Hey Did You Know…

If You Only Knew

Published by Deborah Negron M.A.
Iglesia de Dios – Centro de Vida

Church of God Center of Life
Bridgeport, Connecticut

August 25, 2020

Roman’s 15:1-13
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves; let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to edify him. For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached thee fell on me.” For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise thee among the Gentiles, and sing to thy name”; and again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people”; and again, “Praise the Lord, all Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him”; and further Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse shall come, he who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles hope.” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

If you only knew the time and value
God has invested in his creation.
If you only knew how much he has loved humanity.
If you only understood that the Lord gave himself for all of us.
If you only could, would you listen?
If you only knew that the enemy of our souls seeks to destroy you.

Would you listen to the cries of the unborn?
Would you listen to the battered wife and intervene?
Would you consider the ones who have been confused and have lost their identity to the pressures of the world?
Would you not judge the weak but rather become a helping hand?
Would you stand in earnest prayer for the children who must remain in homes where love is not found?
Would you care if a little boy is killed by a boyfriend of an addicted mom?
Would you care if the hatred of one gang is so great that they stand, at a street war because they were paid to do so, calling it a racial war?
Would you speak out when you see injustice in the government?
Would you interject your point to educate, change and teach the ignorant the truths.

Today we have many claiming they are for some good cause, yet the bring riots and destruction to our communities.

Today we have some that claim they love God but all th while they hate anyon who is no like them.

Today we want to call tolerance the idea that supercedes all ideas. Yet so many ignore the fundamental facts.

Every humanbeing deserves to have a chance to thrive.
The unborn and the white and latino, asian and black child, the jew baby, as well as, the gentile every one, all deserve to survive.

The Lord made every life have value. Your life is not better han mine.

Christ came to close this division between the races. He came to set captives free.
He came to his own and was rejected….
Yet his love was spread abroad to all.
He came to bring light, life and hope to the
WHOSOEVER.

YES, THIS MEANS EVERYONE.
His death on the cross was a payment so that you and I regardless of culture and differing backgrounds, could come in and be forgiven. He came to unite for himself a body.

If you accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour you become one with him. You become part of the family of God. You are then part of he body of Christ.

Then as one body we move in love, mercy, grace, humility, faithfulness, forgiving the shortcomings of others and loving all people.

Together we stand against sin.

For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm then and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery. For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself. I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I am warning you about these things — as I warned you before — that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. Galatians 5:1‭, ‬13‭-‬14‭, ‬16‭-‬17‭, ‬19‭-‬23

We stand for what is good and righteous and worthy of honor.

We are changed and understand that families are God’s way of uniting human beings so there would be no loneliness, no lacks. There we would see how the Lord binds us together even with those we may not have thought of and makes us part of the whole of his creation.
Men and women, young and old, all were created to glorify the Lord.

If you only knew, how masterful and kind the Lord has been you would surely give your devotion to him. You would render your life to him and find the rest that you need.
You would find the sense of belonging that is necessary to live out this life.

Oh, if you only knew how much you were loved cherished by God, you would come freely to him.

Jesus says,
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28

For God so loved the world that he gave the only be got and son that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16