Kindness
“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”
Mark Twain
Do you show kindness to those around you. Do you show love even to those with whom you disagree and is that love sincere?
Paul writing to the Romans wrote,
“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
I’ve found where love and kindness is lacking hate can get a foothold. Love and kindness requires giving of one’s self.
A young Jewish girl named Anne Frank, hiding from the Nazis in world war two Holland wrote this,
“Give of yourself, give as much as you can? And you can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness! If everyone were to do this and not be as mean with a kindly word, then there would be much more justice and love in the world. Give and you shall receive, much more than you would have ever thought possible. Give, give again and again, don’t lose courage, keep it up and go on giving! No one has ever become poor from giving!” Anne Frank.
Anne Frank knew what hate was all about. She was in hiding from evil men that hated her because she was Jewish. Yet Anne could write the above words.
She doesn’t seem to have been bitter about things. Instead she probably seen the love and kindness offered to her by those who hid her and she seems to expounded on that rather than dwelling on the evil all around her.
Showing kindness is an important part of being Christian and there are a myriad of ways to show kindness to the people around us.
Kindness is handing a bottle of cold water to a homeless man on the street.
Kindness is helping an elderly neighbour on your street.
Kindness is giving what you can, when you can to help the less fortunate.
Kindness comes down to this,
“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 about it.
Thursday 31 July 2014
Wednesday 30 July 2014
What Business is it of Mine
What business is it of mine
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Question do you judge those around you that are not Christians? Sadly all to many Christians do.
Christians have no right to judge others Jesus states,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 7:1,2.
True Christians will not judge,
James writing to believers states,
“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.
The express job of a Christian is to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world around us in word and in deed.
We cannot win a world to Christ if we are judging them.
Think about it.
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Question do you judge those around you that are not Christians? Sadly all to many Christians do.
Christians have no right to judge others Jesus states,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 7:1,2.
True Christians will not judge,
James writing to believers states,
“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.
The express job of a Christian is to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world around us in word and in deed.
We cannot win a world to Christ if we are judging them.
Think about it.
Tuesday 29 July 2014
Creation
Creation
“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.”
John 1:1-3.
I believe in that God created the heavens and the earth. I believe that Jesus is God and that he was responsible for making the universe and everything in it.
When I witness to someone and creation comes up. The one thing that comes up is alway well God couldn’t have made the heavens and the earth in six day.
I shock people by saying that isn’t the point. The point is he created the universe. It doesn’t matter how long it took him.
The point is we can look into the stars and see God’s handy work. We can look at the smallest life form on earth or into the tiniest particle and see how wonderfully made they are.
We can look at everything on the earth and see how beautifully balanced things are. Everything is perfectly in balance. If something was to go to much out of balance we would not be able to exist.
A few degrees hotter of colder on average over the whole world would spell the end of human life.
If we were just a little bit in astronomical terms closer or further away from the sun we would either fry or freeze.
Mathematics to me is a pure science and you can use mathematical formulas to determine everything from the orbit of the planets and galaxies to the decay rate of an atom.
For all of these reasons I believe in divine creation.
What do you think?
Think about it?
“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.”
John 1:1-3.
I believe in that God created the heavens and the earth. I believe that Jesus is God and that he was responsible for making the universe and everything in it.
When I witness to someone and creation comes up. The one thing that comes up is alway well God couldn’t have made the heavens and the earth in six day.
I shock people by saying that isn’t the point. The point is he created the universe. It doesn’t matter how long it took him.
The point is we can look into the stars and see God’s handy work. We can look at the smallest life form on earth or into the tiniest particle and see how wonderfully made they are.
We can look at everything on the earth and see how beautifully balanced things are. Everything is perfectly in balance. If something was to go to much out of balance we would not be able to exist.
A few degrees hotter of colder on average over the whole world would spell the end of human life.
If we were just a little bit in astronomical terms closer or further away from the sun we would either fry or freeze.
Mathematics to me is a pure science and you can use mathematical formulas to determine everything from the orbit of the planets and galaxies to the decay rate of an atom.
For all of these reasons I believe in divine creation.
What do you think?
Think about it?
Monday 28 July 2014
Are You
Are You?
“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”
Matthew 10:16
Jesus knew what kind of world we were going into. He understood that the world we entered would be one with morals and beliefs that were objectionable to the Christian.
Take a look at the Roman Empire. It was as culturally diverse as Canada and the Western nations are today.
They had people who believed everything and nothing. People who worshipped what to the early Christians were strange Gods.
There were raucous celebrations that lasted days to god’s such a Bacchus. In Corinth there was temples to the goddess Aphrodite that at its height had over a thousand priestess prostitutes working there.
Corinth had such a bad reputation that to Corinthianize meant to practice sexual immorality.
Yet the early church thrived in that multicultural environment. They did so I believe because they heeded the words of Jesus who said,
“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”
Matthew 10:16
They were careful to keep on topic. They didn’t judge they met people where they were at. They spoke the language of the people.
We know from Paul’s speech to the Athenians that Paul at least didn’t use a lot of scripture and Paul was well educated in the scriptures.
Instead he met them where they were at and presented the gospel from that point.
That’s how we should be.
We should have a good grasp of the scriptures but we should also be aware of what is happening in the world around us.
I’ve met Christians that all they do is listen to Christian programming. They rap themselves in the scriptures. There is nothing wrong with it. But if you can’t relate those scriptures to the real world around you. It means nothing.
Most people on the street will not and for the most part cannot relate to scripture but if you can as Paul did with the Athenians start from a point they understand they will at least listen to you.
How do you witness. Do you quote great mounds of scripture or do you at least try to understand where your audience is.
Think about it.
“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”
Matthew 10:16
Jesus knew what kind of world we were going into. He understood that the world we entered would be one with morals and beliefs that were objectionable to the Christian.
Take a look at the Roman Empire. It was as culturally diverse as Canada and the Western nations are today.
They had people who believed everything and nothing. People who worshipped what to the early Christians were strange Gods.
There were raucous celebrations that lasted days to god’s such a Bacchus. In Corinth there was temples to the goddess Aphrodite that at its height had over a thousand priestess prostitutes working there.
Corinth had such a bad reputation that to Corinthianize meant to practice sexual immorality.
Yet the early church thrived in that multicultural environment. They did so I believe because they heeded the words of Jesus who said,
“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”
Matthew 10:16
They were careful to keep on topic. They didn’t judge they met people where they were at. They spoke the language of the people.
We know from Paul’s speech to the Athenians that Paul at least didn’t use a lot of scripture and Paul was well educated in the scriptures.
Instead he met them where they were at and presented the gospel from that point.
That’s how we should be.
We should have a good grasp of the scriptures but we should also be aware of what is happening in the world around us.
I’ve met Christians that all they do is listen to Christian programming. They rap themselves in the scriptures. There is nothing wrong with it. But if you can’t relate those scriptures to the real world around you. It means nothing.
Most people on the street will not and for the most part cannot relate to scripture but if you can as Paul did with the Athenians start from a point they understand they will at least listen to you.
How do you witness. Do you quote great mounds of scripture or do you at least try to understand where your audience is.
Think about it.
Sunday 27 July 2014
Same old, Same old
Same old Same old
“As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work—which is by faith.
The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk.
They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.
We know that the law is good if one uses it properly.
We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.”
1 Timothy 1:3-11
There is one thing you learn from the Bible is the truth of Ecclesiastes 1:9 that states,
“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun”
Ecclesiastes 1:9.
People are people it seems in every generation. Someone said to me the only difference between ancient man and modern man is modern man does everything ancient man did both right and wrong in a high tech way.
That’s why the bible is so good. The early church had the same problems the modern church has.
In this letter from Paul to Timothy Paul say
“As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work—which is by faith."
There were people even then teaching wrong things in the church. Just as today.
We need to be very careful about those we listen too. We need to study the word of God. Study the scriptures carefully so we know what is wrong teaching and right.
If we disagree with a teacher, pastor evangelist, even the Pope. We need to ask them, or send them an email or a letter asking to explain how they come to that conclusion.
If they are unwilling or do not give an answer you’re happy with have nothing to do with them.
Church boards I firmly believe need to hold pastors accountable to what they teach. Not just let the pastor teach anything.
All teaching must line up with the Bible. it’s that simple
Think about it.
“As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work—which is by faith.
The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk.
They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.
We know that the law is good if one uses it properly.
We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.”
1 Timothy 1:3-11
There is one thing you learn from the Bible is the truth of Ecclesiastes 1:9 that states,
“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun”
Ecclesiastes 1:9.
People are people it seems in every generation. Someone said to me the only difference between ancient man and modern man is modern man does everything ancient man did both right and wrong in a high tech way.
That’s why the bible is so good. The early church had the same problems the modern church has.
In this letter from Paul to Timothy Paul say
“As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work—which is by faith."
There were people even then teaching wrong things in the church. Just as today.
We need to be very careful about those we listen too. We need to study the word of God. Study the scriptures carefully so we know what is wrong teaching and right.
If we disagree with a teacher, pastor evangelist, even the Pope. We need to ask them, or send them an email or a letter asking to explain how they come to that conclusion.
If they are unwilling or do not give an answer you’re happy with have nothing to do with them.
Church boards I firmly believe need to hold pastors accountable to what they teach. Not just let the pastor teach anything.
All teaching must line up with the Bible. it’s that simple
Think about it.
Saturday 26 July 2014
Some Scriptural Advice
Some Scriptural Advice to Christians
Here are a few Scriptures I think any real Christian needs to contemplate and live by.
1/“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
2/“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 7:1,2
3/ “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” Matthew 10:16
4/ Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
Matthew 5:43-45
5/ “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.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
6/ "If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
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 2:8-13
Are you doing to others what you would have others do to you?
Are you refraining from Judging?
Are you “shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” practising good judgment when dealing with especially none Christians?
Are you showing Love even to your enemies?
Are you praying for those who persecute you?
Are you showing true love to those around you?
Are you keeping the Royal Law?
Remember the words of Jesus,
“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 7:22,23
Are you truly doing the work of God.
Here’s a prayer I think all true Christians should be able to say it was written by Francis of Assisi,
“O Divine Master, grant that I may not 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. It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”
Francis of Assisi
Think about it.
Here are a few Scriptures I think any real Christian needs to contemplate and live by.
1/“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
2/“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 7:1,2
3/ “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” Matthew 10:16
4/ Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
Matthew 5:43-45
5/ “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.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
6/ "If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
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 2:8-13
Are you doing to others what you would have others do to you?
Are you refraining from Judging?
Are you “shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” practising good judgment when dealing with especially none Christians?
Are you showing Love even to your enemies?
Are you praying for those who persecute you?
Are you showing true love to those around you?
Are you keeping the Royal Law?
Remember the words of Jesus,
“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 7:22,23
Are you truly doing the work of God.
Here’s a prayer I think all true Christians should be able to say it was written by Francis of Assisi,
“O Divine Master, grant that I may not 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. It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”
Francis of Assisi
Think about it.
Friday 25 July 2014
Warning! Warning!
Warning!
“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
I remember an old sc fi show called Lost in Space in it had a robot that would go around saying “Warning! Warning!”
I think Christians need to heed the warnings coming from some in the media.
Paul writing to Timothy tells of a time
“...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.”
There are many who call themselves Christians, people in the media doing just that. They are twisting the scriptures to suit their own itching ears. They are turning to myths instead of truth.
I know of one evangelist in the nineties who said God had told him that all the homosexuals were going to be destroyed by the end of the decade.
He was most definitely wrong and to make matters worse he came across looking like a bigot and at the very least extremely foolish.
This man failed to see that God did not want to destroy homosexual. Quite the contrary he want’s to draw them into a personal relationship with himself just as he does with every other man woman and child on the earth.
There are many others in the world today taking scriptures out of context making it sound good misleading people.
We as believers in Christ need to read and understand the scriptures. So that we will not be deceived by such people.
We I believe need to hold our leadership up to a high standard of accountability. We need to carefully listen to what is being spoken supposedly in the name of Christ. We need to examine it carefully and see if it truly does line up with the word of God. If it doesn’t we need to at the very least stop listening to the person speaking.
We need to be ever vigilant with respect to who we are listing to and what we ourselves are teaching.
We need to constantly be in prayer and studying the Bible to help keep us on the right track. With our feet firmly planted in the truth of God.
Think about it
“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
I remember an old sc fi show called Lost in Space in it had a robot that would go around saying “Warning! Warning!”
I think Christians need to heed the warnings coming from some in the media.
Paul writing to Timothy tells of a time
“...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.”
There are many who call themselves Christians, people in the media doing just that. They are twisting the scriptures to suit their own itching ears. They are turning to myths instead of truth.
I know of one evangelist in the nineties who said God had told him that all the homosexuals were going to be destroyed by the end of the decade.
He was most definitely wrong and to make matters worse he came across looking like a bigot and at the very least extremely foolish.
This man failed to see that God did not want to destroy homosexual. Quite the contrary he want’s to draw them into a personal relationship with himself just as he does with every other man woman and child on the earth.
There are many others in the world today taking scriptures out of context making it sound good misleading people.
We as believers in Christ need to read and understand the scriptures. So that we will not be deceived by such people.
We I believe need to hold our leadership up to a high standard of accountability. We need to carefully listen to what is being spoken supposedly in the name of Christ. We need to examine it carefully and see if it truly does line up with the word of God. If it doesn’t we need to at the very least stop listening to the person speaking.
We need to be ever vigilant with respect to who we are listing to and what we ourselves are teaching.
We need to constantly be in prayer and studying the Bible to help keep us on the right track. With our feet firmly planted in the truth of God.
Think about it
Thursday 24 July 2014
The Lord is my Shepherd
The Lord is my Shepherd
“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
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.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
Psalm 23:1-6.
Is the Lord truly your Shepherd? How much do you trust him.
On one of my other blogs today I noted that I have Bipolar Affective disorder. Simply put my moods can range from high highs to low lows and in my case untreated the will do that several times day.
When I’m high no one can do anything fast enough or good enough for me it’s get out of the way let me do it.
When I’m low all I want to do is roll up in a ball and die.
It’s not demon possession as one person told me. It’s a chemical imbalance in my brain.
But especially when I’m depressed I am so glad I know the Lord. Now my condition is controlled by medication. But I still have down times. Time when suicide does cross my mind.
Those are the days I’ve learned to draw extra close to God.
Long before I was diagnosed with my illness I had accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour, as the Shepherd of my life.
I learned to turn to Him each day to ask him to guide me and direct me. To keep me in the valley of the shadow of death.
I believe that early foundation that was laid in my life prepared me to go through all the problems I’ve had in life.
I know what it is like to be in the valley of the shadow of death. You’re there when you’re so depressed that it physically hurts and suicide seems to be the only way out.
Long ago before I met Christ I would have committed suicide but now I see depression as a time to draw near to God.
There is a poem called Footprints that hangs on my livingroom wall it says,
"One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD.
Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed tow sets of footprints in the sand; one belonging to him, and the other to the LORD.
When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life:
This really bothered him and he questioned the LORD about it. “LORD, you said that once I decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.”
The LORD replied, “My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”
This I believe is true. Though the darkest times in our life Jesus is there for us.
If we truly have made him Lord of our life we simply have to turn to him and say “Gentle Shepherd I need thee now and always.”
And he will answer.
Think about it.
“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
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.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
Psalm 23:1-6.
Is the Lord truly your Shepherd? How much do you trust him.
On one of my other blogs today I noted that I have Bipolar Affective disorder. Simply put my moods can range from high highs to low lows and in my case untreated the will do that several times day.
When I’m high no one can do anything fast enough or good enough for me it’s get out of the way let me do it.
When I’m low all I want to do is roll up in a ball and die.
It’s not demon possession as one person told me. It’s a chemical imbalance in my brain.
But especially when I’m depressed I am so glad I know the Lord. Now my condition is controlled by medication. But I still have down times. Time when suicide does cross my mind.
Those are the days I’ve learned to draw extra close to God.
Long before I was diagnosed with my illness I had accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour, as the Shepherd of my life.
I learned to turn to Him each day to ask him to guide me and direct me. To keep me in the valley of the shadow of death.
I believe that early foundation that was laid in my life prepared me to go through all the problems I’ve had in life.
I know what it is like to be in the valley of the shadow of death. You’re there when you’re so depressed that it physically hurts and suicide seems to be the only way out.
Long ago before I met Christ I would have committed suicide but now I see depression as a time to draw near to God.
There is a poem called Footprints that hangs on my livingroom wall it says,
"One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD.
Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed tow sets of footprints in the sand; one belonging to him, and the other to the LORD.
When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life:
This really bothered him and he questioned the LORD about it. “LORD, you said that once I decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.”
The LORD replied, “My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”
This I believe is true. Though the darkest times in our life Jesus is there for us.
If we truly have made him Lord of our life we simply have to turn to him and say “Gentle Shepherd I need thee now and always.”
And he will answer.
Think about it.
Wednesday 23 July 2014
Words of Advice
A word of Advice
“In your anger do not sin” : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.”
Ephesians 4:26
We all get angry from time to time. The key however is never to take it to bed with you. Rather to come to terms with what made you angry and forgive.
If someone has caused you to become angry do your best to reconcile yourself to them. If they wont talk it over with you. Take it to God and ask forgiveness.
Anger only hurts the one that is angry. It can eat you up inside and doctors tell me it can cause physical problems.
Especially note what Paul is saying here. “In your Anger do not sin.”
The classic example of sinning in your anger is road rage. Someone cut you off and you get upset.
I watch one man from a parking lot. He’d been cut off by a car up the street. The man in his anger got in front of the offending car and slammed on the brakes, bringing both of them to a sudden halt.
The man, a big man then jumped out of the car and confronted the men in the other car.
Imagine his surprise when two uniformed police officers got out of the car.
They slapped him in cuffs and waited for another unit to arrive.
I thought it was poetic justice. But it’s an example of how our anger can get us in trouble.
That man could have just as easily let the whole incident rest and chalk it up to someone making a mistake. Instead he ended up in the back of a police car.
Anger can sour relationship also.
If we feel offended and get upset it can ruin lives.
Many relationships and marriages over the centuries have been destroyed by anger, simply because we haven’t practised forgiveness.
Jesus says,
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
“Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.”
Matthew 5:23-25
As Christians we are called to forgive even our enemies.
So,
“In your anger do not sin” : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.”
Ephesians 4:26
Think about it.
“In your anger do not sin” : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.”
Ephesians 4:26
We all get angry from time to time. The key however is never to take it to bed with you. Rather to come to terms with what made you angry and forgive.
If someone has caused you to become angry do your best to reconcile yourself to them. If they wont talk it over with you. Take it to God and ask forgiveness.
Anger only hurts the one that is angry. It can eat you up inside and doctors tell me it can cause physical problems.
Especially note what Paul is saying here. “In your Anger do not sin.”
The classic example of sinning in your anger is road rage. Someone cut you off and you get upset.
I watch one man from a parking lot. He’d been cut off by a car up the street. The man in his anger got in front of the offending car and slammed on the brakes, bringing both of them to a sudden halt.
The man, a big man then jumped out of the car and confronted the men in the other car.
Imagine his surprise when two uniformed police officers got out of the car.
They slapped him in cuffs and waited for another unit to arrive.
I thought it was poetic justice. But it’s an example of how our anger can get us in trouble.
That man could have just as easily let the whole incident rest and chalk it up to someone making a mistake. Instead he ended up in the back of a police car.
Anger can sour relationship also.
If we feel offended and get upset it can ruin lives.
Many relationships and marriages over the centuries have been destroyed by anger, simply because we haven’t practised forgiveness.
Jesus says,
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
“Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.”
Matthew 5:23-25
As Christians we are called to forgive even our enemies.
So,
“In your anger do not sin” : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.”
Ephesians 4:26
Think about it.
Monday 21 July 2014
Some Simple Truths
Some simple Truths
“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.
The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him:
Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did."
1John 1:5-26
Some simple truths from John.
1/ “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”
2/ “If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.”
3/ “if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”
4/ “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us....”
5/ “If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
6/ “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
7/ “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands...”
8/ “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”
John also makes it clear that if we sin we,
“...we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”
As Christians it is important for us to live a life as close to the ideals Jesus set out for us as possible.
John recognizes that we are human and that we do sin and thus have one who speaks in our defence, Jesus Christ.
Jesus knows and understands what it is to be human and I believe relates this to the Father.
Jesus knows our hearts and minds and he know what it is to be human and how easily we can sin.
That’s why if we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Saviour we have no fear for he has paid the debt for our sins.
Think about it.
“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.
The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him:
Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did."
1John 1:5-26
Some simple truths from John.
1/ “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”
2/ “If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.”
3/ “if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”
4/ “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us....”
5/ “If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
6/ “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
7/ “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands...”
8/ “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”
John also makes it clear that if we sin we,
“...we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”
As Christians it is important for us to live a life as close to the ideals Jesus set out for us as possible.
John recognizes that we are human and that we do sin and thus have one who speaks in our defence, Jesus Christ.
Jesus knows and understands what it is to be human and I believe relates this to the Father.
Jesus knows our hearts and minds and he know what it is to be human and how easily we can sin.
That’s why if we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Saviour we have no fear for he has paid the debt for our sins.
Think about it.
Sunday 20 July 2014
A Need
A Need
“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
Are you and the Church you attend showing the love of God? Do people see the love and compassion of Jesus in you.
A man asked Jesus,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:36-40.
Is your church stuck on form, ritual and tradition?
I watched a news show today that said in the city of London England there is a group of people meeting who have no faith as such. They meet because they feel they need to be with other people.
That personal contact in is lost in the big impersonal city that is London. Apparently there are other such groups meeting like this around the world.
The article went on to say that the Church of England was in crisis in that it is losing many people. That three out of four people in England do not believe in God.
I firmly believe that it is the institution that is the Church of England and other mainline churches that are missing the mark.
They have failed to move with the times. They have built a gilded cage filled with ritual that has no relevance today.
By contrast the evangelical church is bucking the trend and growing.
Why? I believe because they are preaching a relevant message.
In our city I know of a pastor that went to a conference in the United States. His luggage got lost and he was reduced to blue jeans, white shirt and a black suit jacket.
He had to sit on stage like that among other pastors that were all wearing nice suits.
He then had an epiphany. He looked out and seen everyone was wearing the same fine suits.
No wonder he thought people were not coming to church. They take one look at the crowd and feel they don’t belong.
He went home and immediately told his staff no more suites on stage. At the very least business casual. No ties.
He had not been pastor of his congregation very long at that time. The congregation was languishing in the high four hundreds low five hundreds if that.
He started presenting the gospel in a relaxed relevant manner. One that did not compromise the teachings of Christ in any way. One that showed the love of God by trying to be inclusive.
Someone told me it was like putting fertilizer on grass the congregation started to grow. By the time he moved on eight or so years later the congregation was toping two thousand plus. It is still growing under its current pastor who also has a relaxed come as you are attitude. The church even opened two outreaches that are also attracting two hundred plus at each sight.
That church is not alone other churches in cities around us have done the same they’ve become come as you are churches with not expectations with respect to dress code.
It’s difficult in many of these churches to find people in suits today.
Even in our small congregation where the people are older suits are unusual. Our worship leader is frequently dressed in blue jeans.
We accept people as they are and present the word of God to them.
It’s working. People feel accepted and not under pressure to look a certain way.
Think about it Jesus didn’t care how a person was dressed. He associated with anyone. He preached everywhere from the temple to the shores of a lake.
The important thing with Jesus and his disciples is that the message of the love of God reached the world around them.
That everyone irrespective of how they looked, how they dressed or what their lifestyle was could come into a personal relationship with Christ.
Question to you Christian.
Would a person who is shabbily dressed or simply not dressed in their Sunday best be comfortable in your congregation.
Think about it.
“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
Are you and the Church you attend showing the love of God? Do people see the love and compassion of Jesus in you.
A man asked Jesus,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:36-40.
Is your church stuck on form, ritual and tradition?
I watched a news show today that said in the city of London England there is a group of people meeting who have no faith as such. They meet because they feel they need to be with other people.
That personal contact in is lost in the big impersonal city that is London. Apparently there are other such groups meeting like this around the world.
The article went on to say that the Church of England was in crisis in that it is losing many people. That three out of four people in England do not believe in God.
I firmly believe that it is the institution that is the Church of England and other mainline churches that are missing the mark.
They have failed to move with the times. They have built a gilded cage filled with ritual that has no relevance today.
By contrast the evangelical church is bucking the trend and growing.
Why? I believe because they are preaching a relevant message.
In our city I know of a pastor that went to a conference in the United States. His luggage got lost and he was reduced to blue jeans, white shirt and a black suit jacket.
He had to sit on stage like that among other pastors that were all wearing nice suits.
He then had an epiphany. He looked out and seen everyone was wearing the same fine suits.
No wonder he thought people were not coming to church. They take one look at the crowd and feel they don’t belong.
He went home and immediately told his staff no more suites on stage. At the very least business casual. No ties.
He had not been pastor of his congregation very long at that time. The congregation was languishing in the high four hundreds low five hundreds if that.
He started presenting the gospel in a relaxed relevant manner. One that did not compromise the teachings of Christ in any way. One that showed the love of God by trying to be inclusive.
Someone told me it was like putting fertilizer on grass the congregation started to grow. By the time he moved on eight or so years later the congregation was toping two thousand plus. It is still growing under its current pastor who also has a relaxed come as you are attitude. The church even opened two outreaches that are also attracting two hundred plus at each sight.
That church is not alone other churches in cities around us have done the same they’ve become come as you are churches with not expectations with respect to dress code.
It’s difficult in many of these churches to find people in suits today.
Even in our small congregation where the people are older suits are unusual. Our worship leader is frequently dressed in blue jeans.
We accept people as they are and present the word of God to them.
It’s working. People feel accepted and not under pressure to look a certain way.
Think about it Jesus didn’t care how a person was dressed. He associated with anyone. He preached everywhere from the temple to the shores of a lake.
The important thing with Jesus and his disciples is that the message of the love of God reached the world around them.
That everyone irrespective of how they looked, how they dressed or what their lifestyle was could come into a personal relationship with Christ.
Question to you Christian.
Would a person who is shabbily dressed or simply not dressed in their Sunday best be comfortable in your congregation.
Think about it.
Saturday 19 July 2014
A Light upon us
A light upon us
Christians perhaps more than any other group in human history have fierce spot light on us. Upon what we say and do can potentially hang the eternal resting place of those we come in contact with.
We cannot do anything lightly. We have an ethical and spiritual duty to preform every day of our lives.
The call from Jesus is to,
“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...”
Matthew 28:19,20a
The world is watching us. By what we say and do they will judge Christ and the message he gave us.
Look at the words of Jesus again,
“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...”
It does not call us to judge quite the contrary he warns us saying,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 7:1,2.
We cannot afford to judge even our worst enemy. Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”
Matthew 5:43,44
The Apostle Paul goes as far as saying,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1Corinthians 5:12,13.
We are to keep our own house in order and not Judge those outside the church because it is only in doing so that we can reach the world for Christ.
Someone once said ten good men can save us but ten bad men can condemn us. In which group are you?
Think about it.
Christians perhaps more than any other group in human history have fierce spot light on us. Upon what we say and do can potentially hang the eternal resting place of those we come in contact with.
We cannot do anything lightly. We have an ethical and spiritual duty to preform every day of our lives.
The call from Jesus is to,
“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...”
Matthew 28:19,20a
The world is watching us. By what we say and do they will judge Christ and the message he gave us.
Look at the words of Jesus again,
“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...”
It does not call us to judge quite the contrary he warns us saying,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 7:1,2.
We cannot afford to judge even our worst enemy. Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”
Matthew 5:43,44
The Apostle Paul goes as far as saying,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1Corinthians 5:12,13.
We are to keep our own house in order and not Judge those outside the church because it is only in doing so that we can reach the world for Christ.
Someone once said ten good men can save us but ten bad men can condemn us. In which group are you?
Think about it.
Friday 18 July 2014
What is a Christian?
What is a Christian?
A woman I know asked me the other day to define for them what a Christian is. She had seen many who called themselves Christians both in the media and on the street that had turned her off.
She had attended a church locally only to be turned off by the hypocrisy of the pastor and judgemental attitudes of some in the congregation.
So knowing that I was a Christian Bible study leader she asked me how I would define a Christian.
I felt I needed to share my answer.
I answered her initially with the obvious.
A Christian believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. That Jesus died for their sins. They are someone who has confessed their sin directly to Jesus and as a result have had their sins forgiven.
Christians are saved by faith Paul stating,
“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.
The writer of Hebrews noting,
“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
That being said I believe a Christian must be far more.
Contrary to what seems to come across in the media many times a Christian is not the judge of the world.
The apostle Paul writes,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1Corinthians 5:12,13.
We are to keep our own house clean not to worry about judging the world Jesus said,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 7:1,2.
I admit all too many Christians do judge. Lack of a judgemental attitude is a characteristic of a true Christian.
A True Christian is doing what 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 true Christian is being a light to the world, Jesus said,
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven”
Matthew 5:14-16.
A true Christian shows his or her faith in their deeds.
James writes,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
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.
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.”
James 2:14-19.
Perhaps Francis of Assisi in a prayer says what Christian should be when he writes,
Yes there are many in the media, in the pulpit and in the pews that claim they are Christians but they are not. Jesus even says,
“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
Think about it.
A woman I know asked me the other day to define for them what a Christian is. She had seen many who called themselves Christians both in the media and on the street that had turned her off.
She had attended a church locally only to be turned off by the hypocrisy of the pastor and judgemental attitudes of some in the congregation.
So knowing that I was a Christian Bible study leader she asked me how I would define a Christian.
I felt I needed to share my answer.
I answered her initially with the obvious.
A Christian believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. That Jesus died for their sins. They are someone who has confessed their sin directly to Jesus and as a result have had their sins forgiven.
Christians are saved by faith Paul stating,
“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.
The writer of Hebrews noting,
“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
That being said I believe a Christian must be far more.
Contrary to what seems to come across in the media many times a Christian is not the judge of the world.
The apostle Paul writes,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1Corinthians 5:12,13.
We are to keep our own house clean not to worry about judging the world Jesus said,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 7:1,2.
I admit all too many Christians do judge. Lack of a judgemental attitude is a characteristic of a true Christian.
A True Christian is doing what 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 true Christian is being a light to the world, Jesus said,
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven”
Matthew 5:14-16.
A true Christian shows his or her faith in their deeds.
James writes,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
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.
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.”
James 2:14-19.
Perhaps Francis of Assisi in a prayer says what Christian should be when he writes,
“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 AssisiYes there are many in the media, in the pulpit and in the pews that claim they are Christians but they are not. Jesus even says,
“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
Think about it.
Thursday 17 July 2014
Married to an Unbeliever?
Married to an Unbeliever?
“To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.
And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.
For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.
How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.”
1 Corinthians 7:12-17.
Are you married to an unbeliever? They if they are willing to still stay with you then do so. That’s simply what Paul is saying her. If the unbelieving partner wants to go then let them do so.
Paul makes a clear and logical point here for saying with an unbelieving spouse that is willing to stay,
“How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?”
I know that wives can save husbands and vice versa. My pastors wife was married to an unbeliever. He eventually came to know the Lord and not only that he went on to become pastor of our church.
It does happen.
If you have a good marriage and one is an unbeliever there is nothing wrong with that. There is no reason to break up. Simply be the best spouse you possibly because in doing so you may win your spouse and your children to Christ.
Think about it.
“To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.
And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.
For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.
How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.”
1 Corinthians 7:12-17.
Are you married to an unbeliever? They if they are willing to still stay with you then do so. That’s simply what Paul is saying her. If the unbelieving partner wants to go then let them do so.
Paul makes a clear and logical point here for saying with an unbelieving spouse that is willing to stay,
“How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?”
I know that wives can save husbands and vice versa. My pastors wife was married to an unbeliever. He eventually came to know the Lord and not only that he went on to become pastor of our church.
It does happen.
If you have a good marriage and one is an unbeliever there is nothing wrong with that. There is no reason to break up. Simply be the best spouse you possibly because in doing so you may win your spouse and your children to Christ.
Think about it.
Wednesday 16 July 2014
On Marriage
On Marriage
“Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry.
But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.
The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.
The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife.
Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”
1 Corinthians 7:1-5
It’s interesting here that Paul states that it’s good not to marry. But Paul realized that while it was good for him it was not for everyone.
Paul also knew of the temptations that were around Corinth. Temptations that could easily make people sin.
Thus he makes it clear that each man should have his own wife. That the husband and wife are equals in that their bodies are not solely their own but each others.
He makes it clear not to deprive each other of sexual relations except by mutual consent for a short period of time when devoting themselves to prayer.
Paul is very cognisant that the God given sex drive in people can cause people to sin.
Kenneth L Barker writing in Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Fully Revised): © 2002. Writes,
“The Christian deprived of regular sexual activity with his or her marriage partner may be tempted by Satan to sexual immorality. The normal God-given sexual drive in the human being is strong.”
Paul also goes on to address the issue of widows in the church stating,
“Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am.
But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.”
1 Corinthians 7:8,9.
Again for the same reasons they should marry.
This is as clear cut as I think it could be. Marriage to me is God’s ideal and the husband and wife are one. No one has the right to come between them.
Leo Baeck a Jewish writer wrote something the apostle Paul would understand. He wrote,
“The fence of the Torah has surrounded family life with particular care. A strict and pure conception of matrimony which could be found nowhere in the ideas of antiquity was freely developed by Judaism. The ancient statute already saw marriage a ”sanctification,’ and therefore an ethical task to be performed; only husband and wife together, united for life, being the spirit of God, the spirit of holiness, into the home.”
A good marriage. A marriage based on love will endure no matter what.
I believe when entering marriage we must examine closely what love is. Paul said,
“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.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
I have also found the words of Paul to the Ephesians to be valid. He says,
“In your anger do not sin” : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry"
Ephesians 4:26
There are times in even the best marriages when you have disagreements. Times when emotions can flair. We are human and from time to time we will have opposing views, or simply do something that irritates our spouse.
My wife and I even before we were married practised the principle of not letting the sun go down while we were angry.
We never left each other angry even if it meant talking until the small hours of the morning.
All too many marriages end in divorce because it has been entered into, too quickly, with out much thought simply because it felt good to be around the person, or for purely sexual reasons.
We need to examine why we are getting married carefully. There will come a time in any marriage that the feel good things are not there. Times when life is hard and that good feeling when the marriage was new has faded at least for a while. It is through those times when love is tested. But true love will prevail. Read the words of Paul with respect to love again,
“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.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
A good healthy marriage based on love will survive even the harshest trials of life.
Think about it.
“Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry.
But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.
The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.
The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife.
Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”
1 Corinthians 7:1-5
It’s interesting here that Paul states that it’s good not to marry. But Paul realized that while it was good for him it was not for everyone.
Paul also knew of the temptations that were around Corinth. Temptations that could easily make people sin.
Thus he makes it clear that each man should have his own wife. That the husband and wife are equals in that their bodies are not solely their own but each others.
He makes it clear not to deprive each other of sexual relations except by mutual consent for a short period of time when devoting themselves to prayer.
Paul is very cognisant that the God given sex drive in people can cause people to sin.
Kenneth L Barker writing in Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Fully Revised): © 2002. Writes,
“The Christian deprived of regular sexual activity with his or her marriage partner may be tempted by Satan to sexual immorality. The normal God-given sexual drive in the human being is strong.”
Paul also goes on to address the issue of widows in the church stating,
“Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am.
But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.”
1 Corinthians 7:8,9.
Again for the same reasons they should marry.
This is as clear cut as I think it could be. Marriage to me is God’s ideal and the husband and wife are one. No one has the right to come between them.
Leo Baeck a Jewish writer wrote something the apostle Paul would understand. He wrote,
“The fence of the Torah has surrounded family life with particular care. A strict and pure conception of matrimony which could be found nowhere in the ideas of antiquity was freely developed by Judaism. The ancient statute already saw marriage a ”sanctification,’ and therefore an ethical task to be performed; only husband and wife together, united for life, being the spirit of God, the spirit of holiness, into the home.”
A good marriage. A marriage based on love will endure no matter what.
I believe when entering marriage we must examine closely what love is. Paul said,
“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.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
I have also found the words of Paul to the Ephesians to be valid. He says,
“In your anger do not sin” : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry"
Ephesians 4:26
There are times in even the best marriages when you have disagreements. Times when emotions can flair. We are human and from time to time we will have opposing views, or simply do something that irritates our spouse.
My wife and I even before we were married practised the principle of not letting the sun go down while we were angry.
We never left each other angry even if it meant talking until the small hours of the morning.
All too many marriages end in divorce because it has been entered into, too quickly, with out much thought simply because it felt good to be around the person, or for purely sexual reasons.
We need to examine why we are getting married carefully. There will come a time in any marriage that the feel good things are not there. Times when life is hard and that good feeling when the marriage was new has faded at least for a while. It is through those times when love is tested. But true love will prevail. Read the words of Paul with respect to love again,
“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.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
A good healthy marriage based on love will survive even the harshest trials of life.
Think about it.
Tuesday 15 July 2014
Sexual Immorality
Sexual Immorality
“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!
Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”
But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”
1Corinthians6:15-20.
Paul when writing to the Corinthians knew he was writing to believers surrounded by more than it’s fair share of sin. At its height Corinth had 1000 priestess prostitutes working in the temple to Aphrodite.
So widely known was the immorality in Corinth that the Greek verb “to Corinthianize” came to mean “to practice sexual immorality.”
Here Paul warns the Corinthians against sexual immorality.
“Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”
I remember a doctor friend of mine once telling a youth group that you take a part of the person you have sex with, with you. Not just emotionally but physically.
This was at the very beginning of the AIDS epidemic when little was known about it. He was warning them to beware that they could easily get a sexually transmitted disease.
That saving themselves for marriage was the best possible thing.
It hit home to that youth group when one of their number a young girl only sixteen got pregnant to a guy she didn’t really like. A boy she’d simply had a carnal fling with.
Not only that but another this time a sixteen year old, a boy, got AIDS.
For the girl it meant that she would have in her life for many years to come, a guy that she had no real feelings for, but had fathered her child.
For the boy who’d contracted AIDS back then it was a virtual death sentence and the worse case scenario did come to be. A few years later he died. A tragic thing that didn’t have to be.
Fortunately to the credit of the youth leaders and the church leader they forgave the two and stood by them giving them as much help as they could.
They were young. They’d made a mistake and both confessed their sin and asked God’s forgiveness. What more could they do?
As Christians living in the twenty-first century we are surrounded by sex. It is easy to get access to it. Every city in the world has it’s seamy side, not to mention the internet.
Men especially seem to fall into sexual impurity easy. Still it is avoidable.
It was not necessary for Christians in Corinth to visit the prostitutes at Aphrodite's temple. Nor is it necessary for Christians to day to pick up prostitutes or engage in any kind of sexual immorality.
As the writer of Ecclesiastes states,
“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun”
Ecclesiastes 1:9.
The temptation of sexual immorality has been around since man started living in villages and probably even before that.
The vast majority of people, Christians and none Christians do not fall into it.
It is therefore up to the individual to resist temptation and to ask God for the strength to overcome.
Think about it.
“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!
Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”
But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”
1Corinthians6:15-20.
Paul when writing to the Corinthians knew he was writing to believers surrounded by more than it’s fair share of sin. At its height Corinth had 1000 priestess prostitutes working in the temple to Aphrodite.
So widely known was the immorality in Corinth that the Greek verb “to Corinthianize” came to mean “to practice sexual immorality.”
Here Paul warns the Corinthians against sexual immorality.
“Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”
I remember a doctor friend of mine once telling a youth group that you take a part of the person you have sex with, with you. Not just emotionally but physically.
This was at the very beginning of the AIDS epidemic when little was known about it. He was warning them to beware that they could easily get a sexually transmitted disease.
That saving themselves for marriage was the best possible thing.
It hit home to that youth group when one of their number a young girl only sixteen got pregnant to a guy she didn’t really like. A boy she’d simply had a carnal fling with.
Not only that but another this time a sixteen year old, a boy, got AIDS.
For the girl it meant that she would have in her life for many years to come, a guy that she had no real feelings for, but had fathered her child.
For the boy who’d contracted AIDS back then it was a virtual death sentence and the worse case scenario did come to be. A few years later he died. A tragic thing that didn’t have to be.
Fortunately to the credit of the youth leaders and the church leader they forgave the two and stood by them giving them as much help as they could.
They were young. They’d made a mistake and both confessed their sin and asked God’s forgiveness. What more could they do?
As Christians living in the twenty-first century we are surrounded by sex. It is easy to get access to it. Every city in the world has it’s seamy side, not to mention the internet.
Men especially seem to fall into sexual impurity easy. Still it is avoidable.
It was not necessary for Christians in Corinth to visit the prostitutes at Aphrodite's temple. Nor is it necessary for Christians to day to pick up prostitutes or engage in any kind of sexual immorality.
As the writer of Ecclesiastes states,
“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun”
Ecclesiastes 1:9.
The temptation of sexual immorality has been around since man started living in villages and probably even before that.
The vast majority of people, Christians and none Christians do not fall into it.
It is therefore up to the individual to resist temptation and to ask God for the strength to overcome.
Think about it.
Monday 14 July 2014
Inside the Church
Inside the Church
“I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.
But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.
What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:9-13
Here’s something I feel is sometimes missed on Christians. I’ve heard numerous sermons telling Christians not to associate with those “who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters.” outside the church.
We can’t avoid these people as Paul says we would have to leave this world. In any case we are called to “go into all the world and preach the gospel.” that does not mean just to the “good People” of the world. It means to everyone especially sinners, of which we are all.
What Paul is saying here is do not associate with anyone who calls himself a believer and is, “Sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler.”
Such a person is not a Christian and in a worse case scenario can cause others to fall into sin. Paul is calling us to expel those who claim to be Christians and are doing immoral things from among the congregation.
Paul makes special note here,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside”
When it comes to those outside the church it all comes down to Matthew 7:1,2 where Jesus states,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 7:1,2.
Inside the church we have the right to hold all the brethren up to God’s standards. We have the right to correct them and if they do not accept correction to expel them from the church.
Think about it.
“I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.
But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.
What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:9-13
Here’s something I feel is sometimes missed on Christians. I’ve heard numerous sermons telling Christians not to associate with those “who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters.” outside the church.
We can’t avoid these people as Paul says we would have to leave this world. In any case we are called to “go into all the world and preach the gospel.” that does not mean just to the “good People” of the world. It means to everyone especially sinners, of which we are all.
What Paul is saying here is do not associate with anyone who calls himself a believer and is, “Sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler.”
Such a person is not a Christian and in a worse case scenario can cause others to fall into sin. Paul is calling us to expel those who claim to be Christians and are doing immoral things from among the congregation.
Paul makes special note here,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside”
When it comes to those outside the church it all comes down to Matthew 7:1,2 where Jesus states,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 7:1,2.
Inside the church we have the right to hold all the brethren up to God’s standards. We have the right to correct them and if they do not accept correction to expel them from the church.
Think about it.
Sunday 13 July 2014
Christian Attitude
Christian Attitude
“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.
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:9-21.
Do you Love? Is your love sincere?
Many years ago when I was a young teen in the sixties I watched the movie Good by Mister Chips. It was a musical remake of a nineteen thirties movie.
The opening song was called In the morning of my life. These were the words,
From the Musical Good by Mr Chips
Those words stayed with me until this day. I believe we must fill the world with Love our whole life through.
By profession I am a professional clown and magician. From the very first day I started in the business I said this prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father
Please let me perform to the best of my ability. Let me bring a little Joy, Laughter, and Happiness to those whom I perform in front of today.
Let people see the Love of Jesus reflected in me.
In Jesus name I Pray
Amen.
Paul’s call in Romans 12 is to ensure our love is sincere. Going on to say,
“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.
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
This is the call that is placed on the Christian to show love even to our enemies. That we may at least point them the new life in Jesus Christ and an eternity with God.
Think about it.
“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.
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:9-21.
Do you Love? Is your love sincere?
Many years ago when I was a young teen in the sixties I watched the movie Good by Mister Chips. It was a musical remake of a nineteen thirties movie.
The opening song was called In the morning of my life. These were the words,
In the morning of my life
I will look to the Sunrise
At a moment in my life
When the world is new.
And the Question
I shall ask only God can answer.
Will I be brave and strong and true,
Will I fill the world with love my whole life through?
Will I fill the world with love my whole life through?
In the evening of my life
I will look to the sunset
At a moment in my life
When my life is through.
And the question I shall ask only I can answer
Was I brave and strong and true.
Did I fill the world with love my whole life through?
Did I fill the world with love my whole life through?
By Leslie Bricusse From the Musical Good by Mr Chips
Those words stayed with me until this day. I believe we must fill the world with Love our whole life through.
By profession I am a professional clown and magician. From the very first day I started in the business I said this prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father
Please let me perform to the best of my ability. Let me bring a little Joy, Laughter, and Happiness to those whom I perform in front of today.
Let people see the Love of Jesus reflected in me.
In Jesus name I Pray
Amen.
Paul’s call in Romans 12 is to ensure our love is sincere. Going on to say,
“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.
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
This is the call that is placed on the Christian to show love even to our enemies. That we may at least point them the new life in Jesus Christ and an eternity with God.
Think about it.
Saturday 12 July 2014
Christian Conduct
Christian conduct.
“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
As I originally wrote this there was an extremist minister of a small Florida church congregation threatening to burn the Koran on September 11th.
Both Christian leaders and politicians of every stripe around the globe are angered at what he is about to do.
It was said that his actions could lead to more attacks on N. A. T. O. soldiers in Afghanistan. And there were protests in that country.
Christian leaders around the world from the Pope on down are saying this could lead to more persecution of Christians in, particularly in Muslim countries.
This pastor may think he is doing the will of God. He is not.
Sadly he is not the only extremist claiming to be a Christian out there who are not. Other pastors and evangelist have attacked other groups, the homosexual community being a frequent target.
People who do this are not Christians in my opinion.
Jesus clearly states in Matthew,
“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 7:22,23
Neither Jesus or any of his apostles ever spoke out against any other religion or group of people in the Roman world.
True Jesus a Jew, said things about the practices of Jewish religious leaders but he was a Jewish teacher speaking to other Jews. In the same way Christians have the right to correct and debate our teachings with other Christians.
Jesus went as far as giving Christians some basic rules to live by.
1/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
2/“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Matthew 7:1,2.
3/But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Matthew 5: 44,45
Love is the key to Christianity. Jesus said,
Paul defines what true love is in Corinthians 13 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.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
In my mind anyone who claims to be a Christian and is spouting hate toward any individual or group is not a Christian.
Christ went to the cross asking God to forgive his persecutors.
Jesus said,
“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
As Christians we have a message of eternal significance. Upon us lies the eternal resting place of those we come in contact with. It is our duty to God to “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven."
Think about it.
“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
As I originally wrote this there was an extremist minister of a small Florida church congregation threatening to burn the Koran on September 11th.
Both Christian leaders and politicians of every stripe around the globe are angered at what he is about to do.
It was said that his actions could lead to more attacks on N. A. T. O. soldiers in Afghanistan. And there were protests in that country.
Christian leaders around the world from the Pope on down are saying this could lead to more persecution of Christians in, particularly in Muslim countries.
This pastor may think he is doing the will of God. He is not.
Sadly he is not the only extremist claiming to be a Christian out there who are not. Other pastors and evangelist have attacked other groups, the homosexual community being a frequent target.
People who do this are not Christians in my opinion.
Jesus clearly states in Matthew,
“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 7:22,23
Neither Jesus or any of his apostles ever spoke out against any other religion or group of people in the Roman world.
True Jesus a Jew, said things about the practices of Jewish religious leaders but he was a Jewish teacher speaking to other Jews. In the same way Christians have the right to correct and debate our teachings with other Christians.
Jesus went as far as giving Christians some basic rules to live by.
1/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
2/“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Matthew 7:1,2.
3/But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Matthew 5: 44,45
Love is the key to Christianity. Jesus said,
“Jesus replied:
“ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40 Paul defines what true love is in Corinthians 13 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.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
In my mind anyone who claims to be a Christian and is spouting hate toward any individual or group is not a Christian.
Christ went to the cross asking God to forgive his persecutors.
Jesus said,
“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
As Christians we have a message of eternal significance. Upon us lies the eternal resting place of those we come in contact with. It is our duty to God to “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven."
Think about it.
Friday 11 July 2014
God's Temple
God’s temple
“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.
Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a “fool” so that he may become wise.
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”
So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours,
and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God."
1 Corinthians 3:16-23
Here is a simple truth. We who have accepted Christ as our Lord and saviour are the church. The church is not an organization or building.
Paul make it clear that
“If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.”
If I were those who opposed to Christians I would be scared at reading this. God will defend His church. Ultimately everyone will stand before God but woe betide those who have persecuted the church.
The book of Acts record a wise man’s speech at the trial of two apostles. The Sanhedrin wanted to put them to death but he stood up and the book of Acts records,
“But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.
Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.
Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.
After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.
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 5:34-39.
Gamaliel’s words are true and I believe history is proving that the Church of Jesus Christ is true. For no one in history has stopped it. Today it is in every corner of the world. Why because the builder of this church is God not man.
Think about it..
“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.
Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a “fool” so that he may become wise.
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”
So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours,
and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God."
1 Corinthians 3:16-23
Here is a simple truth. We who have accepted Christ as our Lord and saviour are the church. The church is not an organization or building.
Paul make it clear that
“If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.”
If I were those who opposed to Christians I would be scared at reading this. God will defend His church. Ultimately everyone will stand before God but woe betide those who have persecuted the church.
The book of Acts record a wise man’s speech at the trial of two apostles. The Sanhedrin wanted to put them to death but he stood up and the book of Acts records,
“But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.
Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.
Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.
After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.
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 5:34-39.
Gamaliel’s words are true and I believe history is proving that the Church of Jesus Christ is true. For no one in history has stopped it. Today it is in every corner of the world. Why because the builder of this church is God not man.
Think about it..
Thursday 10 July 2014
God Lays the Foundation
God lays the Foundation
“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds.
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.
If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.
If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames."
1 Corinthians 3:10-15
Here Paul talks about him laying the foundation of the church. That, that foundation is Jesus Christ nothing else and no one else can lay that foundation.
Paul states that
“If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.
If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.
If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.”
Simply put if we start to put superfluous things worldly things as part of the church it will be burned away.
And that doesn’t just mean material things, ornate church buildings, fine vestments for the priest, or pastors. It means I believe especially things like traditions, customs and habits that tend to slip into our worship sometimes without us realizing it.
All to often in our churches we get into habits and traditions that mean nothing to our faith. Yet we become it seems, married to them.
Our faith in Christ is still there yet we embellish it with a lot of bells and whistles. And over the centuries we have put a lot of embellishment on what we call the church.
Many church services consist of elaborate rituals that can mean a lot to the faithful, but when it comes to our salvation it doesn’t amount to anything.
I know people in the evangelical world that call themselves fundamentalist point especially to the Catholic church and their practices such as infant baptism, first communion and other things. They point out that these things do not save. Only faith does.
At the same time these evangelicals are also guilty of some rituals. Many insist on raising of hands during worship. Some have gone as far as moving away completely from traditional hymns to ‘songs of worship’.
Some insist on singing only traditional church hymns. Other churches don’t even allow instruments as part of the worship service.
In other churches one kneels to pray while others stand.
I know of many churches that insist you dress up in fine clothes for church, one’s ‘church clothes’. They consider it an insult to God if you enter the church dressed casually.
None of the things I’ve mentioned above effects our salvation. Such things are a kin to adding gold and silver, precious jewels to the foundation.
Our foundation should be in Christ Jesus. Paul reminding us in Ephesians that,
“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.
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:8-10
Read the words of Paul to the Corinthians again,
“If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.
If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.
If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.”
What is important to the overall resting place of the individual is whether or not they have accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour of their life.
When we stand before God it will not matter how eloquent of speech we are. It will not matter how well dressed we were in church. How good or bad we sung the hymns.
It will however matter whether or not we know Jesus as our Lord and Saviour.
There is an old expression that says.
“Only one life it will soon be past. Only what is done for Christ will Last.
Think about it.
“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds.
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.
If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.
If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames."
1 Corinthians 3:10-15
Here Paul talks about him laying the foundation of the church. That, that foundation is Jesus Christ nothing else and no one else can lay that foundation.
Paul states that
“If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.
If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.
If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.”
Simply put if we start to put superfluous things worldly things as part of the church it will be burned away.
And that doesn’t just mean material things, ornate church buildings, fine vestments for the priest, or pastors. It means I believe especially things like traditions, customs and habits that tend to slip into our worship sometimes without us realizing it.
All to often in our churches we get into habits and traditions that mean nothing to our faith. Yet we become it seems, married to them.
Our faith in Christ is still there yet we embellish it with a lot of bells and whistles. And over the centuries we have put a lot of embellishment on what we call the church.
Many church services consist of elaborate rituals that can mean a lot to the faithful, but when it comes to our salvation it doesn’t amount to anything.
I know people in the evangelical world that call themselves fundamentalist point especially to the Catholic church and their practices such as infant baptism, first communion and other things. They point out that these things do not save. Only faith does.
At the same time these evangelicals are also guilty of some rituals. Many insist on raising of hands during worship. Some have gone as far as moving away completely from traditional hymns to ‘songs of worship’.
Some insist on singing only traditional church hymns. Other churches don’t even allow instruments as part of the worship service.
In other churches one kneels to pray while others stand.
I know of many churches that insist you dress up in fine clothes for church, one’s ‘church clothes’. They consider it an insult to God if you enter the church dressed casually.
None of the things I’ve mentioned above effects our salvation. Such things are a kin to adding gold and silver, precious jewels to the foundation.
Our foundation should be in Christ Jesus. Paul reminding us in Ephesians that,
“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.
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:8-10
Read the words of Paul to the Corinthians again,
“If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.
If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.
If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.”
What is important to the overall resting place of the individual is whether or not they have accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour of their life.
When we stand before God it will not matter how eloquent of speech we are. It will not matter how well dressed we were in church. How good or bad we sung the hymns.
It will however matter whether or not we know Jesus as our Lord and Saviour.
There is an old expression that says.
“Only one life it will soon be past. Only what is done for Christ will Last.
Think about it.
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