We’re in a series on Sunday mornings called “Staying Christian”. Too often, we hear of people walking away from Christianity or not wanting to engage it at all. Throughout this series, we’ve been sharing reasons why it makes sense to follow Jesus, together, as the church.
When people leave the faith, do they realize Jesus is yearning for them to remain? His heart is for us to be with Him.
We feel this in Matthew, where we see God’s hurt. Jesus is looking over Jerusalem, crying for His people.
37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You who kill the prophets and stone those who were sent to you. How often I wanted to gather your people together, just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you didn’t want that. (Matthew 23, CEB)
We see the same emotion while He is on the cross, offering His life for them. All the while they didn’t know. From Luke 23:34 (CEB),
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.”
When people leave Christianity, I often wonder if they know what they are truly leaving.
Christianity isn’t just about going to church, being a good person and hoping to get to heaven when you die.
Christianity connects the dots to so much the world wrestles with today. Why is there so much violence and hatred? What is the meaning of life? What happens when we die?
Without an understanding of sin, this world would be such a confusing place to live in. God blessed us with the gift of right and wrong, of being the absolute law giver.
When people leave, do they realize they are walking away from who they are truly meant to be?
In the beginning, we were all made to image God, to love like Jesus loves. We were made to share His light with the world. Sin came into this world and killed this in us. As a result, we have the violence and evil, and we have death.
It is only through trusting in the work of Jesus Christ that we are made new. He truly works a miracle in our lives, transforming us and enabling us to be who He knows we’re able to be! People who reflect His image and love as He loves.
Walking away from this is walking away from ourselves and trusting our life to a corrupted version of reality. It’s settling for less when we are capable of so much more.
Please know, Jesus loves you and He cries over you, wanting you to be transformed by His love.
Blessings,
Pastor Matt
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