@BabyStarCandy 8 August 2021 more from that month

“Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.” (John‬ ‭8:47‬) A few sentences later the people in the crowd, totally offended and furiously outraged by what Jesus was saying, picked up stones to throw at him, intent on killing him. Are you in the crowd? You don’t listen to the words of God; you don’t read or reflect or work at applying them. You don’t love your spouse unconditionally. You don’t make allowances for those who are weaker than you. You don’t love your neighbor. You certainly don’t love your enemy, nor do you pray for those who persecute you—you pray against! You don’t give even the smallest portion of your resources when the opportunity is offered. You squeeze your eyes shut and grit your teeth if you happen to feel a nudge from the Holy Spirit. You don’t listen, gladly or otherwise, because you don’t belong to God. And curiously, you’re not happy in your disobedience either. What a miserable life. Christianity for many people is like being dragged by the hair. But if that’s the way you feel about it, like all the demands are so tiresome—or worse, you feel they are preposterous—then you aren’t a Christian. People who follow Jesus do it because they love Jesus. They do what he says because they love him and they love to please him. Especially when they don’t understand, especially when it hurts. Because they believe in what he did for them, and they are willing to do likewise for others. Christlike people are like Christ—Christians in deed, not just in name. He knows the difference. #GoldenBaby💛