Walking in circles.

So today, I've found the connection between that guy that claims to be the prophet Elias/Elijah and John the Baptist. Matthew 17:11-13. I wondered about this for so long. I had kinda forgotten about it though until I stumbled upon those verses tonight.

Chapter 15 (9, 14, 17-18) were particularly reassuring during my read tonight. I love the Bible so much, it gives me so much peace and whenever I start to doubt some of the things that have happened and wonder if I'M the nutty one, I open the Bible and He reassures me. Praise God :)

Lately, I've been trying to figure out how I feel about whether or not God is inclusive or exclusive. I've always been raised that God is very INCLusive. And looking at how Jesus was, he seemed very inclusive and accepting. I know somewhere in the Bible (NT) it says accept others as Jesus accepted you. ("Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." Romans 15:7) BTW, I tend to use the NIV version of the Bible although I like to compare it with the Douay Rheims & the Greek/Hebrew interlinear.  Anyway, so Jesus accepts us as we are. (Praise God, again) And I would love for everyone, yes EVERYONE, to feel how I feel on the inside- the peace, the reassurance, how Christ/my faith takes away my worries, helps me to relax. But, for someone that may have all those things in a different religion, how can one compete with that? And, how do I know that God would ultimately turn someone away for that? I don't know that. And honestly, no one will truly know that until they are there before Him. People can make exceptions, then God can MOST DEFINITELY can make exceptions. And personally, I don't feel comfortable putting God in a [small] box. I added small because I am only human, my mind naturally has limitations so naturally I put him in some kind of box, I just try not to put him in a small one :)

So I'm trying to figure out how I feel about that issue. But really, does it even matter? Because I have faith in our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ so I know I'm covered. And I'm going to continue to make relationships and have open conversations to maybe lead people to the peace I have within me but if someone is already at peace... This is where my problem lies. Ok I'm seriously going in circles. Anyway,  I've been reading C. S. Lewis' book, The Screwtape Letters, it is very interesting! It takes me a minute to figure out what he's saying sometimes but it is a very good read so far. I suppose I'll end here, with a quote from C.S. Lewis (although, not from The Screwtape Letters.) "Preach the Gospel; when necessary, use words." I love that. :)
-xo