I am a coward.
There are Christians around the world who face abuse, death, and worse for proclaiming Christ. And I get nervous and feel uncomfortable thinking about sharing with my coworker. This particular coworker has even been heavy on my heart. When asked in churches or just anywhere else to think of someone who needs Jesus that I'd like to pray for, she always comes to my mind.
AND I even just read 2 Timothy yesterday, where 4:2 says, "Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not..."
But I'm afraid, of what? The worst that could happen is she'll get annoyed with me. She likes me, she said I'm one of the few coworkers that she's had that she likes. Whether this is because I have let things slide (she cusses, which actually doesn't bother me, but among other things) or because it's just my personality, I don't know. Maybe both. I don't want to break that. But, how selfish of me, in light of her eternity.
Most of us all in receiving Christ as our savior, started out as unconditional, yet rapidly turned conditional, with the place we worship at, first gets one Baptized in water, and water is for repentance from sins, not for new life, even though this is mixed in the name of the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit. And is not what John ever did in water Baptism.
Then here come the cookie cutters afterwards, and you have this gift and you this one.
Sounds to me as if God is being cut out, with the cookie cutters from the religious, whether done on purpose or not is not the issue, TRUTH is the issue.
So Sister, share the unconditional Love of God, from your heart to all around you, by your actions and reactions.
Tell what is always attracted to the light on your porch in the backyard?
Bugs right, so share, welcome the cusses, the smoker, the drinker, the ones that do not feel Love, as God walked this earth, did God go to the Clergy, the religious and ask how to share?
No Christ ate with the worst sort of sinners, and the love shown to them, changed them, no orders to do this or that, jusy love as you are loved.
So if one thinks God does not love them, because of this or that, then that is exactly how much one will love anyone else, the same as they believe God to love them.
Do you know beyond any shadow of Doubt that God just love you?
[h=3]Romans 2[/h]New International Version (NIV)
[h=3]God’s Righteous Judgment[/h]2 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. [SUP]
2 [/SUP]Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. [SUP]
3 [/SUP]So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? [SUP]
4 [/SUP]Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
God waits for us to respond to God, and quit being creators for God. Being creative for God is of flesh and has caused the problems of today, with no one really loving as God does
You are free to share the Love of God, freely.
The fear you feel is from the enemy, doing its best to keep from sharing the truth of God's unconditional love.
The fear is what others might think and or do in response to how you believe. So just continue to love this other person and draw on God for God's words through you to all others as in Matt 10
[h=3]Matthew 10:16-20[/h]New International Version (NIV)
[SUP]
16 [/SUP]“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. [SUP]
17 [/SUP]Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. [SUP]
18 [/SUP]On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. [SUP]
19 [/SUP]
But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, [SUP]20 [/SUP]for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.