See to it!!!

This PW Devo today instantly made me think about a movie I saw recently.

 

The title and actors aren't worth mentioning.  However, there were many lies the world likes to perpetuate wrapped up in the feel-good-ism, tolerance and personal justice themes of this movie.  The world tells us to respect all points of view, no one religion is absolute and it is more important to feel good about doing something than to do what is right, despite how you feel.

 

Don't be deceived, Satan runs rampant on this planet.  Evil is tolerated, emphasized and "made-over" to appear good.

 

Even as we are getting ready to go on our trip to Guatemala, people are getting confused about the primary goal of this trip:

 

To bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to any and everyone we meet in Guatemala.

 

This trip isn't about what we will wear (though we plan to dress in a way that is not distracting).  This trip isn't about how great our craft project will be (though we hope to emphasize the message of the Gospel with our craft).  This trip isn't about all the "tasks" we have to complete before we leave next Sunday.

 

We've all been in such a "task" mode, we've taken our focus off of Jesus and onto ourselves.  I was humbled by a few comments Sara made on Friday night.  She eloquently stated, "God chose our little church out of all the big mega churches in the area to go on this trip and share the Gospel with the Guatemalan people.  Of all the people in our church who could go on this trip, God chose and allowed me to go."

 

Wow.

 

It is all about Jesus.  It is all about bringing Hope and Light into the darkness.  God's plan will be accomplished, with or without us.  It is exciting, however, when God does choose to use us to further His Kingdom.

 

The message is clear.

Our purpose is resolved.

 

Whether you are going to Guatemala, next door, to work, on vacation, traveling with a summer sport league or hanging out with your buddies - if you are a follower of Jesus Christ, your only business is to glorify Jesus and share the Good News with everyone.

 

Yes! It really does matter what someone believes.  Read on to see what Paul had to say to our New Testament brothers & sisters in Christ.

 

PlanetWisdom.com Devotionals

---

Don't Get Caught Posted: 27 Jun 2009 06:37 PM PDT "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." (Colossians 2:8) Does it really matter what someone believes? Do we have to get so picky about the specifics? Isn't it enough if someone just believes in the same God we do? Do we have to make a big deal about believing the right things about Jesus? Yes, it matters! Paul's fantastic word picture describes false ideas as traps and those tricked into believing them as captives. That's not inclusive language. Paul is clearly saying some beliefs are right and others are dangerously wrong. The wrong ones are those that don't keep faith in Jesus at the dead center of a person's worldview. Paul refuses to say, "Who knows what the truth is? You believe your thing; I'll believe my thing. We'll both be okay, right?" Nope. He says, "I love you too much not to tell you I think you've been trapped by a nice-sounding lie. Unless you change your mind and put all of your hope in Jesus, you will stay in that prison of false belief. Get out now." Think: Do you ever feel pressured by your culture to not sound so convinced that Jesus is the only hope of being in heaven with the Father forever? How do you respond to that pressure? Is it more loving to pretend not to be certain or to tell the truth as you believe it? Pray: Ask God to help you not to be taken captive by false philosophies that depend on human tradition and the basic principles of the world rather than on Christ. Do: Make a quick list of two or three human philosophies that do not depend on Chris. Visit PlanetWisdom.com for more great resources!