Women Arise Weekly Devotional (May 3, 2009)

Women Arise! Weekly Devotional (May 3, 2009)

DO OTHERS SEE THE CHRIST IN YOU?

Why do many who call themselves "Christians" seem to be so critical, judgmental and negative? It's like many times 'we' as Christians behave just as poorly as unbelievers! We walk around with a frown or a scowl on our faces, arms folded and lips poked out! We barely smile, let alone speak to and greet one another. We don't acknowledge the good that our brothers and sisters have accomplished, but we are so quick to speak a negative word against them though! We will make it a point to point out one another's weaknesses and flaws, but we barely encourage each other to use our strengths! We will speak whatever it is that comes to our minds without taking the time to think about how it may offend and hurt the other person! We don't even realize that just because someone does something different from the way that we ourselves may do something, doesn't make us right or wrong, but it doesn't make the other person right or wrong either-it just makes us different! I ask you, DO OTHERS SEE THE CHRIST IN YOU?

Just because someone doesn't participate in every church activity while we are quick to run from one meeting place to another, doesn't make us more spiritual than they! Just as sitting in a garage, doesn't make you a car! We judge, not thinking that the other person may be busy doing other things which the Lord has called THEM to do! Maybe they are busy focusing on working FOR the Lord as opposed to doing the Lord's work in an effort to be seen and heard by MAN! Think on that!!! If we aren't called to a particular task, and we are just doing it for self-to be seen as important in the church (or wherever), are we truly doing it FOR the Lord? Or, are we simply wasting our time while having the nerve to sit back and judge and criticize others who just may be doing what the Lord has instructed them to do?!! Again I ask, DO OTHERS SEE THE CHRIST IN YOU?

Also we are oftentimes WORN OUT AND RUN DOWN because we feel there aren't enough hours in a day to do ALL we HAVE to do?!!! Are you doing what GOD has called you to do or what YOU want or feel you should be doing? Jesus was only on this earth for 33 years and yet He fulfilled ALL the Father called Him to do! HOW? Because He focused on ONLY completing the work that the Father gave Him to do! Not the disciples, not anyone else! (Luke 17:4) DO OTHERS SEE THE CHRIST IN YOU?

Beware of trying to be SEEN and HEARD all the time! (I even know of some who mope around looking sad and mean and who do other NEGATIVE things in an effort to get a bit of attention!) Beware of trying to get attention and praise from man, for that will be ALL the attention and praise you'll ever get! The Lord certainly isn't going to honor and exalt us when we are busy trying to honor and exalt ourselves! No way! Not while we are putting our brothers and sisters down in an effort to raise ourselves up! (Luke 14:11) Beware of TITLES and getting so caught up in who PEOPLE call you and say that you are and worry more about who GOD says and sees that you are! Regardless of what position you hold inside the church BUILDING, remember that from the Janitor to the Pastor, we are ALL important and worthy to the LORD! Just as the head is important, so are the feet! I ask you yet again, DO OTHERS SEE THE CHRIST IN YOU?

WOMEN ARISE from your slumber! Time is very short! Even if the Lord doesn't come as soon as we think, we ALL still have our own appointment with destiny-with death! We shall ALL stand before the judgment seat of Christ-Who is the TRUE, RIGHTEOUS JUDGE! (Romans 14:10) And we shall ALL give an account of every word we have spoken! (Matthew 12:36) We will gain or lose rewards based on what we've done with all of our time, talents, money, gifts and even circumstances that the Lord has given us! (2 Corinthians 5:10) We have to learn to check ourselves-test our OWN hearts daily, and stop worrying so much about what WE think others should or should not be doing! (2 Corinthians 13:5) Once we get ourselves in proper order, then we can try to help others! (Matthew 7:1-5) I ask you again once more my friend, DO OTHERS SEE THE CHRIST IN YOU?

P.S. I'm sure many may be offended by this, and I just ask you if you are one of them: WHY? Why are you offended? Could there possibly be a bit of truth to this? IF you are NOT offended nor convicted in anyway, could it possibly be because you are thinking about a "particular person" who needs to read this because you feel this isn't for you at all? BEWARE OF PRIDE!!!! I know that this message is certainly causing ME to re-evaluate some things in my own life! If this is NOT you in anyway, PRAISE THE LORD, and keep walking on that path that God has set you on!!! THANK YOU JESUS! Be blessed!

LaTanya Scott