these days with an ache in my heart.
Stories about the world-Churches-God’s church-God’s people.
My heart always bleeds(I don’t know what it is with me and feeling pain about anything that has to do with God these days)
I hear stories… People don’t tag Christians with a good scent anymore and it’s really painful to me.
What’s happening?
More often than not, those who point these ills out are people who aren’t strong in God but that doesn’t matter.
If they should point something out about Christians, why shouldn’t it be good things?
I read this post on Aunty Ugochi’s blog recently; The remnant and I had to pause and really think about things.
I must say that there’s a cry more than ever before for youths to be strong in God.
Do we understand that we have to represent Christ?
I was listening to Pastor Chingtok’s song yesterday(I listen to it a lot), the name of the song is B’shem Adonia(a Spirit filled song I tell you) and he said in the ministration – “A believer is created is function above the world but there is trouble when there’s world in the believer”
For a lot of us, there is too much of the world in our boat.
There is almost no difference between our light and the darkness of the world.
We think we have light and that even makes it all the more sad and pathetic.
Jesus said in Matthew 6:23
“But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!”
So what do we do?
What can we do?
Why is there so much sin among Christians?
Why so much lies, fornication, adultery, stealing… among those who are supposed to be Christ likeness on earth?
Why aren’t we representing the kingdom as we should?
I tell you, when I leave some conversations with people, my heart bleeds to no end at the general mind set the average person has about a believer.
But I know that we still have a lot of Christians whose hearts are right towards God.
Whom God can mould into perfection in Him.
So can we please pray?
Pray for ourselves, for everyone connected to this blog, for every Christian on earth, for everyone we come in contact with who is a Christian?
1Timothy 2:1 saysÂ
” I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.”
People are struggling with a lot of things that the world can’t see.
Sin is dragging so many beyond the line without us realizing that Christ has broken the power of sin over us!
Jesus said in John 17:12
“During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost…”
So we will pray…
“Lord, let none of us be lost.”
But hold on…
Do we understand this?
Sometimes when I see old ladies in Church dancing, I think to myself… “oh, that when I’m 70/80, I will still be strong in Christ, strong in God, holding on tightly to my faith in God.
That I will not fall away.
That people won’t see Frances with pregnancy before marriage when she preaches sexual purity.
That people won’t say “I don’t know what happened to her, she used to be on fire for God”
God forbid that for all of us.
So please, let’s pray this with understanding in mind.
“Lord, let none of our souls be swallowed up by the world.
Oh, that we may hold fast to our faith.
That we will be true representatives of our heavenly kingdom.
That when God looks for a heart that is right towards Him, He will find us ready.”
Please pray loves.
I felt this as a burden yesterday when I spoke to some persons on this issue of Christians and how they act.
As much as there will be a harvest of souls, let Christians who profess Christ be like Christ indeed.
Oh Lord please help us to live like we should, in Jesus name, amen.
I will be praying with this today and I encourage us to do the same.
It’s so painful and it rips at my heart when I hear terrible stories about Christians.
Oh, that our lives will not be stumbling blocks to another life that could have been won for Christ.
Please pray.
Please pray.
Please pray.
It might also help us to read the prayer of Jesus for believers in John 17.
I’m also studying paul’s letter to Timothy right now.
I thought it right to indeed see how a young Christian believer should act in the world.
It just might help us all to study the word, pray and take heed lest we fall.
God help us all.
Much Love,
Frances.
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6 Comments
Naija Bachelor
February 11, 2015 at 11:16 amI really needed to read this. Sometimes I’m afraid I’ve become jaded with the whole issue of Christianity especially when I see how much the world has entered into the church. Even during service I see so much of the world in the praise & worship and even the sermons and this is coming from someone who is far from being traditional or overly religious. I’m also personally guilty of allowing my past relationships become worldly and I know from personal experience that it’s extremely difficult to make things right once one has gone down that path. I really need to pray everyday like you said, that people will see me as an example of true godliness in my old age and not wonder where I went wrong. God bless you Frances. Keep spreading God’s message.
Frances Okoro
February 11, 2015 at 8:18 pm@Naija Bachelor…thank you so much for being real with this.
Yes, it may be difficult to go God’s way after taking the bend In relationships and all, but it’s the reason why God’s grace just trips me.
He can lift us up from all that and set our feets on the rock, if we allow Him.
Same with what He can do for our churches if we let Christ lead again.
So we will pray, we will pray and ask for more of God’s grace and help to stand strong..i know God’s grace is enough.
It’s enough.
Thank you soo much for your encouraging words.
I pray for more grace to share and rep Christ even as we grow in Him in Jesus name, amen
Mobolaji
February 11, 2015 at 11:38 amOh dear Frances! This is what we treated in church on sunday. My pastor said-“Do you know that someone somewhere prayed for you to come to Christ!” I had never thought of that before and today I wrote down names of 5 friends and prayed for them to come to Christ. It all boils down to this relationship with this Jesus, He teaches us how to become better, how to treat people, how to lean on Him and the world would be better if they had this relationship!
Another problem is Christians think once they come to church, they’re saved; meanwhile they only look for their Bibles on sunday morning.
We used to be like that but Christ changed us; so today as you asked I’d ask that God’s righteousness comes down; that people will get to know His son that changes hearts of men.
Sometimes the devil tells me rubbish like “See! See what you’re missing! You could have had one rich boyfriend that you can be sleeping with and not be in lack or You could have been having fun in the club right now?” But, I tell him that this life with Jesus is the best BEST thing that ever happened to me and I pray this faith remains in me till I get to see Him sitting at the right hand of the father.
Sorry, never written this long. I pray today! I pray with you again that Christians will once again begin to act Christ like, because that’s why people were called CHRISTians in the first place!
Frances Okoro
February 11, 2015 at 8:23 pmYes Mobolaji, you’ve never written this long, but I looves it!
Instead of lambasting our unsaved friends and family, we could write down their names and indeed pray for them.
Our lives as Christians cannot function beyond our knowing Christ and how He is, knowing His voice and following as He leads and this we cannot do if we don’t study the document-His word!
Oh, I pray that we all enjoy what it means to live in Christ and be Christ like.
That God will hold us in His wings and indeed raise us up in Him…living and repping Him as we should in Jesus name, amen.
Thanks Bolaji!
Highly Favored
February 11, 2015 at 2:38 pmIt’s a journey my Sister. We really need to take the time to absorb/understand why we call ourselves Christians, who we really are in Christ, understand our power, authority, influence and our purpose. We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength.
I’m on a Journey exploring what it means to be a representative of God on my blog, because that is what we are when we call ourselves Christians. It’s my prayer that all who care to grow and improve in this Christian experience, we will all be enlightned and transformed in Jesus Name.
Frances Okoro
February 11, 2015 at 8:44 pmthank you Highly favoured.
I agree with you that we really need to sit and indeed think about what it really means to rep Christ on earth.
Your blog is proof that we can find out a lot when we get intentional about being like Christ Jesus.
God help us all.