Month 9: Penang, Malaysia
"All the world's major religions have substantial representation in Malaysia. The Population and Housing Census 2010 figures shows approximately these proportions of the population following these religions:"
61.3% Muslim
19.8% Buddism
9.2% Christianity
6.3% Hinduism
1.3% Confucianism, Taoism, and other traditional Chinese religions
and other traditional
0.7% Atheist
1.4% Other religions or no information
(numbers from Wikipedia)
　
Right around the corner from where we are living this month is a block with a muslim mosque, buddhist and hindu temple, and a Christian church. ALL on one street! Most people are defined by what they wear, whether its a special color robe or something on their head. You can pick people out of the crowd by how they appear from the outside, to know what they believe or who/what they are worshipping. Now I'm not disrespecting anyone just observing. Anyways, I began to think how are Christians supposed to be defined? How do we "look" and live different?
Jesus says, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35.
It is our LOVE that is supposed to show who we follow and worship. Jesus says, "AS I HAVE LOVED YOU." Where do I even start with His love? Do you know this love? Do you worship Jesus? The one and only true living God….so faithful and worthy of our praise! Does it cause you to love your enemies and those that are hard to love? Does it cause you to want to share his love and tell others the Good News?
The only way you can show real love is if you know how much the Father loves you. That He LOVED you so much He gave his Son who was willing to die in our place for our sin. Out of perfect LOVE Jesus died in our place to the GLORY of the Father! Making a way so that we can be with him forever.
"We love because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19.
As Christians yes we mess up but our Father is always there with loving arms… refining and teaching us what it looks like to be more like Jesus. To walk in more of the freedom he has called us to. He is faithful and loving when we aren't. Pouring his love upon us. Thats what I Iove about Christianity. It has nothing to do with a long list of DO's and DONT'S. It has to do with what Jesus did that day on the cross out of LOVE. Help us Jesus as your chosen BELOVED to be awaken to your love day by day!
Here are some pictures from down the street:
