Children of God

Children of God

The apostle John makes this statement to Christians,
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him” 1 John 3:1
John makes the significant statement here, he calls believers in Jesus “children of God”
This is a statement John makes in his Gospel talking about Jesus he states,
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:12,13. 
John also makes it clear in his gospel who he believes Jesus to be stating,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  
He was with God in the beginning. 
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  
In him was life, and that life was the light of men.... 
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1-4,14
John believed Jesus to be God incarnate, the creator of the world. He also makes it clear that all who believe in Jesus
“...he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
I know non-Christians do not believe this. They do not understand how we as mere mortals can be called children of God. That however is I believe, because they do not know or understand the true nature of Jesus. That Jesus is indeed God and with God all things are possible.
Please think about it.

Antichrists

Antichrists
The apostle John warns,
“Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.  
They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us. 
But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.  
I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth.  
Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist—he denies the Father and the Son.”1John 2:18-22.
Here John seems to use extremely strong language. He states that anyone who claims Jesus is not the Christ the Messiah is an antichirst.
Note however he is referring to those who at one time claimed to be Christians and are now denying that Jesus is the Christ the saviour of mankind.
It is these people Christians need to be careful with.
It’s understandable that those of other faiths may not believe as we do. For a myriad of reasons they do not agree with Christian teaching. I do not believe John is talking about these people.
John’s comments are directed at those who claimed to be Christian he states,
“They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us.”
These are men and women who have taken the scriptures and teaching of Jesus and the apostles and pervert them to their own ways.
The apostle Peter warns of such people saying,
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  
Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  
In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” 2 Peter 2:1-3.
The apostle Paul also echoes this saying,
“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.
We as Christians need to be careful as to who we listen to, especially in this multimedia age.
There are many men and women in the media that seem like they are Christians. They seem as if they are teaching about Jesus and God correctly but are not.
In order to ensure that we are not deceived we need to study the scriptures for ourselves and know for certain what is right and what is wrong. The words of the apostle Paul when he said,
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 2Timothy 2:15 are as true today as they were when he wrote them. They are words we need to take to heart and follow.
Please think about it.  

The Christian, The World, and God

The Christian, The world, and God
John the apostle wrote,
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  
For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world.  
The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” 1John 2:15-17.
Here John echoes the words of Jesus who said,
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.  
But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 
“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. Matthew 6:19-24.
We as believers in Jesus need to decide where our first love is. There is nothing wrong with having money and riches. It is when that money and riches become gods in our life that the problem starts. When they become more important that God.
We cannot stand with our feet in both worlds.
Matthews gospel records this incident between Jesus and a rich man,
“Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” 
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.” 
“Which ones?” the man inquired. Jesus replied, “ ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony,  honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’’” 
“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” 
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.”Matthew 19:16-22.
In order to be true followers of Jesus we need to be willing to give up everything we have of material value in this world if necessary.
God may never require us to give up our material possessions. Never the less we must be willing to do so if God asks.
 Are you willing to do so?
        Where is your true riches?
         Please think about it.

Live as Jesus did

Live as Jesus did
The apostle John writes,
“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 2:3-6.
As I read this the statement “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” jumped out at me. The question that arose in my mind is,
Are you living as Jesus did?
Jesus not only lived a pure life. Jesus associated with everyone irrespective of what they believed or their status in society. Jesus associated with prostitutes, Roman soldiers, tax collectors and sinners. Yes and even religious leaders.
Jesus never protested against anything. He never spoke against anyone outside his own faith. While he spoke to correct the religious leaders of his day he never spoke against secular Roman law or the governing secular authorities.
Jesus showed love to all. Thus the question becomes,
Are you loving as Jesus loved?
Jesus when asked,
“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
Jesus told his believers,

“So in everything, do to others 

what you would have them do to you,

 for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” 

Matthew 7:12

If you claim to be a Christian are you obeying the words of Jesus?
Are walking as Jesus walked?
Would someone of another faith or lifestyle or from another culture see the true Jesus in your life?
Would they truly see the unconditional love of Jesus reflected in your life.
Or would they say as Mahatma Gandhi said,

“Jesus is ideal and wonderful,

 but you Christians - 

you are not like him.”

                                                                    Mahatma Gandhi
Please think about it. 

A Clear Statement

A Clear Statement
“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.”  1John 1:5-2:2.
Here is a very definite statement made by someone who knew Jesus personally. Who stat under his teaching and thus knew who Jesus really was and his purpose in coming to earth.
John states,
1/ “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”  
Our God is a God of truth and light. It is God who shows us the way to heaven and gives us every opportunity to get to heaven.
2/ “If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.”
I believe here that walking in darkness is doing what God does not want us to do. I believe there are many calling themselves Christians who think they are walking in light but are not. They are mixing their faith with other things that are not of God and thus making their faith worthless.
I believe to walk in the light we must consider the words of Jesus who when asked,
   “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
Jesus who said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.
I believe if we are doing these things we are walking in the light.
John then notes,
3/ “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.”
We as individuals must remember the words of the apostle Paul who said,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”  Romans 3:23,24.
We as individuals sin. Sin is falling short of what God wants for our lives. It is our obligation before God to confess our sins directly to God, as soon as we realize we have sinned. In doing so God will forgive us our sins.
John here also makes a very powerful statement here. He states,
“If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
By claiming we have no sin we make God out to be a liar. Think about it John is saying if we as individuals claim to have no sin we are calling the creator of the universe a liar.
God however is indeed a God of love who understands each individual and makes it possible for every individual to get to heaven, even if we at times sin. John states,
“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.”
Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for the sins of all men who would believe in him. It is because of Jesus we can get to heaven. The apostle Paul writing,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.
Thus the question becomes, do you believe this?
Please think about it.

My job is to Love

My job is to Love
Billy Graham the American evangelist said,

It is the Holy Spirits job to Convict, 

God’s job to judge 

and my job to love, 

Billy Graham

Jesus when asked

“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

Jesus also 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 defined love as,

“Love is patient, love is kind. 

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

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

it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 

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

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

Love never fails....

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

But the greatest of these is love.”  

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13

The writer of Hebrews states,

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men 

and to be holy; 

without holiness no one will see the Lord.” 

Hebrews 12:14

Jesus said,

“So in everything, 

do to others what you would have them do to you, 

for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” 

Matthew 7:12.

Francis of Assisi wrote a prayer all Christians need to take to heart. He wrote,

Lord, make me an instrument of your 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;

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.

                                                                         The Prayer of St Francis of Assisi.
If you claim to be a Christian, are you truly loving unconditionally, those around you?
Please think about it.

God will Judge

God will Judge
The apostle Peter writes,
“Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.  
I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. 
First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.  
They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”  
But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water.  
By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.  
By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.  
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:1-9.
Peter here states he writes the letter to stimulate his readers to wholesome thinking and to recall what the prophets, the apostles and Jesus said.
He reminds them that in the end days people will arise saying what we as Christians believe is not true. That men and women who will choose to go their own way.
However Peter notes,
“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.  
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
Peter notes that God is not slow as such. He is patient. That he wants “everyone to come to repentance”
Jesus speaking of himself 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.
The purpose in Jesus coming to this world is to see people come into a right relationship with God. Thus he is giving everyone everywhere abundant time to come to know him.
As a believer in Jesus, I am sure God has set a date when He will judge the people of world. The apostle Paul speaking the Athenians said,
“For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” Acts 17:31.
Billy Graham the American evangelist said,
“The Bible says today is the accepted time, today is the day of salvation... But there will come a time when it will be too late for you.” Billy Graham.
I nor any other follower of Jesus know when God will judge the people of the world. I do know however He will. Even the writer of Ecclesiastes writing long before the birth of Christ said,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.
Thus the question remains for those reading this be they believers in Jesus or not. Will you meet Jesus as your Saviour or your Judge.
Please think about it.

Warning!

Warning!
The apostle Peter warns,
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  
Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  
In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. 2 Peter 2:1-3.
The apostle Paul echoes these words saying,
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  
People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,  without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,  treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—  having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. 2 Timothy 3:1-5
Later in the same letter to Timothy Paul writes,
“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.
This is happening today in the twenty-first century. Living here in North America I see evidence of people frequently claiming to be Christians who are not. They misquote scripture. They twist the holy scriptures to conform to what they believe. They choose to teach only what they want people to here.
They are as the apostle Paul puts it,
 “lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,  without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,  treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”
Sadly it can be hard to tell who these people are when we see them in the media. We have no personal contact with them. Thus it’s hard to tell if they are living life the way they claim to be.
What Christians can however do is check every word they say from the scriptures. Find out for ones self if the way they are presenting scriptures is correct and not taken out of context.
One of the big things in North America is with evangelist and others in the media asking for money. Making the statements that if you give to God (usually meaning their ministry) God will give you back ten, a hundred or even a thousand times what you give. This is utter garbage. God is not a banker that gives super interest on your giving.
We should give to God’s work because we want to give. Not because we expect anything in return.
One pastor told me if you want to give to a specific Christian ministry ask to see where the money is going to. He even went as far as saying ask how much the evangelist salary is.
The purpose of giving to a ministry is to further the kingdom of God. To reach the lost and to help the poor. As a result a minister, or evangelist should get a good salary, but the bulk of the money given to any ministry should go directly to spreading the gospel.
Giving aside we should also be very careful about any teaching. We need to study the New Testament and indeed the whole bible for ourselves.
We need to become familiar with the scriptures for ourselves. We need to pray and ask God to show us the truths there in.
Remember the New Testament was written to ordinary people. Thus we can if we read carefully, understand them.
What I am trying to say here is what the apostles Peter and Paul are saying. Be careful. We are in a time when there is a lot being preached in the media and in some churches that are not of God.
You however as an individual are called to do as the apostle Paul told timothy,

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,

 a workman who does not need to be ashamed 

and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 

2 Timothy 2:15.

Please think about it.

Jesus is

Jesus is.
The Apostle Peter makes this statement.
“We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.  
For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”  
We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. 2 Peter 1:16-18.
Over the years I’ve heard people say Jesus was not a real person. He is a myth.
Jesus is not a myth. If so the apostle Peter and all the other writers of the New Testament have told one of the most monumental lies in human history.
Peter was there with Jesus he witnessed the life of Christ on this earth. He truly believed that Jesus was the Son of God. God incarnate.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.  
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Hebrews 1:1-3.
This is what all the writers of the New Testament believed. It is what true Christians in the twenty-first century believe.
Henry Ward Beecher wrote,
“If Christ is not divine, every impulse of the Christian world falls to a lower octave, and light and love and hope decline.”Henry Ward Beecher
C. S. Lewis wrote,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher.     He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.
Each person when presented with Jesus must decide for themselves who Jesus is. No one can decide for you. You must look at what the New Testament writers said about him and make your own decision. That decision can be but one of two things. Either what the writers of the New Testament says is true, Jesus is the Son of God, God incarnate, the Saviour of Mankind or he is not.
Please think about it

Add to your faith"

Add to your faith

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  
Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;  and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.  
For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  
But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 
Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall,  and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2Peter 1:3-11.
The Apostle Peter tells us plainly,
The ways of the world are filled with desires that quite often run contrary to what God wants for us.
He is telling us that through Christ we have everything we need for life an godliness. That he has given us “his very great and precious promises. That we may “escape the corruption of this world”.
Peter then tells the believer,
“...make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;  and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.”
He notes,
“For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
It is important as believers in Jesus, that we have a disciplined life. That we make every effort to live a life acceptable to Christ. As the writer of Hebrews tells us,

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men 

and to be holy; 

without holiness no one will see the Lord.” 

Hebrews 12:14   

This is a constant theme throughout the teachings of the Jesus and the apostles. Live a life of faith, goodness, love, kindness, self-control, godliness and holiness.
Peter goes on to say
“But if anyone does not have them, (goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, Love) he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.”
He tells the believer that they should make sure of what they believe and how they act. That their life, lifestyle and actions line up with what Jesus wants for their life.
The reward for doing so as Peter states is
“For if you do these things, you will never fall,  and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
If you claim to be Christian you need to take a few minutes right now alone with God.
 We all make mistakes. We all fall short of what God wants for our lives. Thus we all need to take some time every now and then to ask God to show us how we can do more for him.
Please think about it.

Advice to Christians

Advice to Christians
The Apostle Peter writing to believers in Christ gave this advice,
“To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed:  
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.  
And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. 
Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”  
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  
Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.  
To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1Peter 5:1-11
Peter makes several important points here. First to the older men in the Church he states,
“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”
The older presumably better educated in the word of God and the knowledge of Christ are to be shepherds. To serve as overseers.
Overseers are there to see that those under them are correctly following the word of God not going astray. They must do this by example not by lording over people and trying to force them to do what is right.
They must also do it because they want to do it, not for money. Peter says they should “not be greedy for money” “but rather eager to serve”. 
To the younger men he states,
“Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”  
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”
Young men can be very eager to serve the Lord. As some one has said some young Christians “want to serve God and they want to server now! without waiting to learn about the ways of God and Christ.”
Young men need to humble themselves, Pray, study the scriptures and learn all they can about the ways of God and the teachings of Jesus. Then wait on the Lord and in due time God will lift them up.”
Young men need to go to those who are older than themselves for council and teaching. Then when they are ready use their youth in the service of God.
We are called to cast or anxieties on Jesus. To be self-controlled and alert. To resist the devil and stand firm in the faith. No matter the circumstances we are in.
Thus the questions are;
If you are older and in a position of trust within the Church are you leading others by your example? Are you correctly teaching the word of God to those entrusted to you?
If you are younger, are you humbling yourself before God and learning from those who are older in the Lord?
And no matter who you are, are you correctly teaching the word of God?
Please think about it.

For Right not Wrong

For Right not Wrong
Here is something aimed directly at Christians. The apostle Peter wrote,
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.  
But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.  
If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.  
If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.  
However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.  1 Peter 4:12-16.
At the risk of sounding controversial I need to make it clear here that what Peter is saying is, if we are going to suffer let us suffer for our faith. Let us suffer for our beliefs. Not for breaking a secular law that does not affect the way we can worship and conduct our faith.
As I said in one blog sometimes simply being a Christian can have us thrown in prison, beaten even killed. Some governments in the world for whatever reasons do not tolerate Christians.  They jail, even execute them for their faith.
This happened in Roman times. Many Christians were murdered because of what they believed. They among other things, would not bow down and worship the Roman emperor as a god. In some cases they simply died because Christianity was not an official religion of the Roman empire.
Here in North America there are those who say they are suffering for their faith but are not. They are under the misconception that America at least is a Christian nation. America is not nor is any nation in the world Christian.
Throughout the years I’ve seen Christians standing protesting in front of abortion clinics. I’ve see those calling themselves Christians standing protesting against same sex marriages.
When they are arrested they claim they are being persecuted and arrested for their faith. They are not. They are breaking a secular civil law granted by an elected government. A law that does not restrict their right to worship, evangelize and conduct their faith as they wish.
As wrong as Christians may think abortion, and other things are, these things are they are still legal under the law of the country. They are as legal as the barbaric practices that went on in the amphitheatres and coliseums around the Roman empire that seen slaves, gladiator and even Christians put to death for sport. The list of what the Romans allowed in the time of Jesus and the apostles, that they would have disagreed with would fill a very large book. Yet Christians did not protest. Instead they knew the answer to the problem. The spreading of the gospel.
It worked! The glory that was the Roman empire is long gone along with its barbaric practices. Christians and Judaic morals and teachings have permeated the very fabric of western society as we know it today. All done without raising a placard in protest.
Jesus gave us the perfect plan to change the world around us. When he addressed his apostles,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20.
If we claim to be Christians and if we must suffer let it be because we are taking the unadulterated gospel message to the world around us and not for braking some secular law.
That is what the apostles did. It is what we should do.
Please think about it.

For God

For God
The Apostle Peter writes,
“The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.  
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.  
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.  
If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4: 7-11
Here is a simple message to all who believe in Jesus Christ. He makes the statement “the end of all things is near”
Peter and the early church believed Christ’s return was immanent. They, I’m sure, had no concept of the monumental task that was at hand with respect to taking the gospel to the whole world. Still this worked in their favour. They gave spreading of the gospel precedent. They proclaimed the good news of Jesus as if he was returning the next day. The result being, within a century or less the salvation message of Christ had reach all the Roman empire and beyond.
This is a lesson we as Christians in the twenty-first century should take to heart. We need to give precedent to presenting the Salvation message of Jesus to the world and not get side tracked with other issues.
   Peter also calls on Christians to love other Christians deeply and to be hospitable. In doing these things we honour God.
He then states,
“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.  
If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.”
These were all things done in the early church. They lived their faith in full view of everyone, and people noticed. The book of Acts records,
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  
Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.  
All the believers were together and had everything in common.  
Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.  
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,  praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47.
Even non-Christians noted what they did Pilney
Pliny the Younger governor of Bithynia in Asia Minor wrote to the Emperor Trajan (98 to 117 AD), wrote,
"They were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of food--but food of an ordinary and innocent kind...”Piliny the younger.
Billy Graham the American evangelist said,
“The men who followed Him (Christ), were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same.” Billy Graham.
We as twenty-first century Christians need to remember this. We need to live our lives in full view of all. We need to live lives wholly acceptable to Jesus. We need to follow what the writer of Hebrews said,

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men 

and to be holy; 

without holiness no one will see the Lord.” 

Hebrews 12:14.

If you claim to be Christian are you doing this?
Please think about it.

With Gentleness

With Gentleness.
The Apostle Peter writes,
“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,  keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” 1 Peter 3:15,16.
Is Christ truly Lord of your heart? If he is then are you prepared to answer anyone who asks you the reason you believe as you do?
If you do tell people about Jesus do you do so with gentleness and respect?
These are key things when presenting the gospel to anyone.
I live in Canada one of the most multicultural countries in the world. Within walking distance of my home are not only churches but a synagogue, a mosque, and other places of worship.
It is possible to have conversations with people from all faith, even atheist. The key to having conversations about Jesus and telling others what we as Christians believe however is respect. We must respect the differences we have with other people.
We as Christians in a secular democracy must even stand up for the rights of those who believe differently from us. In doing so we make friends. And good friends can talk about anything without fear.
True Christians love, Jesus when asked,
“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.
The apostle Paul defined love as,

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, 

it does not boast, it is not proud.  

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

it is not easily angered, 

it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil 

but rejoices with the truth.  

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

Love never fails....

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

But the greatest of these is love.”  

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.

As believers in Christ, as followers of Jesus we must remember this. In doing so we can and will win souls for Christ.
As Christians we must always remember the words of Jesus who said,

“So in everything,

 do to others what you would have them do to you, 

for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” 

Matthew 7:12.

Are you doing this?
Please think about it.

Live in Harmony

Live in Harmony
The Apostle Peter wrote,
“Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.  
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.  
For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. 
He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 1 Peter 3:8-12
Here is excellent advice for all Christians. “...live in harmony with one another, be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing”
If you claim to be a follower of Jesus are you doing this. Time and time again throughout the New Testament the writers tell us to live at peace with all men. To live holy lives. The early church did this.
Piliny the younger, a none-Christian, writing to the emperor Trajan (Roman Emperor 98 to 117 AD.) about believers in Christ wrote,
"They were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to do any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of food--but food of an ordinary and innocent kind...”Piliny the younger.
The early church, the early believers in Jesus put into practice the word of Jesus and the apostles. As a result they reached the world for Christ.
Billy Graham the American evangelist said, 
“The men who followed Him (Christ), were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same.” Billy Graham.
If you claim to be a follower of Jesus is your heart “right side up”?
The writer of Hebrews tells us,

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men 

and to be holy; 

without holiness no one will see the Lord.” 

Hebrews 12:14

As believers in Jesus we are the lense through which those in the world around us will see Jesus, will see God.
What is your life telling those around you about God?
Please think about it.

In a Marriage

In a Marriage
The apostle Peter states,
“Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives,  when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.  
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.  
Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.  
For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. 
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.” 1 Peter 3:1-7.
Here is a potential controversial statement in the twenty-first century, “wives should be submissive to their husbands.”
However we should note that within Christianity women be they married or single are equal to men in every way.
Just because a woman or for that matter anyone submits to someone does not take away their equality or make them any less of a person.
Everything Peter is saying here can and I believe does apply to both spouses.
What Peter is saying is that a woman should not try to attract or keep a man by her outward adornment. Nor should a man.
We here in North America live in a very if you will “vain” age. Just turn on any television station and you are bombarded with cosmetic and clothing advertisements promising to make you look more beautiful and younger.
What Peter says is,
“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.  
Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”
Our beauty should not come from what we look like on the outside but from our inward character. Many men and women have been let down over the years indeed the centuries when they’ve met a man or woman who looks beautiful only to find out they are not the person they thought they were.
That being said, I think it’s true to say some, perhaps most, couples when they first meet look at the persons outward appearance. But if that’s all you base your relationship on that relationship will fail. It is what is on the inside of any person that counts.
I’ve been married now for close to forty years and I know many people who have been married equally as long many longer. All will tell you their spouse is their best friend. They are, if you will, soul mates. Their love comes from within not what they see on the outside.
While many Christian wives I know will tell you they tend to submit to their husbands on most occasions. They will in no uncertain words tell you they are every bit his equal and are able to direct him and at times steer him away from bad decisions.
My first pastors wife half in jest told me “the man is the head of the house, but the woman is the neck and the neck turns the head.” 
What she meant was a successful marriage is a partnership of equals in which the couple works in unison. The neck is no less important than the head.
This is what Peter is talking about. Peter notes,
“...if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives,  when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.”
My last pastors wife is an example of this. She came to know the Lord first. She proceeded to live her life for God in front of him. She went to church even took their children. She was consistent in her faith. She did not force her faith on him. She simple lived her faith in front of him. This led to him to not only accept Christ as his Saviour but go on to become a pastor.  
This is something even husbands of non-believing wives can do also.
Peter’s other statement in this passage is aimed directly at husbands but again can apply to the wife also. He states,
“Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”
Peter is obviously a man of his day. He calls the wife “a weaker partner”. This is a statement I can remember my grandparents using. Even my parents used this term occasionally, and they were each others equal and as liberal and progressive as anyone I’ve met from their generation. It’s as I said a cultural thing.
As I have said, we who live in North America and the western world today would say rightly, women are as strong and in everyway mans equal.
Thus Peters sentiment here that husbands treat their wives with respect applies to both spouses. The implication being if the husband, or for that matter the wife, does not do so it can hinder his prayer life.
As Christians within a marriage we are equal. Both spouses must respect each other. Our beauty should not be from how we adorn ourselves on the outside but come from deep inside our soul. For when it does a marriage will last a lifetime and a Christian marriage will point people to Christ.
Please think about it.

Submit?

Submit?
The Apostle Peter wrote,
“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.  
For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.   Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.  1 Peter 2:13-17.
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.  
Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” Romans 13:1,2.
Here is a couple of statements that are aimed squarely at Christians. It is telling us to submit to the governing authorities. This at a time when Christianity was being persecuted. Paul and most of the other apostles would be put to death by the governing authorities. However if we look carefully at why they were persecuted it was not because they rebelled against those authority. It was because of their faith, because of what they believed.
In following God’s law we may at times break mans laws especially if those laws are made by a dictatorship or other groups who fail to recognize God’s authority.
The early Christians refused to engage in emperor worship within the Roman empire. As a result many met their death. Never the less they obeyed God’s law.
Sometimes being a believer in Christ is in itself making a political statement to some governments. North Korea is perhaps the best example in our time. For whatever reasons the government of North Korea fears Christianity and thus persecutes it as do some other governments around the world.
Under such regimes no matter what a believer in Christ did. Even if they obeyed the laws of the land perfectly they would be persecuted, executed or put in jail all for their faith.
It was the same under Adolf Hitler. Christians did obey the laws set down by the German government of the day.
However Hitler and the Nazi party broke God’s laws making it impossible for many Christians to simply stand by and let him get away with genocide, the murdering of millions of Jews and others. Thus many helped hide Jews and others, some even being sent to concentration camps and dying for doing so.
As a Christians I believe as Paul and Peter are saying we are to obey the laws of the land. However when that law violates God’s law we must act. We must obey our conscience and God over man’s Law.
God gave man a basic set of Laws that are universal known as the Ten Commandments. They state,

You shall have no other gods before Me.

You shall make no idols.

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

Keep the Sabbath day holy.

Honour your father and your mother.

You shall not murder.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.

You shall not covet.

These laws are a bear minimum that Christians must follow. If governments violate these laws then Christians have no choice but to follow God’s laws for ultimately God will judge all.
The writer of Ecclesiastes states,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes12:13,14.
Please think about it.

You Are

You are
Here is a portion of Scripture I have quoted many times in my blogs over the years. It is something all Christians need to realize and take to heart. The apostle Peter writes,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 
Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:9-12
Peter makes clear believer in Christ are “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful love.”
We are a royal priesthood. However that sadly is not what some groups see Christians as. Sadly as I heard one person say “some calling themselves Christians, act more like street thugs determined to get their way no matter what.”
When I looked at it from the point of view of a woman having to walk through the lines of protestors at an abortion clinic, or from the standpoint of those in the LBGTQ community, who see those claiming to be Christians protesting against them, wanting to take away their rights. I can see where the person is coming from.
As Christians we should not be protesting against anything that does not take away our rights or the rights of others.
Peter said,
“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 
If statistics are right Christians are the most persecuted faith on the planet. It is estimated a Christian dies for his faith every three to seven minutes somewhere in the world.
We as Christians are “aliens and strangers in the world...” we have no right to protest or judge those outside our faith. The apostle Paul wrote,

“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

Christians have no right to judge. We are God’s messengers in this world. The job given to believes in Christ is simple 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.
Jesus also said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.
I know as a follower of Christ, I with all I know about Jesus and God. I would want others to tell me about all God has to offer if I didn’t already know.
I would not want people to judge me, to force their faith or way of life on me. I would not want them demonstrating against me if I am doing something lawful.
I would want to have free and open dialogue with them something that cannot be done while holding placards in a protest.
As Christians we must remember the words of the writer of Hebrews who said,

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men

 and to be holy; 

without holiness no one will see the Lord.” 

Hebrews 12:14.

Please think about it.