To be an evangelizer, we must work to become the best the Christians we can be - and to use our faith to help others. Our faith teaches that we are all unconditionally loved by God. This “Good News” helps us assist others who have been hurt by the world around us. For me being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin and more about courageously and actively doing God’s will. Below is an excerpt from this evening's Covenant Night Small Group Discussion.
If you are like me, it is easy to forget how “God provides” if you are too focused on others’ blessings. We live in a culture that incessantly prompts us to want more and more of what others have – and INSTANTLY!
Temptations are thrown in our path relentlessly and we are provided many opportunities to lose perspective on our blessings, to want more, and to forget that what the Lord has given us is more than adequate. As a Christian, living a life rooted in gratitude is essential to growing in our faith.
For example, when we plug into the internet we need to be well aware of ourselves and our own deadly pitfalls that lead us to personal sin. How is it that in just a few short minutes we can lose our grounding and perspective? It is easy to fall quickly into being jealous of others’ blessings whenever it is something we ourselves desire. We may find ourselves coveting, desiring, wanting, or believing that just maybe we SHOULD have those blessings … possibly even have our neighbor’s life! Keep your mind in a grateful and thankful mode and avoid these near occasions of sin.
Now more than ever, thanks to social media, we can view every single blessing of another person’s life in a flash from vacations, talents, summer camps, family life, and even what others are cooking or eating out for dinner! Social media is a tool for sharing but also a dragon well worth taming so you are not tempted to become jealous of another’s blessings. Keep a healthy perspective on your life and the life of others! Remember, life isn’t perfect on the other side of the screen and, instead, learn to cultivate gratitude in your heart so you can discover true Christian joy.