Don't Turn Away

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and turning to a different gospel-- not that there is another gospel, but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.  Galatians 1:6-7

If we are not careful, we can quickly change sides or be transferred to another place– we are reverted from the One who called us.

God is the One who draws you close to Him. Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:44 It is by invitation from the Heavenly Father only that you come to Jesus and receive everlasting life in His Kingdom.

The Lord made you, has excellent plans for you, knows what you have gone through, what you will go though, and how you will handle it when you are going through it.

Don’t turn away and go back to the familiar things you knew before. They didn’t work then, and they won’t work now. They may have been comfortable, but they are not effective.

We can’t be like the Egyptians who wanted to turn back to their old way of life because it was something they knew and thought was better.  There may have been familiarity there, but it was bondage.

People can be easily persuaded to turn away from the right path. They go with the flow and tend to veer to what seems to be the easy road. If it sounds good, it must be good. This is not always true.

A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.  James 1:8

Don’t turn away from the One who called you don't be  lead astray. Stay in the promises of God by knowing Him. Read your Bible, study His Word– get to know your Lord and Savior. Stick with Him and know the Truth. Don’t give in to other peoples ways, beliefs or teachings just because they are appealing or sound right.

My son, watch your step before the Lord and the king, and don't associate with radicals. For you will go down with them to sudden disaster, and who knows where it all will end? Proverbs 24:21-22

There’s only one way– the true way. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the Truth. ...Repent ye, and believe the gospel. Mark 1:15

If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask him, and he will gladly tell you, for he is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to all who ask him; he will not resent it. James 1:5

God is always willing to guide you in every area of your life, He tells us to ask Him. Don’t turn away from the One who loves you.

Are you true to the Lord?

Proverbs 14:25 A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.

The book of Proverbs is a collection of wise sayings to give knowledge to the simpleminded and the young, or more wisdom to the wise. This particular profound thought tells us that a “witness who tells the truth saves men from being sentenced to death, but a false witness is a traitor.” (LVB) If we are a true witness for Christ, we will bring people His way. We will lead them in the right direction. True witnesses bring Truth.

Being a Christian, we work together for Jesus. We are all on the same team- we should have one goal in mind- to give glory to God in everything. This includes showing others God’s glory so they too can see His grace. Being a follower of Christ means having His characteristics.

2 Corinthians 3-10 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

We are to try to live in such a way that no one will ever be offended or kept back from finding the Lord by the way we act. We should live this way so no one finds fault with us and blames it on the Lord. In fact, in everything we do, we are to try and show that we are true ministers of God.

A minister is simply a servant. We serve Christ. Our service is for the Lord. We can talk to, care for, listen, and show love to others. Another meaning of the word minister is waiter. As in waiters at the restaurant, we can wait on people and serve them what they need from the Lord. We serve Christ.

As a Christian, a true worshipper of God, we will bring glory to the Lord. Our lives will bear fruit. We will not cause a stumbling block to anybody that “our ministry not be blamed” as in verse 3. Doing or saying ungodly things can hinder God’s glory. It could cause a soul not to come to the Lord. It could cause them to despise the Light. Corrupt acting does not show truth, it will not help take the blinds off anyone’s eyes. Hindrance in their growth can also be a result of our immorality. This does not bring anyone to the Lord.

Even though we sometimes face hardships, we are to patiently endure, knowing that God is with us the whole time. Thru all trials we are to show the love of Christ to others.

Acts 11:20-21. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number that believed turned unto the Lord.

These men spoke of Jesus. They spoke the Truth. When they spoke, they were preaching. Whether in a pulpit or not, to preach is to announce good news, to declare, bring or show. Undoubtedly, they showed the love of Christ to others and lived an upright life. God was with them and many people turned to the Lord because of this.

Acts 11:24-26 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Barnabas was a good man. He was filled with the Holy Spirit. He lived a godly life. Being a servant of the Lord that had seen His grace, Barnabas showed Christ to everyone he could. Because of this, many more people were added to God’s Kingdom.

Verse 26 states that Barnabas and Saul stayed in that particular church for a whole year teaching the people. They were showing the Lord’s ways. They were training people how to follow Christ. Again, undoubtedly, Barnabas and Saul were living a righteous lifestyle careful not to do any sin that could affect anyone’s walk with the Lord in a wrongful way. These disciples were first called Christians here. The word Christian means “follower of Christ”.

A Christian is an instrument of God. We are to be used for His purpose. Yielding to God’s still small voice can allow us to be used as His tool in bringing others to eternal salvation.

A true Christian takes Jesus Christ seriously and believes every word written in the Bible. We totally believe all His promises. We are to form our life by Jesus’ examples, rules, and commandments. Christ’s faithful followers are sold out to Him. Nothing but God and His will should be important in life to a believer. Leading souls to Christ is at the top of God’s will.

Acts 9:31 Everywhere in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, God's people had a time of peace. With the help of the Holy Spirit, the group became stronger and stronger. The believers showed that they respected the Lord by the way they lived. Because of this, the group of believers grew larger and larger. SIM

Living for the Lord doesn’t come overnight. It takes a lifetime. We live and we learn. We learn by reading God’s Word, by praying, by listening and being taught by someone who knows a little more than we do in that area. We always have room to grow. Give others the same chance to grow in the Lord by living the right way. Do not hinder them by what they might see or hear from you. Lead their hearts in the right direction.

Matthew 12:33 Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by its fruit.

Matthew 12:35 The good man out of his good treasure bringeth forth good things: and the evil man out of his evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

Be a true witness for the Lord and bring forth good fruit for Him. Carry good treasure with you to share with other souls. Speak the Truth and let others see Jesus. Be true to the Lord.

Acts 5:14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.