"The Mark"

These days there are alot things that get people riled. 

  The biggest upset these past few months for many, is the outcome of the election.

  First of all, I want to be clear, I am not taking sides on this. I have come to the place where we have a new president, period. 

   My main concern with any issue is truth, and sadly on the issue of this election, I can't really say for sure who to believe. I don't watch the news anymore. Its so driven by what ever side that station is loyal to, and their opinion, and where they get their  information is beyond me.

 

  I want to focus on The Mark.

When I see that word, I automatically think of  "The MARK of the Beast"

   But this isn't even what I am talking about.

    What I AM alluding to is, another mark.

       It is the Mark of the Christian.

   What is that? Well, Jesus told his followers this:

"By  THIS all men shall know that you are My disciples, that you love one another." John 13:35

  And  He also said," But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." Matthew 5:44

  Love is the Mark of a Christian.

 Unbelievers who are looking for answers and truth, dont care about the Bible. They don't care about doctrine. They want answers they can see in our daily lives, that actually look different  from their tried out answers that didn't work.

 Answers that will bring peace and  joy, to their lives beyond their circumstances. 

  Corrie Ten Boom was a holocaust survivor. She went through incredibly hard circumstances,and in the end,the attitude of Love kept her strong.  She was allowing Christ to rule in her heart. She was sustained by something greater than herself.

 People who claim to follow Christ and exhibit hate to people who they don't agree with, are simply deceiving themselves. They are not examples of the Savior they claim as their Lord. 

Jesus addressed this when He said,

"A good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.  For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of his heart, his mouth speaks."

" Why do you keep calling Me Lord, Lord, when you do not do as I say?" 

Luke 6: 43-46

  Jesus didn't mince His words, when He made this statement.

Following him, is not natural, its very much not our  own way of handling situations, but as christians we are called to be different.

 We also are to treat others as we want to be treated. Matthew 7:12

We can't  follow  Jesus and have His attitude without His help. 

He did not ask us to do this alone, He gave us the Holy Spirit to give us the ability to follow Him. 

  Doctrine doesn't mean anything without proof. Walking as Jesus did, is proof. To unbelievers, if your walk doesnt match your talk, it's falling on deaf ears. And it is useless.

 Not too long ago, I saw a young man on the witness stand,  telling a woman that he forgave her for mistaking his brother for an intruder and killing him.. And he had no ill will towards her, and actually wished she didnt have to go to prison. He said that attitude was what his brother would have had....

 that is not a  normal response.

 But it was what he believed Jesus would want him to do. And he did it!!

This young man knew the reality of the unseen REAL  Enemy...

  Our  Bible tells us this:

"We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12

 If we believe God and what His Word says, we will "stop the REAL steal". The "steal"of our testimony, our witness, to a world of people who are watching us. 

As they think to themselves "if thats a christian, I dont want to be one. "

 Jesus forgave even the people that crucified Him. Our allegiance is to Him, our Lord and HIS example, no one else, or anything less.