Love the greatest of these

 Love the greatest of these

In the book of Proverbs we read,

"Let love and faithfulness never leave you;

 bind them around your neck, 

write them on the tablet of your heart. 

Then you will win favour and a good name

 in the sight of God and man."

                                                            Proverbs 3:3,4

In this verse of scripture we see a call from God to love. 

The late civil rights leader Martin Luther King jr. said,

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

                                                                                          Martin Luther King, Jr.

To be a Christians one must love. The apostle John writing,

"If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.  

And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother." 1John 4:20,21.

The apostle Paul gives us the definition of true Christian love when he writes,

"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.

If you consider yourself a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus. Are you truly loving God and those around you?

Please think about it.

Exalting God

  Exalting God

The Psalmist writes,

You are my God, and I will give you thanks; 

you are my God, and I will exalt you. 

Give thanks to the LORD, 

for he is good; his love endures forever. 

                                                              Psalm 118:28,29.

If you consider yourself a true Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus. Do you take time each day to thank God? Do you exalt God on a daily basis. Do you lift God up in praise daily.

In the book of 1 Chronicles we read

"Give thanks to the LORD, 

call on his name; make known among the nations 

what he has done. 

Sing to him, sing praise to him; 

tell of all his wonderful acts. 

Glory in his holy name; 

let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. 

Look to the LORD and his strength; 

seek his face always. 

Remember the wonders he has done, 

his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,..." 

                                                                    1 Chronicles 16:8-12

Are you doing this?

Please think about it.

Commitment to God

  Commitment to God

In Marks gospel we read of Jesus speaking with teachers of the law. Mark records,

“One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.  

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’  

The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” 

“Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.  

To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” Mark 12:28-33.

If you claim to be a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus. Do you truly love God with your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength?

Is Jesus taking first place in your life?

Please think about it.

Live Peacefully

  Live Peacefully

The Apostle Paul writes,

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, 

live at peace with everyone."

                                                       Romans 12:18

“Let us therefore make every effort to do 

what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” 

                                                                 Romans 14:19

As Christians, as believers in Christ Jesus it is important to live peaceful lives simply because that is the best way to spread the gospel of Christ. 

The apostle Peter writes,

“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.

Question, Are you living peacefully with those around you?

Please think about it.

About False Teachers

 About false teachers

Jesus said,

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  

Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  

Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23.

The church has been around a long time as a result many calling themselves Christians are not. The apostle Paul even warned,

“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  

They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2Timothy 4:3,4

The apostle Peter warned,

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  

Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  

In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” 2 Peter 2:1-3.

We as Christians must be carful not to follow false teaching, not to listen to false teachers. The only way we can do such a thing is to read and study the scriptures for ourselves. We should also do our best to become apart of a good bible believing church congregation.

We can as believers wanting to make sure the truth is spoken in the name of Jesus, jump up and down, yell and criticize those we believe are not presenting the word of God correctly. That however will just wear us out and produce nothing.

There will always be false teachers in the church. And do what the Apostle Paul tells us to “....“Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:13b. 

      That being said we should not engage in witch hunts. Such things do not produce followers of Christ.

We need to concentrate on producing good spiritual food for those around us. We need to do as Paul writing to Timothy said,

“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.

Please think about it.

Trusting and believing in Jesus

 Trusting and believing in Jesus.

"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  

(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)  

And everyone went to his own town to register. 

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  

He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,  and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." Luke 2:1-7.

Jesus is the most influential person in all of history.  

William Durant, popular American modern historian and philosopher (1885-1981) When asked what he felt the apex of history was he replied, “the three years that Jesus of Nazareth walked the earth.” 

Napoleon Bonaparte said of Jesus,

“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. 

Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him."

I search in vain history to find similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel."

  Jesus is all he said he is. He is the one and only Son of God. The Saviour of mankind. 

Jesus is God reaching down to mankind and saying I love you. Saying...

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 

and I will give you rest.”

                                     Matthew 11:28.

C.S. Lewis said of Jesus,

"He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less." C.S. Lewis.

Do you believe in Jesus and the salvation he brings to all who will believe and put their trust in him?

Please think about it.

God will Judge

 God will judge

       In the book of James we read,

"Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money."  

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James 4:13,14

In Ecclesiastes we read,

"I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind." Ecclesiastes 1:14.

To read these two scriptures it would seem there is little hope. That is if this life is all there is. If this life is all there is it means there is no justice. Men like Hitler, Pol Pot and other vicious dictators got away with the evil they did. But this life is not all there is. We as individuals live on through eternity where there will be justice. 

The writer of Ecclesiastes writing, 

“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty of man. 

For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes12:13,14.

It doesn’t matter who we are we will one day stand before God and give account for what we have done.

What will God say to you when you stand before him?

Please think about it.

A checklist for Christians

   A Checklist for Christians

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 is basics of what God requires of all Christians. 

We are to...

Act justly.

Love Mercy.

Walk humbly with God.

If you consider yourself a true Christian, a true follower of Christ Jesus. Are you doing this.

Please think about it.

Take a few minutes

  Take a few minutes

    In the book of 1Chronicles we read,

“Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvellous deeds among all peoples.” 1 Chronicles 16:23-24.

If you are a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus. Take a few moments to reflect on what God has done for you.

Think about how he has blessed you or taken you through a tough time in your life. Perhaps he’s even brought a person into your life that has helped you through that tough time in you life. Or a person who has been a blessing to you.

Have you received an answer to prayer?

Is there small things in your life that God has blessed you with?

Take a few minutes to thank God for all he has done in your life.

Please think about it.

Not everyone who says

 Not everyone who says

Jesus said,

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  

Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  

Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23.

The church has been around a long time as a result many calling themselves Christians are not. The apostle Paul even warned,

“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  

They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2Timothy 4:3,4

The apostle Peter warned,

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  

Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  

In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” 2 Peter 2:1-3.

We as Christians must be carful not to follow false teaching, not to listen to false teachers. The only way we can do such a thing is to read and study the scriptures for ourselves.    We must also remember that there will be minor differences between true Christians. It’s the major differences we should worry about.

The basic beliefs of true Christians are found in the Apostles Creed. While not written by one of the apostles states what are if you will not negotiable parts of our beliefs as Christians. It reads,

1.I believe in God the Father the almighty maker of heaven and earth

2. I believe in Jesus Christ God’s on and only Son, our Lord and Saviour.

3. I believe Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary

4. I believe Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate; That He was Crucified, died, was buried. That he descended in hell.

5. I believe He rose again on the third day from the dead.

6. I believe that he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.

7. I believe Jesus will one day Judge the living and the dead.

8. I believe in the Holy Ghost

9. I believe in the Church which is the communion of the saints,

10. I believe in the forgiveness of sin.

11. I believe in the resurrection of the body.

12. I believe in life everlasting.

Please think about it.

A Christian call to live a Godly life

 A Christian call to live a Godly life.

The apostle Paul writes,

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. 

Honor one another above yourselves.  

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  

Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 

Bless those who persecute you; 

bless and do not curse.  

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud,

 but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, 

live at peace with everyone”. 

                                                       Romans 12:9-18

Words for Christians to live by.

So if you claim to be a Christian do you live by them. Is your love for all people sincere or dose it come with conditions? Do you cling to what is good? Are you willing to associate all People?

Take a few minutes to look at Romans 12: 9-18 and ask yourself are you doing what the Scriptures are commanding you do?

Please think about it.

Christians are aliens in this world

  Christians are Aliens in this world

The Apostle Peter writes,

“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. 

We as believers in Christ must remember that we are simple visitors, landed immigrants in this world. While here we need to follow the laws of the country in which we live. 

Only if the laws of the land prohibit our worshipping God do we have the right to go against the law of the land.

Peter makes it clear we are to abstain from sinful desires and live good lives among those around us.

For a moment take a look at your life are you doing what Peter is telling you to do here?

Please think about it.