Common mistakes that the "people of God" make

I thank the God whom I serve faithfully, with a clear conscience, as I constantly remember the Church in my prayers. For the 13 years I have been in the ordained ministry, I have never discriminated against people based on status, gender or ethnicity. All those I have ministered to, they know very well where my heart has been – for equitable distribution of blessings irrespective of where one comes from.

 I want them to remain the way I have taught them. I have been able to follow Jesus as his slave with humility and tears. I have not shied from doing anything helpful that is going to assist the church. I have not only taught general topics but also proclaimed the whole counsel of God.

Proclaiming the message and teaching them publicly and from house to house. These people I have taught have also been an inspiration to me as I continued testifying to both the young and the old, the rich and the poor and to both the “Jews” and “Greeks”.

I have always desired to testify the word of God to all the people irrespective of their status in the society. The cardinal theme I have dedicated my time to has been calling all of us to be witnesses in for Christ. Unfortunately this is not what churches are doing. They are partisan, tribal and openly practices favoritism without their conscience convicting them. This is a sin.

Since God gives us what we need, do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or be ashamed about being children of God irrespective of the challenges we go through. When Paul was prisoned and placed on death row for telling people that Jesus was the Lord, and not king Nero, he was never ashamed of being an apostle of Christ, even at the lowest point in his life.

Jesus had been executed as an enemy of the Empire, and Paul seemed headed for that, too. This, however, didn’t conquer Paul’s zeal to continue serving God. We can, therefore, join with Paul in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God because you will suffer for doing it, but God will give you the help you need.

Paul reminds Timothy of what the gospel is, and why he should preach it: God has saved us and called us to a holy life — not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. The word “holy” means “set apart for God.”  God not only gives us eternal life, he tells us that our life has purpose — we are set apart for God’s use.

This grace was given to us in Christ before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Even before God created us, he knew that we would need a Savior, and he forgave us ahead of time.

As I go on recess for my annual leave, I pray that the Church I serve will remain loyal to their calling. I pray to God to show them Mercy as a loyal soldier. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs — he wants to please his commanding officer. It’s OK to be involved in secular affairs — Paul sometimes worked as a tent maker — but I implore them not to be entangled in the secular world. Remember you are primarily a servant of Jesus, and you should always seek to please Jesus, even if you are leaving in this secular world.