I recently attended a conference lead by Dr Clifford Hill who produces a bi-monthly CD on the state of the nation. He and many others are saying that God is shaking the nation because its departure from God’s way. There can be no revival of Christianity in England until there is a reawakening among Christian people themselves. We Christian people are not presenting to the world a way of life which is sufficiently distinctive and attractive. The question asked by Jesus may still have a point: “What do you do more than others?” The acid test of Christianity today is not my attendance at church, nor my saying of prayers, nor even my willingness to help others in need, but the inner quality of my own life. A Christian who is touchy, easily offended, sharp-tongued, resentful, is simply denying the faith he professes. Any Christian who has enmity in his heart against a single other person should cease to describe himself/herself as a Christian until that enmity is replaced by love. Jesus said these words, “By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, that you have love one toward another.” When we are careless in how we speak of another’s reputation, when we are indifferent to the sufferings of those we meet, when we are censorious and carping in our judgements, we are denying love its place in our hearts. A far higher quality of life is demanded from the followers of Jesus Christ than can be attained by self-effort. To live His quality of life, I need His wisdom and His power. We can live His life only when His spirit rules and reigns within.
John.
