If you are

  If you are

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.

My parents who grew up in the Church of England and Roman Catholic churches respectively taught me long before I became a Christian what I consider the prime Christian principle. Summed up by Jesus when he 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.

In the year 2026 Matthew 7:12 could be put 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,

I love you and God loves you

You are telling the world

God loves you and I love you

Unconditionally.

Please think about it.

Your choice to believe or not to believe

  Your choice to believe or not to believe

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 depths, 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

We serve an almighty, omnipresent God. No matter where we go we cannot hide from Him. If we truly trust Him he is there for us.

The psalmist reminds us,

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4.

God is not as some think an old man with a big stick ready to bash us when we do wrong. Quite the contrary. The apostle John writes,

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16,17.

It is God’s will that we all get to heaven, but in creating us he did not create robots. He created mankind with a free will to choose what we believe and what we do not believe. Thus we have the right not to believe in Him.

Thus the question becomes, do you believe in God.

Please think about it. 

Paul's sermon to the Athenians

  Paul's sermon to the Athenians 

For me one of the greatest sermons of all time was never spoken in a church building. It was spoken in the Areopagus by the apostle Paul. It is a sermon everyone needs to hear.

The book of acts records,

“Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.  

For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. 

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.  

And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.  

From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  

God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.  

‘For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.' 

"Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man's design and skill.  

In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." 

When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject."  

At that, Paul left the Council.  

A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others” Acts 17:22-34. 

The question I would ask anyone reading this is which group are you a part of. Those who sneered. Those who wanted to hear more, or those who believed what Paul said.

Please think about it.

A Judges Prayer

  The Judges prayer

Jesus said,

"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies,

 do good to those who hate you,  

bless those who curse you,

 pray for those who mistreat you.... 

Do to others as you would have them do to you." 

                                                                                     Luke 6:27,28,31 

The Eleven O Clock Payer

  "It’s eleven o clock. Inside the court house a judge is about to make his ruling. A community, a nation waits.

  Will the new law be legal?

Outside the court house men and women with placards chant. On one side of the street stand a group of gay men and women. All in favour of the new law.

On the other side of the street separated by a line of police stand radical evangelicals, denouncing the new law.

One man among them screams angrily . “THEY ARE GOING TO HELL!!!”

Approached by the media he says it again, “they are going to Hell.”

From my office window I watch asking myself the question, ‘is this man an Christian?”

  Wasn’t it Christ who told us not only to love our neighbour but our enemy also?

  Wasn’t it Christ who told us not to judge, lest we be judged likewise?

Wasn’t it Christ who said go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation?

Is this man showing love?

Is this man judging another?

Can this man be effective in reaching the whole world?

A question keeps rolling through my mind for which I know the answer, “Can we truly know what is in someone else’s head?"

 "Do we really know why a person is like they are?”

For a moment I stare down at the crowd. All the time asking myself who is on the way to Hell this day.

Turning away from my window I kneel down and pray, “Lord guide me this day. Let me make the right decision on this law.”

Question: If you consider yourself a true Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus would you vote in favour of a law that restricts the rights of someone else? 

Remember James wrote,

“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” James 2:12,13

Remember also 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.

Please think about it.

Are you willing to repent?

 Are you willing to repent?

In Johns gospel we read,

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  

He was with God in the beginning. 

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  

In him was life, and that life was the light of men....

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. " John 1:1-4,14.

Here John clearly states that Jesus whom he refers to as “the word” is God incarnate. John and the other apostles truly believed that Jesus was God in the flesh sent down to show mankind the way to heaven.

The apostle Peter on the day of Pentecost said,

“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” 

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  

The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:36-39.

The question I pose to you today is do you believe this?

If so are you willing to “repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ?

Please think about it.

Persecuted for the right reason

  Persecuted for the right reason

In the book of Acts we see the apostle Paul after being brought before King Agrippa in chains telling him how he was faithful to the vision he received on the road to Damascus when he became a believer in Christ Jesus. The book of Acts records.

"So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.  

That is why the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me.  

But I have had God's help to this very day, and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen—  that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles." 

At this point Festus interrupted Paul's defense. "You are out of your mind, Paul!" he shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane." 

"I am not insane, most excellent Festus," Paul replied. "What I am saying is true and reasonable.  

The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner.  

King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do." 

Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" 

Paul replied, "Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains." Acts 26:19-29.

The apostle Paul here was being persecuted for his beliefs. He was being persecuted for saying, 

“...I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.” Acts 26:20b.

If we are truly believers in Christ Jesus and are being persecuted this is what we should be being persecuted for. For calling those around us to “repent and turn to God”. For presenting the gospel of Christ Jesus.

Sadly many times here in North America with all our freedoms those who claim to be Christians say they are being persecuted for their faith when they are not. 

Many Christians here use their freedom of speech to condemn, judge and even attack, those they disagree with. Then when they receive criticism they call it persecution.

Many Christians particularly in the United States mix their politics with their faith and try to restrict the rights or take away rights of those they disagree with.

If we are truly servants of God then we will willingly sit down with those we disagree with, and in a loving way listen to them. While at the same time in a loving and respectful manner present the gospel of Christ Jesus.

The late American civil rights leader Martin Luther King jr. wrote,

“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

The whole gospel message is that of Love the love of God not just for mankind as a whole, but for each individual. So, if we are to be persecuted for what we believe and what we are preaching let it be because we are preaching the Love of God.

Please think about it.

 

Calling on the name of the Lord

  Calling on the name of the Lord

“Better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for all are destined to be mourned; the living should lay this to heart.” Ecclesiastes 7:2.

I would guess that most people never think about their mortality or where they will spend eternity. 

In the book of acts we read about Paul speaking to his jailor it reads,

“The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.  

He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 

They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." Acts 16:30,31.

Paul writing to the Romans wrote,

“...Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13.

Have you called on the name of the Lord?

Do you believe Jesus died for your sins?

Have you accepted Christ as your Lord and saviour?

If not here is a simple pray you can say.

Dear Heavenly Father

I know that I am a sinner in need of your saving grace. I believe that Jesus prayed the price for my sins. Please come into my life today. Guide me and lead me from this day on.                                                                      Amen

If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour...

Please think about it.

Because He loved us

  Because He loved us

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."1John 4:10.

Christianity is different from other faiths. We as Christians believe God reached down to us in love. The apostle John stating,

"We love because he first loved us."1John 4:19.

C. S. Lewis noted,

"The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us."  C.S. Lewis.

I firmly believe we cannot reach high enough to reach God. I also believe we cannot be good enough to get into heaven. That’s why Christ came into this world.

In the book of Romans we read,

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8.

Have you experienced the love of God in your life?

Please think about it.  

Thanking God

 Thanking 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.

When was the last time you simply prayed and thanked God for being your God?

When was the last time you thanked God for being good?

When was the last time you thanked God that His love endures forever.

If you are a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus you should be praying all the time. But quite often when we pray we pray that God will help us or others and there is nothing wrong with that.

However we need to take time every day to thank God for what He is.

Do you do this?

Please think about it.

Standing with Jesus

 Standing with Jesus

In the book of James we read,

“You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.”  James 4:4

Jesus 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 6:24.

If we are going to follow Christ we must follow him wholeheartedly. We cannot blend the ways of the world with our faith. We must be willing to as 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.” Mark 8:34.

The apostle Paul writing to Timothy states,

"Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him(Jesus), we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself. 2 Timothy 2:11-13.

So where do you stand with Jesus?

Please think about it. 

In the name of Christ

  In the name of Christ

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.

A bright light shines on Christians. So much so we cannot do things lightly. Our faith must be sincere backed by our actions. 

In the book of James we read,

"In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 

But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do."  James 2:17,18.

Christians are called to put “legs on” our prayers. We need to pray then get up and do what God has commanded us to do. Jesus in sending out the twelve apostles in the gospel of Matthew states,

“As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.'  

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give." Matthew 10:6-8.

Tony Campolo states,

"These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change." Tony Campolo.

Just what are you doing for Christ and are you doing it in the name of Christ?

Please think about it.

Judged

  Judged

“For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.  

(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) Romans 2:13-15

Hear Paul is making it clear that those who hear the law are not necessarily righteous, but rather those who obey the law.

Saying that if Gentiles obey the law without actually having heard the law will be found righteous.

We all from birth have a conscience and as we grow we know clearly what is right and wrong. It’s engraved on our heart.

While it is by believing in Christ Jesus that we get to heaven. We will only be judged by what we know about Christ and the salvation that comes through him.

Please think about it.