WHAT ARE WE THINKING?

Seriously, Church....Body of Christ....WHAT ARE WE THINKING? Here's my text to start with:

1 John 3:16-19
16 We know LOVE by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the LOVE of God abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not LOVE with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. 19 We shall know by this that we are of the truth, and shall assure our heart before Him,

In light of what happened this week, i.e., my friend being blessed through the FB Body of Christ: I started thinking about this. This money is only a temporary fix for her.....the rest of her help will come through the government. THE GOVERNMENT! I can hear everyone now: "But that's why we pay taxes." My question is.....when did the Church decide to give up her blessing to the government? We are supposed to live differently than the world, and yet, we have all become so jaded about helping people that we have given the goods to the bureaucrats of red tape. WHAT ARE WE THINKING?

Yes, I know, some churches and ministries are working on this the best they can. But their hands are tied because of lack of funds. Why do we have lack of funds? Less than 80% of the church tithes. Imagine what your local church could do in your community if everyone, or even half the people got on board and tithed. WHAT ARE WE THINKING?

This passage reminds us that the proof of God living in us, that we are of the truth, is that we love not just with words.....but with DEEDS. Let's face it, deeds cost you something. Money and time. We think our money is our own and our time is our own. Have we forgotten that we sing, "He is Lord"? If He is Lord....He is the "boss of you", as your kids would say. WHAT ARE WE THINKING?

So as a man thinks in his heart, so he is, according to Prov. 23:7a. So, I am guessing if our thinking is stinking.....our resulting deeds will be as well. Our deeds will be what "we can do", not what "He can do". Our own deeds without the power of God just plain stink. We say we believe, but do we? Truly, we only do what we really believe.

The proof that we love comes from the deeds we are led to do. Are we listening? Are we obeying? Are we doing? Let us arise, oh Church.....and be BLESSED!

So.....WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?