Christ Daily

Look at the young men in the image to the left.  Two guys.  Standing in the snow.  Taking a picture.  At first glance, they look like they’d be the typical youth of anywhere in the world.  Probably finishing up High School or starting college.  Maybe they have a girlfriend, and maybe they’re saving up to buy a car.  They are 18 years old at the time of this picture.

These two (along with a third friend, same age – not pictured) young men live in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine.  A year ago, they were arrested for the brutal, violent, bloody murders of over 21 individuals.  What did the victims do?  Absolutely nothing.  Each and every one of them were complete strangers to the boys.  They literally were killing for fun.  For entertainment.

Another thing about their killings: they filmed almost each one.  One even made it onto the internet.  I saw this video a while back, and I literally did not sleep that night.  It is such a sickening thing to see, hear, or witness.  Do not attempt to watch it. The worse thing throughout the video was the faces, reactions, and the things the boys were saying.  They were laughing.  Having fun.  Smiling.  Cracking jokes.  As they mangled a man with power tools, they were having fun.

They are currently behind bars, and are now 20 years old – no doubt ruined for life.

What’s the most amazing part of this story?  The fact that Jesus loves them.

Those three, awful, wretched, murderous, evil killers… are still loved by Jesus Christ as much as you or I.  ‘How,’ you may ask, ‘Could God do that!?  That’s insane!’ That’s what’s so incredible about the God we serve.

His Love for us is so deep, so profound, that he, Jesus, would give his LIFE to save those three Ukrainian killers.  Jesus loves people like Hitler so much he willingly went to be nailed and hung from an old beam of wood and suffer naked for hours.  Jesus loves people like Saddam Hussein so much he sacrificed his body, poured out his blood, and died an INNOCENT man.  THAT’S how much Jesus loves us.

But so often people don’t see it, and they abandon God, and in doing so, they abandon that sacrifice Jesus Christ made.  His love for us is so deep, he’d give his body to save every last one of us filthy, wretched sinners.  All we have to do is put our faith in him, and follow Jesus.  That’s it.  Such a glorious gift, at such an easy price.

Roman’s is one of my favorite books of the bible.  I leave you with this passage.

“There is no condemnation for those who belong to Jesus Christ. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.”  -Romans 8:1-2

written by Matt \\ tags: Murder, Romans, Sin, Ukraine Murders

When we truly have Jesus in our hearts and at the center of our lives, it only becomes natural for us to want to share Him with others. And He wants us to do just that – to spread the Word – and to do it however we can.

We each have individual talents that God has blessed us with. For some, it is writing. For others, editing video is their specialty. Some have been blessed with the ability to paint and draw beautiful works of art. Others are brilliant musicians.

The list in infinite, and ultimately here’s the point: use what God gave you to do his work. And naturally, if we do, in fact, have Jesus at the center of our lives, we can’t help but want to get the Word out and tell others about Him. And what better way to do that than what you do best?

written by Josh \\ tags: God, Jesus, witnessing

Do you have a dream?  Something that makes you smile when you think about ‘Hey – maybe, someday, I can pursue that?’  Maybe you’d like to sing.  Maybe you’d like to travel.  Maybe you’d like to paint.  I know one of my biggest dreams is to direct a movie that gets a theatrical release.  There are so many things we think about trying, but never really do, because we think that ‘Oh, that’s really farfetched.’

Sometimes our dreams can seem downright silly to us, but one of the coolest things about living the life that God has called you to live is that he doesn’t think they’re silly.  He totally believes in you, and he, in fact, GAVE you those desires and dreams so that one day, you can fulfill them and give him the glory so that others might come to know him, too.

Ephesians 3:20 says

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”

INFINITELY MORE then we might ask or even think!  Wow, isn’t that something?  Whatever your wildest dream is, God is prepared to give you MORE than that!  So long as you give the glory and honor to him, he’s ready to put you on the fast track to accomplishing whatever you set out to do.

So start writing that novel!  Get to work on that video!  Make that website!  Start a band!  God will bless you in ways you can’t even imagine – he promised he would, and God’s promises are never broken.

written by Matt \\ tags: Calling, Dream, God, life

When we follow Jesus, why are why doing it? Why, exactly, are we following him? And on top of that, is it really following him?

There are many out there who give generously at offerings in worship services, but are they giving out of their hearts, or because they want the many blessings that God may give us as a result of their giving? Some people may follow Jesus for the fact that he’ll protect and watch over us, but they don’t really care about obeying his commands or being obedient about anything else whatsoever.

But again, is that really following God?

²⁶Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. ²⁷Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."

- John 6:26-27

Jesus told this to the group of 5,000 that he had fed the day before. No doubt some were continuing to follow him because they believe he was who he said he was, but there were others who were probably doing it merely for physical and temporary benefits – not satisfying their spiritual hunger.

Too many people use religion as a way of showing prestige or looking “good” and “reverent”. However, those are self-centered motives. So there is only one real answer to the question at the top: true believers follow Jesus purely because He is the way, the truth, and the light, and his way is the right way to live.

written by Josh \\ tags: Jesus, John, obedience, spiritual hunger

I apologize for the lack of posting recently. We have been quite busy between our personal lives and working on the next big thing here for Christ Daily. More information on that in the near future!

I started reading John chapter 8 last night, and paid particular attention to the first story in it. Here’s how it goes:

¹But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. ²At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. ³The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group ⁴and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. ⁵In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" ⁶They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

   But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. ⁷When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." ⁸Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

⁹At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. ¹⁰Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"

¹¹"No one, sir," she said.
      "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

- John 8:1-11

I’m sure we’ve all heard this story at one point or another, and it is indeed a good one. The leaders who brought this woman to Jesus were trying to put him in a trap: The law required the woman (and her partner) to be stoned, and if Jesus told them not to stone her, he would be violating the law. If he urged them to execute her, he’d have been reported. Instead, Jesus upheld the punishment, but said only those who have not sinned could punish her. Jesus did not condemn this adulterous woman; instead, he forgave her, and told her to leave her life of sin and straighten herself out.

How many times do you automatically condemn someone when they sin? Even if it’s not out loud – even if it’s in your head – don’t you realize that you, too, have sinned? I have sinned with you. We all have sinned. It’s not our job to judge others – that’s ultimately God’s. Our job is to love and forgive each other.

Thanks for reading!

- Josh

written by Josh \\ tags: condemning, Forgiveness, God, grace, Jesus, John, judging