There will come a time

  There will come a time

In the book of Obadiah we read,

"For the day of the LORD is near upon all nations.

As you have done, it shall be done to you;

your deeds shall return on your own head" 

                                                                Obadiah 1:15.

I like this quote from Billy Graham it states,

“The Bible says today is the accepted time, today is the day of salvation... 

But there will come a time when it will be too late for you.” 

                                                                                             Billy Graham.

Are you prepared to meet God? Have you acknowledged by faith that there is a God who sent His One and Only Son to save our souls? Have you confessed your sins to God and accepted the salvation that comes through Christ Jesus?

The apostle Paul telling us,

"...Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord

 will be saved." 

                                                Romans 10:13.

So have you called upon the name of the LORD and confessed your sins to Him?

Please think about it.

Give Praise to the Lord

  Give Praise to the Lord

“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done.” Isaiah 12:4.

This is the job of the Christian. Not judging people. Not arguing with people. Simply telling the world about God and what he has done. 

Jesus said

"Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20

If you claim to be a Christian are you telling the world around you about Jesus and all he has done for you?

Please think about it.

Taking up your cross

  Taking up your cross

Jesus said,

"Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it." Mark 8:34,35.

Here Jesus warns what following him means. Put simply it means it means putting our trust entirely in Gods hands. As one commentator put it “it means letting go of self-determination and replace it with obedience and dependence on God.”

That’s a big step and I know many believers around the world are doing just that. However there are many here in North America where I live are not or are reluctant to deny themselves. Trying to have a foot in both the world and in heaven.

Jesus however said,

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." Matthew 16:24.

Where do you stand? Have you taken up your cross and following Jesus?

Please think about it.

Christianity a lifestyle

 Christianity A Lifestyle 

In the book of Deuteronomy we read,

“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  

These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  

Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”  Deuteronomy 6:5-7.

Christianity is a lifestyle dedicated to God. It is a way of life. It’s loving God with all of our hearts. It’s impressing Gods commandments on our children. Talking about them at home and when we walk along the road. It’s praising and thanking God when we lie down to sleep and thanking Him every morning when we wake up.

If you claim to be a Christian do you do this? 

God's Anvil

 God's Anvil

In the book of Acts we have this account of the apostles being brought before the Sanhedrin,

"Then someone came and said, "Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people."  

At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them. 

Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest.  

"We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood." 

Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men!  

The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.  

God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Saviour that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.  

We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him." 

When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death." Acts 5:25-33.

Then a Pharisee named Gamaliel spoke,

 “A Pharisee named Gamaliel a teacher of the Law an honoured man, standing before the Sanhedrin as they were presiding over the trial of Christ’s apostles said,

“Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  

But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” Acts 5:38,39.

There’s a poem by an unknown author that I’ve always liked it reads,

Last eve I passed beside a blacksmith’s door,

And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime;

Then, looking in, I saw upon the floor

Old hammers, worn with beating years of time.

“How many anvils have you had,” said I,

“To wear and batter all these hammers so?”

“Just one,” said he, and then, with twinkling eye,

The anvil wears the hammers out, you know.”

And so, thought I, the anvil of God’s Word,

For ages skeptic blows have beat upon;

Yet, though the noise of falling blows was heard,

The anvil is unharmed - and hammers gone.

                                                                Anonymous      

 Gamaliel and the poet were right. The Gospel message is of God. As a result today Christianity is the largest religion in the word and all who have tried to destroy it have failed.

Please think about it.

Are you, Do you?

  Are you Do you?

In the book of Deuteronomy we read,

“But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul."  Deuteronomy 4:29.

Whether it’s a lost coin, or a lost person. In order to find it you must first be looking for it. This is especially true of God. You must be looking for him in order to find Him.

In the book of Hebrews we read,

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6.

         This is why many atheist cannot find God. They do not believe he exists so they are not looking for him.

An anonymous writer stated,

“Maybe the atheist cannot find God for the same reason a thief cannot find a policeman.” Author Unknown.

So where do you stand? Are you looking for God? Do you truly believe in God?

Please think about it.

Calls on the name

 Calls on the name

The apostle Paul writes, 

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  Romans 3:23,24.

Sin is falling short of the mark. Falling short of Gods expectations for us.

Isaiah the prophet writes,

“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” Isaiah 64:6

God knew we would always fall short of his expectations. That's why he sent Jesus to us.

Writing to Titus Paul states,

"But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit" Titus 3:4,5.

Writing to the Ephesians Paul writes,

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8,9.

We cannot work our way into heaven. It is only by accepting Gods grace that comes through Christ Jesus that we can enter heaven. The apostle Paul writing,

“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  

For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,  for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” Romans 10:9-13.

Do you believe Jesus in Lord the Saviour of all who trust in him?

Please think about it.

God's showed you

  God’s showed you

In the book of Micah we read,

"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8

Here the prophet Micah tells us what has to be the most basic actions believers in God, believers in Christ Jesus has to do.

Act justly

Love mercy

Walk humbly with God.

If you claim to be a believer in God. A believer in Christ Jesus. Are you doing these things?

Please think about it.

Principle for living #8 Love

 Principle for Living #8, Love. 

The writer of Proverbs states,

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; 

bind them around your neck, 

write them on the tablet of your heart. 

Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” 

                                                                                             Proverbs 3:3,4.

The American civil right leader Martin Luther King Jr. said,

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

During the height of world war two Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver wrote,

“There is one other fundamental difference between love and hate.  Love is always a refuge.  Hate is never a refuge.  Only a mentally sick person can find refuge in his hates.  But love is the enduring sanctuary of life.  Life may rob you of many things.  It often does.  But it can never bereave us of love itself.  That remains.” Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver, rabbinic leader, from a December 22, 1940, sermon

I truly believe our faith in God should result in us showing unconditional love for those around us. Our neighbours, our families, Our friends, even our enemies.

Love is a universal truth that Atheist as well as men and women with Faith in God can agree is good for both individuals and society as a whole.

The apostle Paul defines love this way,

“Love is patient, love is kind. 

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, 

it is not easily angered, 

it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails....

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love.”  

                                  1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13

There is a famous prayer by Francis of Assisi that I believes says it all. Especially if one calls themselves a believer in Christ. It states,

“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love,

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.” 

                                                            Francis of Assisi

Please think about it.

Principles for living #7 Trust in The Lord

  Principles for living #7 Trust in The Lord

The writer of Proverbs tells us,

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart 

and lean not on your own understanding; 

in all your ways acknowledge him, 

and he will make your paths straight.”

                                               Proverbs 3:5,6.

If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus do you trust God completely? Is your faith squarely in Him. The writer of Hebrew tells us,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see.”  

                                                           Hebrews 11:1

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, 

because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists 

and 

that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” 

                                                                            Hebrews 11:6.

I have learned first hand that trusting in God really does work. 

Yes there have been times when I thought things would not work out. Still I committed the situation to God and left it there. Ultimately the situation did work out, although sometimes not in the way I thought it would work out.

The apostle Paul said,

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

And Paul should know he went through a lot for his faith yet it all worked out in the end. Even though he was ultimately martyred for his faith he had the opportunity to share that faith throughout the Roman empire. He stood before everyone from rulers to slave and told them about his faith before leaving this earth for heaven.

So the question becomes, if you consider yourself a believer in Christ Jesus do you put your trust fully in Him? And do you share your faith?

Please think about it.

Principles for living #5 At peace with God

  Principles for Living #5 At Peace with God

The apostle Peter writing to Christians reminds believers that Jesus will one day return and this earth will pass away. Noting that He will come quickly when we are least expecting it. Therefor we need to be at peace with God. Peter writes,

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.    That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.  

But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 

So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.  2 Peter 3:10-14.

As believers we many times fall short of what God wants for our lives. It is however incumbent upon us as soon as we realize we have made a mistake to ask God’s forgiveness.

As believers we truly need to look at our lives from time to time and ask ourselves am I truly living a life that is glorifying God? 

Am I truly at peace with God? 

Please think about it.

Principles for living #4

 Principles for living #4 

Live at Peace with those around you.

The apostle Paul wrote,

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”  Romans 12:18.

The writer of Hebrews states,

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.

The Apostle Peter tells believers in Christ Jesus,

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  

Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 

Dear friends,

 I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:9-12.

Believers in Christ Jesus are called to live a good and peaceful life. A life of holiness. 

As believers in Christ we need to take a look at the actions of Jesus and the apostles. They never spoke out against anyone outside their faith. They never protested for any reason. They did as far as was possible live at peace with those around them. They lived a life of love. 

In doing so they opened up doors to talk with other groups throughout the known world. As a result in just over a century, Christianity had spread throughout the known world.

These men and women respected all those they came in contact with. They lived peaceful loving lives.

As a result they stood in the Areopagus in Athens and spoke to the learned men and women there. They spoke with politicians, soldiers, tax collectors, and people of every strata of society from slaves to rulers.

This is what we in the twenty-first century church need to do. Are you?

Please think about it.