Your eternal resting place

 Your eternal resting place

In the book of Galatians we read,

"Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Galatians 3:6.

Do you believe in God?

The apostle Paul wrote,

"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

Blaise Pascal wrote,

“Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists.” Blaise Pascal.

So I ask the question again, Do you believe in God?

Are you willing to risk your eternal resting place on what you believe?

Please think about it.

The Holy One of God

  The Holy one of God

In John’s gospel we read of this interaction between Jesus and His twelve disciples, 

"You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. 

Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.  

We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." John 6:67-69.

Jesus is the Holy One of God. This is what the disciples believed and they knew Jesus intimately. 

Speaking to Martha Jesus states,

"Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

"Yes Lord" she told Him, "I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world," John 11:25,26,27. 

Both Martha and Jesus’ disciples knew Jesus personally. As a result they could say beyond a doubt that Jesus is The Christ, the Son of God.

Do you believe this?

Please think about it.

The upward call

  The upward call.

The apostle Paul writes,

     “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:14.

Here Paul sets an example for us all. He presses toward “the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

As believers in Christ Jesus it is important to “press into God’s word”, the Bible. We must endeavour to do all we can to learn about the God, and Christ Jesus.  

The apostle Paul writing to Timothy wrote,

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2Timothy 2:15.

The only way we can handle the word of truth is by knowing what the scriptures say. That means not just reading the Bible but studying what it says.

Question, do you just read the Bible or do you study what it says?

Please think about it.

A Journey

 A Journey 

The Psalmist writes,

"Where can I go from your Spirit?  

Where can I flee from Your presence?  

If I go up to the heavens, 

You are there; 

if I make my bed in the depth,

 You are there. 

 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, 

if I settle on the far side of the sea, 

even there Your hand will guide me.  

Your right hand will hold me fast."

                                                                               Psalm 139:7-10

C. S. Lewis put it this way,

“We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade, the presence of God.” 

                                                                                                    C. S. Lewis.

Do you believe in God? Perhaps a better question is are you willing to risk your eternal resting place on what you believe?

From the moment we are born we start a journey toward eternity. I believe that throughout that journey God places sign posts directing us to him. All we have to do is read them correctly and do what they say. If we do not we are bound for destruction.

Please think about it.

Think of it this way

  Think of it this way

Jesus said,

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.

Think of it this way

If you are

demonstrating against anyone. 

You are telling them 

they can demonstrate against you.

If you are 

speaking out and trying to restrict the rights of others 

given to them by the lawfully elected government.

You are telling others 

they can try to restrict your rights.

If you are 

imposing your morals however good they may be on others.

You are telling them 

they can impose their morals on you, even if they are not as good as yours.

If you are 

trying to impose your faith on others rather than presenting your faith.

You are telling others 

they can impose their faith on you.

If you are

judging others.

You are telling others 

they can judge you in the same way.

If you 

are telling the world you are a Christian

You should be telling the world 

I love you as God loves you,...

unconditionally.

Please think about it.

Keeping the Royal Law

  Keeping the Royal law

In the book of James we read,

“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right.” James 2:8.

It is imperative that we as believers in Christ Jesus love our neighbour as we do ourselves.

Martin Luther King jr. the late American Civil rights activist said,

“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.”

                                                                                          Martin Luther King, Jr.

What he said is true. If we truly want to win souls for Christ we need to transform the enemies of Christ into friends.

If you consider yourself a true follower of Christ Jesus to you show unconditional love to those around you, friend and foe alike?

Please think about it.

You and those around you

  You and those around you

Jesus said, 

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.

When I was young my parents told me to treat others the way wanted to be true. I didn’t know it at the time but it was just what Jesus said,

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.

If we remember this one verse our lives will be transformed and those around us will see Jesus in our lives.

Question: Do you treat others the way you want to be treated? Does that extend even you those you dislike?

Please think about it.

Christian principles for living #7

  Christian 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 in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been 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 of 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?

Please think about it.

Christian principles #6

 Christian Principles #6

 Flee evil

The apostle Paul writing to Timothy states,

“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”  2 Timothy 2:22.

The Psalmist tells us,

“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. 

Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 

For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish” Psalm 1.

Do you flee evil?

As believers in Christ Jesus we should.

Sadly with all that is happening in the world around us it can be hard to flee evil. While we live in this world evil will always surround us. The key however is to draw close to God by studying the scriptures and praying for God’s guidance.

Question: Do you flee evil when you see it?

Please think about it. 

Christian Principle for living #5

  Christian 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. 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.

Christian Principles for living #4

 Christian 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.

Christian principles #3 Christian attributes

  Christian Principles #3 Christian attributes 

The Apostle Paul writing to believers in Christ Jesus tells us,

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22,23.

Here is a simple test for anyone calling themselves a believer in Christ Jesus. Now keep in mind believers in Christ are far from perfect. We are all human with human frailties and failings. 

That being said however as believers in Christ we should be striving to be Christ like. We should be trying to make the fruits of the spirit part of our daily life. 

Francis of Assisi wrote,

“The deeds you do

 may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 

                                                                     Francis of Assisi.

If our lives are exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control, the sermon people will see in us is the Love of Jesus.

Question: When people see your life do they truly see the fruit of the Spirit of God?

Please think about it.