New Year, Old Challenges

With it being the beginning of a new year I’ve again decided to try the One Year Bible. I say again, because I tried last year and the year before that and I never actually manage to stick with it. Funnily enough the introduction points out that this is the perfect bible for consistent readers and that I am not, but I want to be. I love the Word and believe implicitly that I will never make a difference if I am not studying it all the time. I need to be swimming in it, feeding from it, drinking it in all the time. So I am on day 3. Yeah! Hopefully I will make it to the end. Emiel and I have made the decision to help each other out with sticking to what we are committing to, kinda like giving each other permission to irritate the other if need be. Day 3’s New Testament reading was Matthew 3:7-4:11, but what really whacked me was this from 3:7 to 3:10.
But when he (John) saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee God’s coming wrath? 8Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. 9Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. 10Even now the ax of God’s of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire”.
Wow, wow, wow!!!! Emiel and I are in this space that it is not good saying you are anything if the way you live is not saying the same thing. The idea is old, I know, but it seems like nothing really changes. What I get from the portion above is that I am as good as a Pharisee or Sadducee if I am not living out my faith in such a tangible way that others feel God’s love through me. What good is it really to be a Christian if I do not love and live as God has called me through the example of Christ? He even provided the Holy Spirit to guide us; the Holy Spirit loves as God loves. It is so simple, really, this faith thing. My life must reflect that I have repented of my sins and have turned to God and for me turning to God is this, Matthew22:37-39 Jesus replied, “’You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” I guess the best evangelism is to love as Christ does, as the Holy Spirit does, as God does. I guess if I’m loving my neighbor, whoever my neighbor is, I’m turned to God.
By the by and completely aside from the last thought I love the New Living Translation Second Edition. It is the Word in my language.
Ok, so I’m done. Off do some investigating on baby-led weaning .