we, the citizens of hypocricy

I really hope that it has been a good evening for everybody, and yes, I am talking to you, whoever you are. I sincerely pray and hope that by God's words that I am typing out right now, He might touch your hearts.

So, this morning, I opened my Bible and for some supernatural reason, when I started reading the passage, I felt that I really wanted to share this. So, it was Romans 10:1-23. But I'm focusing on Romans 10:1-17. [If you would like to refer to the passage without opening the Bible, I've the passage at the bottom of this sharing]

We claim that we are fireAC and we serve as a group of young people, passionate for Christ. And we carry "this little light of mine" in this school, to set this school ablaze. But it all boils down to whether this is really our "heart's desire" [v.1]. As it was Paul's heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites that they maybe saved, shouldn't our hearts be filled for compassion for the unsaved around us. I want you to question yourself, just how many of your friends don't know God as their personal saviour? Maybe you, who stumbled upon this blog don't know Christ or God either.
As the Year fives sit down to settle what we see in fireAC, I would like to put this deep burning passion in the hearts of everyone, not just those who come for our morning sessions. Someone once told me that if you go out to share the gospel but you have no compassion for the unsaved, you'll be dragging your feet and afraid to share. Why are we so afraid?

Verse 9 says that if we confess with our mouth that "Jesus is Lord" and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you are saved. If we sincerely believe this, then why aren't we joyfully proclaiming the Gospel everywhere we go. If we have this joy in our heart, this belief, this hope and compassion, then take this moment to turn to your friend, and share the love. Or even better, turn your enemy and show the opposite of what he/she has been showing to you.

For EVERYONE who calls on the name of the Lord WILL be saved.

Have you ever questioned about what you don't know? Or have faith in something you have never heard of? Then how do you expect the remaining 68% [and growing] to suddenly wake up one day and proclaim Jesus as their saviour. Despite coming from a Mission school where we have chapel every week, devotion every morning and a large proportion of us going to church, I am positively sure that some people haven't actually let the gospel enter their system. Then why don't you take this time to turn to your friend, anyone, and spend just five minutes sharing why you believe in God.

For "faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ".

On a side note, even though Christianity is probably the "largest" religion in the world with 32% of the about 6 billion people being Christians, it is definite that these numbers are dropping. Various reasons can include the fact that non-Christians see Christians as a bunch of hypocrites. Romans 1:32 says something along the lines of knowing what is right to do, yet doing the wrong thing. Personally, I feel that this is a very important problem in the lives of Young Christians. Because we read the Bible, or our youth leader tells us, we know what is wrong to do. We know that there is no such thing as grey area, but black or white. Yet we follow the ways of the world, giving in to swearing and cursing, cheating during examinations, lying, piracy and the list goes on.

If you have this compassion in your heart, I'm sure that with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can change and allow Christ to shine through us. For who knows where this rays of light might fall upon.

God Bless you. :D

Romans 10

¹Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. ²For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. ³Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. ⁴Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

⁵Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: "The man who does these things will live by them."^a]">[a] ⁶But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'^b]">[b]" (that is, to bring Christ down) ⁷"or 'Who will descend into the deep?'^c]">[c]" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). ⁸But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,"^d]">[d] that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: ⁹That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. ¹¹As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."^e]">[e] ¹²For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, ¹³for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."^f]">[f]

¹⁴How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? ¹⁵And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"^g]">[g]

¹⁶But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?"^h]">[h] ¹⁷Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

In the Faith of Jesus Christ,
Eunice Wong