What If I Keep the Majority of the Commandments, but am a Little Rude to Those Different Than Me, Does that Show I Love Jesus?

Romans 13: 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

What If I Keep the Majority of the Commandments, but am a Little Rude to Those Different Than Me, Does that Show I Love Jesus?

Well, my understanding is that we can't pick and choose which commandments that we keep. So, when I do the first four commandments, but I'm a little rude to those with different ethnicity to mine, I'm not doing Jesus's will.

If I try not to be a little rude to people with different ethnicity to mine, but I ignore them, does that show I love Jesus? This is still not doing Jesus' will.

If I don't say anything rude about people of different ethnicity when I'm with others who are, does that show I love Jesus?  I know it's extremely hard to be among others who are putting down those of different ethnicity and not to say anything, because I've done this. I've been told that when we say nothing, we are condoning their actions of saying negative things. Therefore, it is still not doing Jesus' will.

None of these questions are easy. We have to be prayerful about them. I've been told that we should stand up and say things like: 
*I don't like being rude to others, regardless of their ethnicity. 
*I don't like ignoring others, regardless of their ethnicity.
*I don't like talking about others, regardless of their ethnicity.

When We Love our Neighbors with Different Colored Skin One Minute and Hate Them the Next, Are we Truly Able to Walk in the Light of Jesus?

*1 John 2: 9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is non occasion of stumbling in him. 11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knowth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

When we love our neighbors with different colored skin one minute and hate them the next, are we truly able to walk in the light of Jesus?

I'm so perplexed by the inconsistencies I see in fellow Christians these days. There are times we hear of someone doing a hate crime to someone of a different ethnicity and we are supportive of them and there are times when we have little sensitivity to their anguish. Is that what Jesus would want????

There have been times when we see that someone's gone into the church of someone primarily of a different ethnicity and shot church members. I've seen the outpouring of support from their community and the larger community of a whole. I am touched by the empathy I see in others for their loss.

Then, there are times when someone of a different ethnicity has been brutally beaten or killed and I've seen a lack of support for the person and their family. It's almost as if those people feel that the beating or killing was justified for some reason or another that only they can explain, because it defies me and what Jesus has shared in the Bible.

Do you think Jesus wants us to be wishy-washy and love others one minute and hate them the next? Fortunately, Jesus wasn't wishy-washy with us. He loves us all the time, regardless of what we've done and what are ethnicity is. He also loves those who hate and belittle others, but wants better for them. Jesus wants them to ask Him to heal their hateful ways and ask for a willing heart to be a better example of abiding in the light of Jesus.

*1 John 2: 9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is non occasion of stumbling in him. 11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knowth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

So, If You Have a Competitive Streak, Does That Mean You Aren't a Christian?

 Philippians 2: 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

So, if you have a competitive streak, does that mean you aren't a Christian?

Sure, many of us like a good challenge in sports, board game or other competitive sport. The thing is to what level we carry our competitiveness. If we are a poor sport if we lose, if we aren't selected for the job advancement we wanted or do unethical things to achieve them, we aren't being a very good example of our faith in Jesus.

I remember the viral email that showed a group of  children participating in a Special Olympics race. One of the kids stumbled. One of the other kids in the race went back and helped that child up and ran with him the rest of the way, so he wouldn't come in last. Even better yet were the commercials I've seen of the same thing, but all the children in the race joined the person who had fallen and they all ran to cross the finish line together.

What's important. Do we look at the needs of others or do we put ourselves and our need to be superior, first, the chosen one above the needs of all others and do we do self-serving things to accentuate our superiority?

We have all probably done this one time or another, but some of us may do this more often than not.  Fortunately, Jesus gives us a guide in the Bible of what He would like us to do. It's up to us to take heart and pray and ask Him to give us a humble and willing heart to the be the Christian and example He wants us to be of how He works in our lives.

Philippians 2: 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

If we argue with others to share our faith, are we doing the will of Jesus?

Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 2 Timothy 2:22-23

If we argue with others to share our faith, are we doing the will of Jesus?

This was interesting for me to prayerfully contemplate. I've been around people who argue their faith, as if the person's soul would be won by the best debater. That wouldn't work well for me. People intensely arguing makes me want to crawl under a rock and hide. 

I appreciated the verses that followed that showed what Jesus wants when we share our faith:
And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:24-26

If We've Led an Unethical, Self-Focused Life, Do We Have Any Hope of Salvation?

Acts 15: 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

If we've led an unethical, self-focused life, do we have any hope of Salvation?

There's the good news and the bad news, which really is good news. If we truly are sorry for the way we've been living and ask Jesus into our hearts. Jesus forgives us plain and simple. The Good News is Jesus will forgive us even if we were bank robbers, dabbled in drugs and alcohol, were abusive or were hateful to others, even to other Christians. 

The Bad News is: that once we are saved by Jesus Grace, He expects us to no longer live that sinful, worldly life style and turn to Him for strength if we find difficulty related to those or any other vices we may have. Although this may not seem easy, it truly is the Good News, because Jesus is right there by your side to get you through this to become the Christian He truly wants you to be. Just put your vices and your faith in Jesus' very capable hands. He will get you through this if you truly let Him!

Acts 15: 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

When sharing our faith with others isn't well received and we give up, does it tell Jesus that He isn't worth the effort?

And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good solider of Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 2:2-3

When sharing our faith with others isn't well received and we give up, does it tell Jesus that He isn't worth the effort?

I know it's got to be frustrating to have people back away from you when you mention your faith in Jesus, because I have had that happen before. Each time, the thought to just give up pops up quickly in my mind. Of course, that's what Satan would want. He would want us to give up sharing our faith, because he has not only gained any people that we were trying to share our faith with, but he has gained us, in the process!

I'm of the belief that not everyone can share their faith in the same manner as others they see do this. I've tried approaches that others have written about that haven't gotten positive responses for me, but Jesus doesn't want us to give up!

The Bible says: There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:  1 Corinthians, Chapter 12:4-7.

There are many times I have almost given up trying. I've learned to be prayerful about the timing and way to share my faith with others, asking what Jesus wants of me. I've felt like He's led me to share my faith through blogs. That way, people can view it when they are available to read posts on line. It took me awhile to realize that He doesn't call us all to share our faith in the exact same way, but they can all work for His good.