Snowbelle_White
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- Posted: Tue, 13 May 2014 17:48:14 +0000
I've been thinking about Matthew 23:37-39,
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God's messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn't let me. And now, look, your house is abandoned and desolate. For I tell you this, you will never see me again until you say, 'Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD!' " (NLT - New Living Translation)
While thinking about this, I've also thought about the state the U.S. is in. We were once a Christian nation. People go around complaining "separation of church and state!" But they don't get it. The separation of church and state was originally meant for the government to not intervene in the church, not that the church couldn't have any say in any matters. I mean really look at what is happening to our country. I'm not just talking about Phil Robertson almost getting kicked off Duck Dynasty or how the new HGTV show got cancelled, I'm talking about things like kids can't even bring Bibles to schools. There's no more prayer in schools. Christian businesses are being forced to provide healthcare for abortions. Some places in the states, Sharia Law is being taken place. Christian wedding photographers are being forced to photograph for weddings they believe are not right. Americans try to persecute Christians in this country, but when it comes to people being open about their sinful lifestyles, they think of them as heroes. I fear our country is only going to get worse. I fear the freedom of religion will be gone in no time.
My point is, we took Christ out of our country a long time ago. It was a gradual thing, and still is, but it's becoming more and more rapid. The more we take Christ out, the more of a spiraling downfall our country is going. The thing is, what Jesus said to Jerusalem here, he says to all of us; whether you live in the states or in Japan or Brasil or anywhere in the world! "How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings..." He wants to protect us, he wants to love on us, but "...you wouldn't let me." We forget the free gift he gives us - the gift of himself, the gift of unconditional and everlasting love, has to be accepted, just like any other gift. When someone gives you a gift, you either accept it or you don't. You take it or you refuse it. Many of my cousins and friends either are or are becoming mothers, and I'm sure they want to do everything they can to protect their babies. They'll do anything for their babies - even die for them if it came down to it. Jesus didn't have to die. We often think, "He had to die in order to save us." Dude, He's GOD!! He could've saved us in any way he wanted! He could've chosen a way that was pain-free if he wanted! Or, he could've not saved us at all. He could've just abandoned us. He could've given-up on us. I mean, we often give up on him, why shouldn't he give up on us? But no, not only did he CHOOSE to not abandon us, not only did he CHOOSE to save us, he CHOSE to do it in a horrific, painful, and shameful way - to the point of death. Why? To show how much he loves us. But even after doing that for us, we still spit in his face. But no matter how much we spit in his face, whether you're a Christian or not, he still loves you. You can mock him all you want, he still loves you.
I look at our country and the direction it's going. People say, "It's progression!" It's not y'all, it's not. We're not progressing, we're going backwards! If we were progressing we would be bringing Christ back into our country, not the other way around. "And now, look, your house is abandoned and desolate." Desolate means complete emptiness. When we take out God, when he is not in our hearts, our hearts have complete emptiness. You know that empty feeling? Even I get that still! As one who struggles with an addiction I still get that empty feeling, even as a Christian; but I can tell you, that empty feeling, isn't like what it was before. I can't promise you that if you follow Christ, that empty feeling will go away right away. But that emptiness, it's meant for him to fill. Not alcohol, not sex/pornography, not drugs, not food, nothing can fill that emptiness except for Christ. It's like my addiction to eating. I absolutely love to eat. I'll eat and eat and eat, and even if I get full, no matter how stuffed I might feel (even to the point of feeling like I'm going to burst), I'm full for a little a bit, but I'm always hungry again. It's like that with anything you try to fill yourself with, you may feel complete for a little while, but then you're hungry for more. You're never truly satisfied. As cliche and perhaps even propaganda as it may sound, the truth is only Christ can fill you.
John 4:13,
Jesus replied, "Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life." (NLT)
In this verse, Jesus is talking to a woman by a well. He is explaining to her that anyone who drinks from the water in the well, will be thirsty again. Anyone who tries to fill their hearts with worldly things will be thirsty again for more. But those who drink the water he gives - his words, his spirit, will never be thirsty again. It will fill them. He will complete them. When I think of "...becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them...", as weird as it may seem, I think of almost a geyser. I think he fills someone so much, that it just bubbles up in them so much that the excitement and joy is so much they're ready to explode rainbows! They want to go tell everyone about how great he is and how much he loves them and how much they need him. But again, the free gift needs to be accepted. Will you accept the gift? Will you be filled? Or will you leave your hearts abandoned and empty? It's your choice, I hope you choose the right one - for your sake. God bless!
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God's messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn't let me. And now, look, your house is abandoned and desolate. For I tell you this, you will never see me again until you say, 'Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD!' " (NLT - New Living Translation)
While thinking about this, I've also thought about the state the U.S. is in. We were once a Christian nation. People go around complaining "separation of church and state!" But they don't get it. The separation of church and state was originally meant for the government to not intervene in the church, not that the church couldn't have any say in any matters. I mean really look at what is happening to our country. I'm not just talking about Phil Robertson almost getting kicked off Duck Dynasty or how the new HGTV show got cancelled, I'm talking about things like kids can't even bring Bibles to schools. There's no more prayer in schools. Christian businesses are being forced to provide healthcare for abortions. Some places in the states, Sharia Law is being taken place. Christian wedding photographers are being forced to photograph for weddings they believe are not right. Americans try to persecute Christians in this country, but when it comes to people being open about their sinful lifestyles, they think of them as heroes. I fear our country is only going to get worse. I fear the freedom of religion will be gone in no time.
My point is, we took Christ out of our country a long time ago. It was a gradual thing, and still is, but it's becoming more and more rapid. The more we take Christ out, the more of a spiraling downfall our country is going. The thing is, what Jesus said to Jerusalem here, he says to all of us; whether you live in the states or in Japan or Brasil or anywhere in the world! "How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings..." He wants to protect us, he wants to love on us, but "...you wouldn't let me." We forget the free gift he gives us - the gift of himself, the gift of unconditional and everlasting love, has to be accepted, just like any other gift. When someone gives you a gift, you either accept it or you don't. You take it or you refuse it. Many of my cousins and friends either are or are becoming mothers, and I'm sure they want to do everything they can to protect their babies. They'll do anything for their babies - even die for them if it came down to it. Jesus didn't have to die. We often think, "He had to die in order to save us." Dude, He's GOD!! He could've saved us in any way he wanted! He could've chosen a way that was pain-free if he wanted! Or, he could've not saved us at all. He could've just abandoned us. He could've given-up on us. I mean, we often give up on him, why shouldn't he give up on us? But no, not only did he CHOOSE to not abandon us, not only did he CHOOSE to save us, he CHOSE to do it in a horrific, painful, and shameful way - to the point of death. Why? To show how much he loves us. But even after doing that for us, we still spit in his face. But no matter how much we spit in his face, whether you're a Christian or not, he still loves you. You can mock him all you want, he still loves you.
I look at our country and the direction it's going. People say, "It's progression!" It's not y'all, it's not. We're not progressing, we're going backwards! If we were progressing we would be bringing Christ back into our country, not the other way around. "And now, look, your house is abandoned and desolate." Desolate means complete emptiness. When we take out God, when he is not in our hearts, our hearts have complete emptiness. You know that empty feeling? Even I get that still! As one who struggles with an addiction I still get that empty feeling, even as a Christian; but I can tell you, that empty feeling, isn't like what it was before. I can't promise you that if you follow Christ, that empty feeling will go away right away. But that emptiness, it's meant for him to fill. Not alcohol, not sex/pornography, not drugs, not food, nothing can fill that emptiness except for Christ. It's like my addiction to eating. I absolutely love to eat. I'll eat and eat and eat, and even if I get full, no matter how stuffed I might feel (even to the point of feeling like I'm going to burst), I'm full for a little a bit, but I'm always hungry again. It's like that with anything you try to fill yourself with, you may feel complete for a little while, but then you're hungry for more. You're never truly satisfied. As cliche and perhaps even propaganda as it may sound, the truth is only Christ can fill you.
John 4:13,
Jesus replied, "Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life." (NLT)
In this verse, Jesus is talking to a woman by a well. He is explaining to her that anyone who drinks from the water in the well, will be thirsty again. Anyone who tries to fill their hearts with worldly things will be thirsty again for more. But those who drink the water he gives - his words, his spirit, will never be thirsty again. It will fill them. He will complete them. When I think of "...becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them...", as weird as it may seem, I think of almost a geyser. I think he fills someone so much, that it just bubbles up in them so much that the excitement and joy is so much they're ready to explode rainbows! They want to go tell everyone about how great he is and how much he loves them and how much they need him. But again, the free gift needs to be accepted. Will you accept the gift? Will you be filled? Or will you leave your hearts abandoned and empty? It's your choice, I hope you choose the right one - for your sake. God bless!
