Gateway Church - MO Gateway Church

We have been working through a teaching series called Sweet Little Lies. Through this teaching series we have found several common sayings or phases that we as Americans use quite often. Most of which makes us feel better about a situation or kinda dismiss our poor behaviors, or even give us an excuse when we aren't living very Christ like. These are saying like “it's the thought that counts” or “as long as you are happy.” But can sincerity be a bad thing? Can there be a negative connotation surrounding sincerity? Why might being sincere lead us astray.

‘I’m not THAT bad.’ We all think it and some of us say it. When we look at the culture around us and compare ourselves to that standard, most of us feel pretty good about ourselves. But the world is not the standard we are to be measured against. When we compare ourselves to the standard of Jesus, we recognize that we all are in need of God’s amazing grace and infinite forgiveness. It’s only through the righteousness of Jesus that we have any hope of righteousness at all.

We think that happiness is important; we think it’s so important that it’s a part of the Declaration of Independence. (Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are considered inalienable rights.). But what if God wants more for you than just your happiness? What if God wants you to be holy and blessed more than He wants you to be happy? What if what God wants for you is better for you than just being happy? But, what if God’s best for us means we have to be unhappy sometimes? Are we still willing to trust and follow God even if what’s best for us doesn’t always make us happy?

“It’s the thought that counts” has been used to excuse untold late birthday gifts, poorly done projects and careless words. Sadly, many who claim to follow Jesus have the same sentiment when it comes to their walk of faith. We often tell ourselves that as long as we believe in our hearts, then what we say or do – or what we neglect to say or do – doesn’t matter. God knows our hearts so we’re OK. But Jesus makes it clear that a faith that does not result in a changed life is really no faith at all.

It’s popular to think that choosing to follow Jesus will solve all our problems; health, financial, relational, you name. it. We tell ourselves that if we believe in Jesus, go to church, and do all the right things, he will make our lives easier. But nowhere in the Bible are we promised an easy life in return for choosing to follow Jesus. In fact, Jesus promised just the opposite. He said we would have trouble in this world. But he also said that he had overcome the world. Following Jesus doesn’t make our lives easier, but it always makes them better.

Jesus told us to “go and make disciples.” We often assume this applies to ‘professional Christians’ like pastors and missionaries. But Jesus intended for every follower to make disciples. And we don’t have to wait to be sent. He has already sent us. His plan was that as we go through life, as we get ‘out there’ we are to point other people to the reality of a God who loves them and will radically transform them so they too can experience a life worth living.