4/3/19 – Pastor Brian’s Blog
This past Saturday, Judy and I returned home after spending a week just outside of Budapest, Hungary in a little town called Tóalmás. We have been there enough times to know that when you are in Hungary, it is enjoyable when you eat as the Hungarians do. We also discovered that when your flight has a layover in Frankfurt, Germany, you eat as the Germans do! And as I am an “authority” on food, there was little doubt that the German frankfurter is the best hot dog we have ever eaten!! Judy and I also discovered that they have the most unique way of dispensing the condiments. For a moment Judy felt like she was back on the farm, milking a cow!
Before you think that we were in Europe just to eat their wonderful food, Judy and I were in Hungary to speak and teach at a Bible Institute. A Bible Institute that represented 15 different countries, with 15 different cultures, 15 different languages, 15 different backgrounds, and 15 different sets of ethnic experiences.
Throughout the week, outside of class, Judy and I would spend time with students, as well as staff, answering questions. The same kind of questions that we answer at our church or on any other ministry trip we have been on. Questions that have to do with knowing God’s will, questions regarding relationships between men and women, or how to deal with sins that seem to be having the upper hand in their lives. Many of the same questions that are common to people, not because of our differences, but because we are so much alike.
And no matter how easy or difficult the question may have been, the answers always went back to once source: Jesus. Even with all the differences represented within this student body, one thing remained constant: the answer to every issue in life must begin with the creator of life, Jesus.
The Apostle Peter was absolutely right when he said that when it comes to Christianity, everything we need is found in Christ… His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 2 Peter 1:3-4
Please understand that your background, your language, your education, your culture, your life experiences, etc does NOT need to determine whether or not you have a fulfilling and abundant Christian life. Your mistakes and/or your bad choices do NOT have to control or determine the course of your life.
With God living in us, we are fully equipped to take on life. Need direction? It is there. Need more kindness? It is yours. Need to overcome an addiction? Need more self-control? Maybe you find yourself low on faith and high on fear. Please know that you don’t have to remain there, because God has given you EVERYTHING you need to live a Godly life!
You may not be a Greek scholar, so if you have a pen handy you might want to write this Biblical truth down. When Peter wrote that we have “everything we need for life and godliness,” this is what he really meant: we have EVERYTHING we need for life and godliness. The problem for many Christians today is that they need to move from wishing they had what they need, to believing and acting on the fact that we already have everything we need.
If we continue to walk in unforgiveness when God has made forgiveness available for us, we end up doing more harm to ourselves than to the person we refuse to forgive. If we refuse to live a disciplined life, when God has made it available, we rob ourselves the opportunity of accomplishing the very things God has created us to do. If we choose to hang on to fear instead of walking by faith, God is not happy… And without faith it is impossible to please God. Hebrews 11:6
Hanging out with and talking to students from 15 different countries reminded me again that it is not your upbringing that will determine your spiritual legacy. It is not your financial status, your IQ, your abilities or lack thereof, that will determine if you will live a life that is honoring to God. Whether or not you will make an eternal difference in the lives of people will not be determined by what you bring to God, but what God has already brought to you.
We would all do well to listen to Peter and be reminded that God has brought it all, when He moved in and set up residency in our lives. And the all includes everything we need… His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 2 Peter 1:3-4
We watched as God did some pretty amazing things this past week in a little town called Tóalmás. It is a wonderful thing to watch when we allow God to use the “everything” to accomplish His work. And the food was great too!!
