2-18pm
We live in a world divided by race, religion and culture. There’s no getting away from that and it’s unlikely to change this side of eternity. Since the arrival of Facebook just over 10 years ago, we see each other far more than ever before. Facebook has a unifying element. When we get to know someone, albeit through their personal FB life, we may begin to understand how similar we all are. Of course, the divisive & ugly FB element will always be there. But it’s difficult to find another forum upon which people of the world can peek into their foreign neighbours’ homes and lives, and see the world, unobtrusively, through another set of eyes.
As I write this blog on a daily basis, I am aware of the variety of different people that will stop by for a visit. Many will be of the same faith as me, and others not. When it comes to the blog, I remind myself of a couple of things – this is my blog. It’s my view of the world and I began it really only to see if I could be disciplined enough to write it every day. It is a collection of my thoughts, my beliefs, my ideals, all captured to remind me of my true north – living my life, almost like an open book. I don’t want to have anything to hide.
Talking of having nothing to hide, one of the things that keeps me on the straight and narrow is my daily guide. The Bible is divided in two, with the law dominating the first part (Old Testament) and grace the second (New Testament). In reading the Bible, I came to understand that I can never be good enough. The only way to heaven is to accept what the Bible says. The message of the Cross unites. Jesus came to unify.
These thoughts all came to the fore this morning as I read Ephesians 2
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
S
o, whatever I do, whatever I write, wherever I go, it is all through the filter of the Bible. What God wants. What the Bible says. That’s my moral code. It gives me a foundation that is firm and trustworthy. I need not fear, because I know the Bible is true. It’s by grace – God’s grace. It’s by faith, in Him. It’s belief – in Christ.
And that’s the miracle of the Cross and the Bible – no matter who you are, where you come from, culture, race or religion. The truth of the Bible is open to you. Words written thousands of years ago still impact our lives on a daily basis. From the World Guinness website, comes this:
“Although it is impossible to obtain exact figures, there is little doubt that the Bible is the worlds best-selling and most widely distributed book. A survey by the Bible Society concluded that around 2.5 billion copies were printed between 1815 and 1975, but more recent estimates put the number at more than 5 billion.”
To get the impact, you’ve got to read it! For me, starting in the New Testament, with the Gospel of John always excited me. I’ve experienced the Bible as a life-changing book, one that influences me every day. I’m amazed that I can read it year after year and still benefit day after day. It stirs me. Like life, there are things within its pages that I don’t understand. I probably never will. Those things, I set to one side. I eat the fish and leave the bones.
I enjoy Facebook – I love seeing people’s lives unfolding. I enjoy my Faith – I love seeing my life unfold. They have another similarity: Facebook will end when I die. And, my faith will end when I die. Because when I die, I will no longer need faith. I will SEE Jesus. Yeah!
Keep the smile going!
God bless you!
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂
Gratitude Pic…spring has sprung, the sun is shining and summer is almost here…
