Life in 3-D: Romans 8.18-30

Life is hard. Being a Christian is hard. Sometimes Christians make it hard for other people to become Christians. In fact, there is a movement in the American to church that says that there are many people who would follow Jesus, if it weren't for all the close-minded, bigoted Christians.

In recent years, Christians have become famous for protesting abortions, same-sex marriages and gun-control. Often we are viewed more for what we are against, than what we are for. On an average evening news telecast Christians come out looking pretty bad.

It is time that we worked to reverse those negative images.

1. Discover who God made you to be. 2 Peter 3.9 gives a good overview of what God has in mind for all of us. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. It is God's will that we all follow him. The key to eternal life, abundant life is repentance. This can only happen if we are willing to look at our own sins and not focus so much on the sins of others.


2. Develop God's gifts in your life. There are several places in the New Testament that give lists of spiritual gifts. Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4, and 1 Peter 4 all tell us some of the works of God. However, it is important to remember that whatever gift(s) that you are given need to be used. If you do not study your gifts, practice using them and then put them to work, you will lose them. Sometimes this will require things as simple as sitting, thinking and listening to God.


3. Deploy and do the work you were called to do. Having gifts and knowing how to use them will do no one any good if we are not doing the work that God is calling us to. We must go where God sends us and do the work that God gives us to do.