This past week I had seen many Facebook ads from a streaming Christian movie subscription service. They were offering a free one-month trial, so I signed up to see if I liked it (I knew I would!). Clearly they have a very successful marketing strategy—It worked quite well on me. It turns out that it was a fantastic decision. The movies have been so inspiring to say the least!
One of the movies that I watched impacted me in an earth shaking kind of way.
Like a hammer to the head.
It’s called “Do You Believe?”. The movie tells a story of how the lives of several people collide all at once and challenge their belief in the cross of Christ. In the beginning of the movie, a pastor is stopped at an intersection and a homeless man carrying a cross across the street asks him, “Do you believe in the cross of Christ?” He answers, “I’m a pastor.” The homeless man responds by saying, “That’s not what I asked you. Do you believe in the cross of Christ?”. Still puzzled, the pastor quietly says “Yes.” and drives away.
Later on, another character poses the question, “If you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” Like a ton of bricks, this question hit my heart dead on. Would there be enough evidence to convict me? Do I live my life like I believe fully in the cross of Christ? Do others see the fruit that I bear? Am I bearing good fruit? Do I point them to the cross? Do I live boldly and fearless in my faith? Do I share my faith regardless of the social consequences?
Millions of rhetorical questions along with the following verses started buzzing through my head:
Revelation 3:15 (ESV)- “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”
What’s your temperature? I know that mine has struggled to maintain before, but I don’t want to stay quiet and complacent anymore. I want to be boiling and bubbling over!
Matthew 12:33- “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit.”
Galations 5:22-25- “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”
The world will know who we belong to by the fruit that we bear. They will recognize us as HIS because we live in the power of the Cross.
I Corinthians 1:18 (ESV)- “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
Do you take the Cross for granted? Or do you recognize its power?
Ladies, the ship is sinking fast and those who believe in the cross of Christ are in the lifeboat. I don’t know where you are in your walk, but I know for sure that I want to throw a lifeline and boldly share my relationship with Jesus without any reservations! The Cross has changed my life and I know what it can do for them too. The world is perishing and HUNGRY for it. Where would you be, right this second, if the person that introduced you to your Savior chose not to? What if they were too scared or self-conscious?
You could be the catalyst in their life.
Everyone deserves to hear the Gospel.
John 3:16 (ESV)- “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
So what do we do?
Jesus said to His first disciples, “And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men’. And immediately they left their nets and followed him.” Mark 1:17-18 (ESV)
When Jesus first appeared to the disciples after His resurrection, He gave them the Great Commission- “And he said to them, Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:15-16 (ESV)
You do not need to “have it all together” to point people to the Cross. Heaven knows I don’t! The disciples sure didn’t. Christ does not call us to be perfect. He calls us to be willing vessels. The Lord will guide you to the right words and scenario. When I was working for a local Christian ministry, during the training program I was taught a valuable lesson—Always have a hand out (to those you are ministering too) and a hand up (to the Lord). You are simply the “vessel” or the “medium”, so to speak. The Holy Spirit does the work.
This post was not meant to be preachy, but to inspire those who claim to be believers into action! I was heavily convicted over this area in my life and perhaps it has struck you the same way. The two main challenges I leave you with are this:
Do you live like you fully believe in the power of the Cross?
Are you willing to step out of your comfort zone and share it?
Maybe you don’t have a personal relationship with Christ, but would like to begin one? Check out the verses below. Christ has made a way!
We are all sinners.
Romans 3:23 (ESV)- “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
There are consequences for sin.
Romans 6:23 (ESV)- “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
God sent His only Son to be the perfect, once and for all sacrifice for our sin.
Romans 5:8 (ESV)- “God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
There is a way to a restored relationship with God.
Romans 10:9 (ESV)- “Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 5:1 (ESV)- “Therefore since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
There is grace!
Romans 8:1 (ESV)- “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
We are FOREVER His!
Romans 8:38-39 (ESV)- “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
How awesome is that?!?!? NOTHING can separate us from Him!
We would LOVE to share with you and pray with you! Contact connectingwomenwithgod@gmail.com
Love you girls and praying for boldness in ALL of our hearts,
Diane
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Diane Haupt is a stay-at-home wife and mother and serves on the board of directors for The Connection. She is a fellow sinner saved by the grace of God and is an active member of LCBC Church in Waynesboro, PA where she serves on the worship team. She has a passionate desire given by the Holy Spirit to mentor and disciple other women. You can email her at connectingwomenwithgod@gmail.com.
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