Portugal 2018
June 18, 2018
Wow! The time is flying by. June is already half gone. In Portugal, many of the national holidays are of religious orientation. Many of them occur in June. Recently, the people celebrated The Body of God holiday with a day off from work. Then, there is Our Lady of Fatima, the Blessed Virgin Mary (that title alone should engender questions) which people worship, walking on their knees the last mile before the shrine, that they might get a prayer answered.
Currently, The World Cup soccer tournament is in place. Portugal played its first game last Friday against one of the favorite teams to win the Cup. The game ended in a tie, 3-3, which was like a win for Portugal. All three points were scored by the star of Portugal's national team, and favorite son, especially during soccer season. Christiano Ronaldo. The headline in next day's newspapers read, "Deus Ronaldo," "Ronaldo is God."
Religion makes gods out of anything because the truth is hidden behind the counterfeit. I know and have experienced this with sports heroes, and religious saints, even the leadership of those religions, whether called a pope or some other designation. They are the gods of this world which "blind the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ...should shine unto them." (2Corinthians 4:4).
We rid the darkness by shining the light of God's Word regarding the Lord Jesus Christ -- a glorious gospel. "We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord..." Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ are commissioned by Him to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark16:15). Notice the "every" creature, without discrimination. And these signs shall follow them which believe; in the name of Jesus Christ they shall cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; if they take up serpent and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. (Mark 16:17, 18).Verse 19 tells of their results; they went, they preached, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed the Word with signs following.
We will have the same results today as we believe and speak to shine the light of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.
We love you guys and pray for you
each day.
See you later,
Ray and Shirley
