Quote:
I am no longer sorry that I sent that letter to you, though I was sorry for a time, for I know it was painful to you for a little while. Now I'm glad I sent it, not because I hurt you, but because the pain caused you to have remorse and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. For God can use sorrow in our lives to help us turn away from Sin and seek salvation. We will never regret that kind of sorrow. But sorrow without repentance is the kind that results in death.
2 Corinthians 7:8-10
While I was reading this it made me think of two different things. The first is how we often avoid saying things because we're worried that it might hurt someone. Being "politically correct" as its called, has become a major problem in churches. But as Paul shows, if someone is going down the wrong path and you truly care about them, you will show them what God says. You will help them and save them from making wrong decisions even if they get mad at you for showing that they aren't perfect. The most common reason people don't say anything is because they don't want to hurt a friendship.
But if you can't tell a friend about a problem in their lives without making them mad at you... I wonder how much of a friend they are? After all, you didn't make the rules - God did, and he made them because he loves us. Likewise, your friends should understand that if you point out something that's hindering their walk with the Lord, it's only because you love them as well, and want to see the best for them.
The second is that sorrow is an important part of being a Christian. Here in America we have everything from new cars to toilet paper - there's nothing that we lack. And because of this many people have stopped looking to God for help, or they have stopped walking with him because they think they no longer need him. After all, everything we could want is right here. Now I don't think there's anything evil with having cars and toilet paper (:D), but the fact is there's 0 hardships in America. We never face anything that puts our faith to the test, at least not like the Christians in China, Russia, and the Middle East. As history has proved; having everything you could want is not healthy to your Christian walk.
Many of the churches around the world have seen that in America. They've seen how far we've gone and how shallow our walk is. And they've decided to do something about it. Do you know what they pray? They pray that America will face hardships. That we will come up against things that will cause us to stand up as true Christians and growing in our walk with the Lord. Those other Christians understand that our home isn't here on Earth - it's in Heaven. So we should stop trying to make Earth our home and filling our lives with pleasures. Were only on this planet for short time; and while were down here it's our job to worship God can tell others about him. Once we get to heaven that will be our home!
While at work, people don?t try to rest, relax, and enjoy themselves every way they can. No, they're there to get a job done, so they work all day. Then, at the end of the day it's time for them to go home. Their Home is the true place for them to rest, relax, and enjoy themselves. And trust me, they will find it much more enjoyable than any loud crowded office space!
Heaven:
John 14:2-3
Hebrews 11:16
Revelation 21:22-24
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