regina natanael’s

Yes, true biblical Christianity is going to offend people. That’s naturally what’s going to happen. Because the true biblical gospel offends. But when you get so embittered that you’re now speaking in a way that ignores compassion and actually seeks to offend, that’s different. That’s not the way we’re called to tell people about Christ, that’s just human pride taking the reigns.

Yes, preach the gospel. Yes, tell people about God without leaving things out or sugarcoating things. Some may be offended. Do not actively seek to cause offense and throw off all compassion in the process.

Even the hardest truths can be spoken with love.

Elizabeth Elliot (via hashiokira)

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A THOUGHT ON OBEDIENCE

I love how loving He is as a Father. How kind. How gentle. How... perfect. He is the perfect figure of balance between mercy and discipline—He taught me that love is mercy and discipline.

I’m facing a few things that have been pushing me to seek His guidance even more. I genuinely asked Him, “What do I do?”, and laid my thoughts, options, possibilities, worries, anxieties, down at His feet.

The quote above filled my mind for the past couple of days, and it became my prayer. I realized a few areas where I haven’t been obedient. Or if I may say, He gracefully showed it to me. Gently nudged me. Wrecked me. And so I plead, “Teach me to obey.”

Today, He showed me that He truly is most passionate and kind to a genuine and honest heart. To that question I asked earlier, He BLUNTLY (well, not really bluntly, rather gently, but when I realized it, it was like BOOM, in-front-of-my-face super clear. He’s always giving a way out. He’s always eager to help out. Scratch that—He is always eager TO BE OUR ULTIMATE ANSWER. He made me realize that all He needs is a heart that wants to be molded. Not even to the point of being teachable yet, but wants to get there. 

I can humbly say that REALIZING all of those are the awesome works of the perfect Holy Spirit already living inside all of us who believe in Him. He’s always speaking. And I’m grateful for His grace that showed me that that was His teaching moment. That was Him showing me the EXACT moment where He required obedience out of me. The yoke was truly made light, and I happily obliged. 

The Question that Changed My Life

-by David Ryser.

A number of years ago, I had the privilege of teaching at a school of ministry. My students were hungry for God, and I was constantly searching for ways to challenge them to fall more in love with Jesus and to become voices for revival in the Church. I came across a quote attributed most often to Rev. Sam Pascoe. It is a short version of the history of Christianity, and it goes like this: "️Christianity started in Palestine as a fellowship; it moved to Greece and became a philosophy; it moved to Italy and became an institution; it moved to Europe and became a culture; it came to America and became an enterprise."

Some of the students were only 18 or 19 years old, and I wanted them to understand and appreciate the importance of the last line, so I clarified it by adding: "An enterprise. That's a business."

After a few moments, Martha, the youngest student in the class, raised her hand. I could not imagine what her question might be. I thought the little vignette was self-explanatory and that I had performed it brilliantly. Nevertheless, I acknowledged Martha's raised hand, "Yes, Martha." She asked such a simple question: "A business? But isn't it supposed to be a body?"

I could not envision where this line of questioning was going, and the only response I could think of was "Yes." She continued: "But when a body becomes a business, isn't that a prostitute?"

The room went dead silent. For several seconds, no one moved or spoke. We were stunned, afraid to make a sound because the presence of God had flooded into the room, and we knew we were on Holy ground. God had taken over the class.

Martha's question changed my life. For six months, I thought about her question at least once every day. "When a body becomes a business, isn't that a prostitute?" There is only one answer to her question. The answer is "Yes."

The American Church, tragically, is heavily populated by people who do not love God. How can we love Him? We don't even know Him; and I mean REALLY know Him.... I stand by my statement that I believe that most American Christians do not know God--much less love Him.

The root of this condition originates in how we came to God. Most of us came to Him because of what we were told He would do for us. We were promised that He would bless us in life and take us to heaven after death. We married Him for His money, and we don't care if He lives or dies as long as we can get His stuff. We have made the Kingdom of God into a business, merchandising His anointing.

This should not be. We are commanded to love God and are called to be the Bride of Christ--that's pretty intimate stuff. We are supposed to be His lovers. How can we love someone we don't even know? And even if we do know someone, is that a guarantee that we truly love them?

Are we lovers or prostitutes?

I was pondering Martha's question again one day and considered the question: "What's the difference between a lover and a prostitute?" I realized that both do many of the same things, but a lover does what she does because she loves. A prostitute pretends to love, but only as long as you pay.

Then I asked the question: "What would happen if God stopped paying me?" For the next several months, I allowed God to search me to uncover my motives for loving and serving Him. Was I really a true lover of God? What would happen if He stopped blessing me? What if He never did another thing for me? Would I still love Him?

Please understand, I believe in the promises and blessings of God. The issue here is not whether God blesses His children; the issue is the condition of my heart. Why do I serve Him? Are His blessings in my life the gifts of a loving Father, or are they a wage that I have earned or a bribe/payment to love Him? Do I love God without any conditions?