BYM ONLINE DESK Blessing English E-magazine March 2018 | Page 4

March 2018
that we may face problems in our homes or hostels or
working environments. Sometimes, it can mean that
our old friends would not understand this new faith-
life of ours. We may become an object of 'Joke.' They
may ridicule us and may look down on us. But we
need to stay strong in the Lord.
Following Christ can sometimes involve being
ostracized from our home and village. People may
neglect us. Our immediate boss in the office might
develop a hatred towards us. But the Bible
commands us to be joyful on such occasions.
Note the following verse:
Lk 6:22,23 - “Blessed are you when people
hate you and when they exclude you and revile you
and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of
Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold,
your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers
did to the prophets.”
So we should not be discouraged when we are
faced with such problems and oppositions. People
may not understand now. But one day they too would
come to the knowledge of Christ. We need to pray
and wait.
in Whatsapp? Are we ready to say “No” to our best
friends when they try to lead us astray?
Dare to follow Christ!
3. I am Christ's Ambassador
2 Co 5:20 “Therefore, we are ambassadors for
Christ, God making his appeal through us. We
implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to
God.”
Once we are saved, God takes us from the
kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. We are
no more of this world. We belong to the Kingdom of
Heaven. The rules of the kingdom apply to us. God
calls us to represent His kingdom on earth. We are to
be His ambassadors on this earth. Just as we have the
ambassadors of foreign countries in India, we are
ambassadors of Christ here in this world. Our country
is the Heavenly country (Phil 3:20). We are to live as
strangers and aliens in this world (Heb 11:13). Our
lifestyle should bear the marks of Christ. People
should recognize the difference.
God has called us out of this world (Jn 15:19).
Jesus warned His disciples that the world would not
accept them. We should not be surprised if the world
hates us (Jn 15:18).
Jesus carried His cross and so we need to carry
ours. He is our role-model. As disciples of Christ we
need to learn from Him. He faced all the situations
that we face today. He understands well. Only He can
help us. So let us fix our eyes on Jesus.
Are we ready to follow Christ? Are we ready to
delete those contacts (who lead us to filthy lifestyles)
R
O F I N T E G
?
Hence our testimony is of utmost importance.
We are called 'CHRIST'ians. We are to represent
Christ. We are the salt and light of the world (Mat
5:13,14). We cannot involve in anti-social and anti-
governmental activities. We are not to be
ambassadors of any worldly ideology, but of God's
ideology. The Bible is our Text Book. Love is our
weapon. Today's films depict that it is right to take
vengeance and to fight back. But Jesus taught the
Sometimes following Jesus would mean an end
to worldly friendships or relationships. We cannot
relate with anyone without the context of Christ. If
any relationship comes between us and God, we need
to BREAK IT. It may be our mother or father or
brother or sister or friend or lover or any one. No
relation is worth keeping when it comes between us
and God (Lk 14:26).
*2018*
|PAGE 4|