The Gospel and the Price of Tea in China

I am a perfectionist when it comes to so many things, and I am so exact when it comes to assessing the bits and pieces of life. My husband will tell you this is one of his least favorite things about me. He'll say "Yeah, it was like $10 or something," and I'll quickly chime in to let him know it was "only $8.99." It's not even about being right anymore (or is it?) but about being true to what is being talked about. It's so weird. It eats me alive if it (whatever it is) isn't exactly portrayed as is. We could be talking about the price of a cup of coffee here, or how many diapers I changed that day. What is wrong with me, people?!

Why am I like this with the smallest, most insignificant things yet when it comes to Biblical truth I am not quick at all to correct lies being told by the enemy?

Last night at church, I caught the end of the sermon (because let's face it--moms never get to hear the whole thing), and our Pastor was talking about this exact thing. He said he was at the Dentist the other day and they were having a conversation about the "end" and the dentist said, "I just try to live right and hope for the best at the end." My pastor's response to that was "Hmm," all the while thinking, "Dude, you're going to burn in hell with that way of thinking." He said, "I so easily let a false gospel pass by me, not correcting it and not taking the opportunity to share truth with this man." I was immediately convicted thinking of all the times I've done the exact same thing--even with people I know. I will let someone say they're a good person and believe they're going to heaven because of that, but I won't allow my husband to round up when we're talking about the price of gas. What?!

Pastor Andrew challenged us to, like the Apostle Paul, be ready--ready for sharing the one true gospel and for the consequences that come with that. I am so not ready, but I want to be. I need help to memorize Scripture, to speak boldly, to decipher the lies, and to be as critical with the gospel as I am with the price of tea in China. God, help me.

There is one true Gospel and we, as Christians, are called to defend it with our lives. May we be ready.