You Live in Deeds

You live in deeds
Jesus said,
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 
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 5:13-16.
Notice here Jesus says, “let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven”.
As Christians, believers in Christ Jesus, we are called to love in word and deed. For it is only by showing love, in deed as well as in our words, not only toward our friends and neighbours but even to our enemy and our persecutors, that we can be effective witnesses for Christ Jesus.
The world is watching anyone who claims to be a Christian. And, the world quite often does not hear our words. They do however see our deeds.
Francis of Assisi wrote,

"The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon 

some persons will hear today"

                                    Francis of Assisi

Thus my question to you is, What sermon is your deeds preaching?
Please think about it.

The Kind of Love God Expects

The kind of Love God expects
The apostle Paul wrote,
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
“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 13:1-8a,13.
This to me is true love. The kind of love God expects all believers to exhibit in their lives to all with whom they come in contact .
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, 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.  
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  
 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?”  Matthew 5:43-47.
Thus my question to you especially if you claim to be a Christian, is this the kind of Love you exhibit each and every day?
Will God say you have shown true love to all you have had contact with?
Please think about it.

The Greatest Adventure

The greatest adventure
Jesus said,
"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Luke 11:9,10.
Raphael Simon wrote,
“To fall in love with God is the greatest of all romances; to seek him, the greatest adventure; to find him, the greatest human achievement.” Raphael Simon.
I firmly believe that if you are truly serious about finding God He will reveal himself to you. The key is you need to be truly searching for God. You need to have faith that God exists, The writer of the book of Hebrews states,

“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

Thus my questions,
Do you have faith that God exists? If so are you truly seeking God?
Please think about it.

Narrow is the Road

Narrow is the road
John’s gospel records Jesus as saying,
"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6.
I’ve heard many non-Christians say there are many ways to heaven. The question I would ask is, are there?
What if as Christians believe there is only one way to heaven, that being through Jesus?
Jesus said,
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  
But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13,14.
It to my way of thinking is logical that God would make a single road to heaven. A road that I believe is through Jesus Christ.
The way I see it is if I and other Christians like me are wrong then we have nothing to fear by following the teachings of Jesus, because in doing so we will have lived a good life.
C. S. Lewis said,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” C. S. Lewis.
I believe it is of infinite importance.
What do you think?
Please think about it.

Over and Above

Over and above
The Psalmist writes,

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 

Worship the LORD with gladness; 

come before him with joyful songs. 

Know that the LORD is God. 

It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, 

the sheep of his pasture. 

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;

 give thanks to him and praise his name. 

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; 

his faithfulness continues through all generations. 

                                                                                Psalm 100

The Bible is written to believers. It therefor does not debate the existence of God. Believers know that God exists. Believers also recognize that there is a need for God within our society.
Abba Hillel Silver at the height of world war two wrote,
"Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society.
Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority." Abba Hillel Silver.
History has shown us that when people turn from the basic principles God has laid down for mankind society suffers. We only have to look at world war two to see this. Hitler and his henchmen had no fear of God. They turned away from God and lived by their own rules. The result was world war two, the worst conflict in human history with upwards of 60,000,000 men, women, and children killed senselessly.
The same thing is happening today. There are many terrorist groups around the world that are murdering people. Some even having the audacity to say they are doing it in the name of God.
That being said it is not only terrorist groups doing the killing. On the streets of our cities there are men and women murdering others daily.
The murdering aside. There are many more things happening that are against God’s laws.
The apostle Paul wrote,
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—”2 Timothy 3:1-4.
This is happening today and our society knows it. And society is looking for solutions to it’s problems. I firmly believe that turning back to the God of the Bible. Turning back to the teachings of Jesus and the apostles is the solution to much of mankind’s problems.
Please think about it.

Look Deep

Look Deep
Albert Einstein one of the greatest scientist ever to live made an interesting statement. He said,

“Look deep into nature, 

and then you will understand everything better.”

                                                                 Albert Einstein

The psalmist writing several millenniums  before Einstein’s birth wrote,

“The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 

Day after day they pour forth speech; 

night after night they display knowledge. 

There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.” 

                                                                              Psalm 19:1-3.

I have always been of the opinion that science done correctly will show there is a creator behind it all. And science seems to be heading in that direction.
Scientist are looking into nature. They are seeing that everything from the largest galaxies to the smallest subatomic particles have all come together to allow life as we know it here on earth to exist.
To me that speaks of a creator.
Einstein noted,

“Human beings vegetables  or cosmic dust. 

We all dance to a mysterious tune, 

intoned in the distance by an invisible player.”

                                                              Albert Einstein.

I don’t know whether or not Einstein believed in God. I do know that his statement about we all being cosmic dust, dancing to a tune played an invisible player is true.
The Bible tells me,

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

                                                                                            Genesis 1:1.

In other words God created the very cosmic dust that makes up the Earth the Universe and Everything in it.
God is that “invisible player” Einstein spoke of.
Mankind is God’s creation. That being said God in making mankind did not make robots. He made individuals with a freewill to do as they wish.
That includes the right to believe in God or not to believe in Him. I and billions of people like me believe God exists.
I believe in God not out of blind faith. I believe in God because of what I see around me. I have looked at what the Bible says and what science says and find no contradiction. Both point to a creator.
The choice however is up to you. Each individual must decide what they believe and ultimately live with the consequence of their decision.
Please think about it. 

If True

If true

“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.
One of the claims of Christianity is that Jesus is God. That he was there on the day of creation. That “through him all thing were made;”. Not only that Christians believe God in the form of his One and Only Son Jesus, came to this earth to show us the way to heaven. But not in the way we would think.
Being God he could have revealed Himself in a miraculous way. Yet he did not. He came to this earth in such away that it would require faith to believe He was who He said He was.
Jesus came into this world live as a man. Experienced everything there was to experience as a man then let himself be put to death on a cross for a crime he didn’t commit. Not what the average person would expect of God.
The apostle Paul admits,
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18.
It is a message believers in Christ Jesus ask people to believe. It is a message many cannot bring themselves believe. Yet it is a message Christians believe is of prime importance for people all over the world to believe.
C. S. Lewis noted,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” C. S. Lewis.
Thus the question for anyone who hears the story of Jesus is, Do you believe Jesus is God incarnate, Saviour of mankind, or not?
The choice is your’s please think about it.

Be Still

Be still

“Be still, and know that I am God; 

I will be exalted among the nations, 

I will be exalted in the earth.” 

                                                Psalm 46:10

C. S. Lewis wrote,
“A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.” C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain
I think there are two primary reasons people cannot find God. One they are simply not looking for Him. The other is they have made up their mind and are not willing to listen anything that might give insight into God’s existence.
As someone I think wisely said,

Maybe the atheist cannot find God 

for the same reason a thief cannot find a policeman. 

                                                               Author Unknown

We especially here in the western democracies live in a society that is filled with a cacophony of noise and distractions. Distractions that quite often distract us from seeing God.
In order to find God we must be looking for Him. We must have faith that He exists. The writer of Hebrews stating,
“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.
In order to seek God we must be still. We must take time from our busy life sit down and simply ask, Dear Lord please show yourself to me.
The question I would ask you the reader is are you willing to be still and to ask God to show Himself to you?
Please think about it.

Christians and Judgment

Christians and Judgement
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.
This makes it clear to anyone who claims to be a follower of Christ Jesus. We are not allowed to judge. I believe this to be especially true when it comes to where anyone will spend eternity.
The apostle Paul makes it clear that Christians have the right to Judge other Christians but only with respect to what they are teaching. Paul states,
“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.
We can judge those who claim to be Christians because by the fact they are claiming to be Christians they are saying I believe the teachings of the Jesus and the Apostles. If they don’t we are to cast them out of the church.
As for those who are not Christians we have no right to judge them at all. Only God has that right, because only God knows what is in the heart of an individual.
Only God knows why a person is the way they are.
The job of a follower of Christ Jesus is made clear when 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.
We are to make disciples of all nations. At no time does Jesus ever tell his followers to judge anyone. No should we.
We will never win souls for Christ by judging and criticising them. It is only through love and developing a dialogue between ourselves and those around us, that we will win souls for Christ.
Thus my question to anyone reading this who claims to be a Christian, a follower of Christ Jesus. Do you judge others, intentionally or otherwise?
Please think about it. 

No excuses

No excuses
The Psalmist writes.

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 

Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 

Know that the LORD is God. 

It is he who made us, 

and we are his;

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; 

give thanks to him and praise his name. 

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; 

his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

                                                                    Psalm 100.

I am a Christian a believer in Christ Jesus. I make no excuses for what I believe. When I get the opportunity to present my faith. I do just that. I present what I believe and leave it for the listener to agree or disagree with me.
I know on that day when this life is over I will bow before God and thank Him for His wonderful love. Until that day however I will praise and glorify God’s name here on Earth.
Thus my question to you the reader;
Do you believe in God?
If not why not?
If you do why?
Please think about it.

A Matter of Faith

A matter of Faith.
The Psalmist writes,

“The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” 

                                                       Psalm 19:1.

We may not be able to see God but that does not mean he does not exist. Astronomers have for a long time theorised that black holes exist yet they could not see them. They realized that black holes existed because of what they observed.
So it is with God. We only have to look around us to realize that this world, this universe we live in has to have a creator.
As I have said many times in my blogs over the years I cannot believe that the universe in which we live just formed from randomness. There has to be a creator behind it all.
We live in a part of the universe that has been called the “goldilocks zone”. An area of the universe that is just right for life as we know it to exist.
Whether there are more of these zones within our universe is irrelevant  to my belief in God.
The key to my believing in God is my faith.
Just like Albert Einstein and many other scientist went to the grave believing in their theories. So it is with believers in Christ Jesus.
Believers in Christ Jesus are willing to go to their graves believing they will meet God after they pass from this world.
Thus my question to you is do you believe in God?
The writer of the book of Hebrews states,

“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.” 

                                                                            Heb

Jesus is

Jesus is
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.
Here the author make four statements about Jesus.
According to the writer of Hebrews Jesus is,
1/ The Son of God,
2/ The exact representation of his being.
3/ The one who sustains all things by his powerful word.
4/ The one who provides purification for our sins.
The author makes no apologies for what he believes. He simply puts them out there for the reader to believe or not to believe.
The choice therefore is yours.
Who do you believe Jesus to be?
Please think about it.

You are The Christ

You are The Christ
John’s gospel records this conversation between Martha and Jesus,
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
“Yes Lord” she told Him, “I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world,” John 11:25,26,27.
As I have said in previous blogs. Why would the early church who were trying to establish themselves record an event that clearly states Jesus is the Christ if he was not? The answer is it must be true.
That being said belief in Christ Jesus cost you nothing. Blaise Pascal wrote about believing in God, saying
“Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists.” Blaise Pascal.
The same is true about Jesus. If you truly put your trust in him and it turns out Jesus is not who he says he is. Then it costs you nothing.
On the other hand if everything the Bible writers and followers of Christ Jesus believe is true you gain everything. Jesus speaking of himself recorded as saying,
"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. 
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son". John 3:16-18.
Please think about it.

Why would?

Why Would?
John's gospel records this incident in the life of Jesus. John writes,
"Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade.  
"The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." 
Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.  
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.  
I and the Father are one." 
Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?" 
"We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God." John 10 22-33.
John also records,
"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 
It has always been my contention that if Jesus was simply a mere man why would the gospel writers put such things as I quoted above into their writings. After all they were in the process of building a new movement. To claim Jesus was the Son of God, God incarnate would run counter productive to their cause.
C. S. Lewis wrote this,
"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.
That being said the choice is yours. You can either believe Jesus is all he claimed to be or not.
Before make your choice however I would recommend you read at least the New Testament and see for yourself what the early believers believed about Jesus.
I would also recommend C. S. Lewis’s book Mere Christianity. A book although written decades ago is as relevant today as ever.
Please think about it.

At Least Consider

At least consider
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.
I could write books on this one verse of scripture. At face value it means what it says. Do to others what you would want others to do to you.
This is especially true when it come to knowing about Jesus. I am so glad that when I was in my late teens some friends introduced me to Jesus.
Over the years I have done many things some of which I have regretted. But I have never regretted accepting Jesus as my Lord and Saviour.
The Bible tells me,

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. 

When a man found it, he hid it again,

 and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 

“Again, 

the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.  

When he found one of great value, 

he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” 

                                                                         Matthew 13:44-46.

This I have found to be true.
I have gone through a lot in my six decades on this earth and through it all good and bad Jesus has been there for me.
I believe what Jesus said
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.
Thus my question to you.
Will you at least consider reading the New Testament to find out what the teachings of Jesus are, and what the early church taught about Jesus.
Please think about it.

Foolishness?

Foolishness?

The apostle Paul writes,

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, 

but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

                                                                                1 Corinthians 1:18.

Think about this. The whole New Testament revolves around Jesus. Jesus who claimed to be the Son of God. Equal to God. It talks about his dying on the cross for the sins of each individual who would believe in him. It talks about his resurrection from the grave. It tell of how he waked the earth after rising from the grave. Then ascended into heaven.
This to many people today and in the past seems foolishness. Yet those who believe in Christ Jesus believe it to be absolutely true.
The question is do you believe what the New Testament says about Jesus or not.
Many who dismiss Jesus and God out of hand I find have not read the Bible. What they know of the teachings of Jesus and Jesus himself is purely second hand. Which can be a dangerous thing. For second hand sources can have a bias.
I firmly believe individuals need to read the Bible for themselves. It is the only way to truly know the truth about Jesus and about God.
Thus my challenge to anyone who reads this take time to at least read the New Testament before you make up your mind about Jesus.
Please think about it.

A time will come

A time will come
The apostle 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.
Evangelist Charles H. Spurgeon
"A time will come when instead of the shepherds feeding the sheep. The church will have clowns entertaining the goats." Charles H. Spurgeon.
This is happening today both in the media and in the pulpit. Many people calling themselves Christians are going to church to be entertained as Spurgeon put it by clowns. Church congregations in many cases have become social clubs.
Men and women as the apostle Paul put it,
“... gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”
This should not be so. As St. Augustin said,
“If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.” St Augustine.
Here in North America with have complete freedom of speech. Such a thing can be a blessing and a curse at the same time. This is especially true when it comes to Christians.
Such freedoms allow charlatans who claim to be Christians to preach false doctrine. Doctrine that on the surface sounds good, but upon looking deeper are wrong.
Most Christians sitting in the pew or watching an evangelist in the media don’t question what is being said. They take the pastor or evangelist at face value and thus are easily led astray.
We as Christians. As believers in Christ Jesus I believe have an obligation to question those who claim to be preaching the word of God.
To study the scriptures and see for ourselves what is right and what is wrong.
So my question to you the reader is.
If you claim to be a Christian, a follower of Christ Jesus are you studying the Bible for yourself?
Are you questioning what the pastors and evangelist you listen to are saying?
Are the pastors and evangelist you listen to truly teaching the word of God?
Please think about it.

Come

Come
The writer of the book of Revelations states,
“The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.”Revelations 22:17. 
This is the call of Jesus to all mankind.
In Matthews gospel the writer records Jesus as saying,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.
Life may not always be easy. In the course of a lifetime we meet many challenges and obstacles, pain and sorrow.
I however know from personal experience that through all the circumstances of life God has been there for me. And I know that if you will truly turn to Christ and let him into your life he will be their for you.
The choice however is yours.
Please at least take time to read at least the New Testament and see what the early church believed about Jesus. Then decide for yourself whether or not to accept Christ into your life.
Please think about it.

Praise be to God

Praise be to God
The apostle Peter writes,
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade...” 1Peter 1:3-4b.
We as believers in Christ Jesus truly believe we have an inheritance that can never perish or fade. An inheritance that is quite literally out of this world. An inheritance that awaits us in Heaven.
Jesus 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." Matthew 6:19-21.
While there is nothing wrong with having great wealth. It is what you emphasis you put on that wealth that is important. We should not be putting our wealth and possessions or their acquisition ahead of God.
We as believers in Christ Jesus should always be putting Christ first in our lives. We should always be willing to share our faith. As 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,”1 Peter 3:15.
If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus can you with the apostle Peter,
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade...” 1Peter 1:3-4b.
Please think about it. 

Christian Principles for living #7 Trust in the Lord

Christian Principles for living #7 Trust in the Lord
The writer of Proverbs tells us,

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart 

and lean not on your own understanding; 

in all your ways acknowledge him, 

and he will make your paths straight.”

                                               Proverbs 3:5,6.

If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus do you trust God completely? Is your faith squarely in Him. The writer of Hebrew tells us,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see.”  

                                                           Hebrews 11:1

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, 

because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists 

and 

that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” 

                                                                            Hebrews 11:6.

I have learned first hand that trusting in God really does work.
Yes there have been times when I thought things would not work out. Still I committed the situation to God and left it there. Ultimately the situation did work out, although sometimes not in the way I thought it would work out.
The apostle Paul said,
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  Romans 8:28.
And Paul should know he went through a lot for his faith yet it all worked out in the end. Even though he was ultimately martyred for his faith he had the opportunity to share that faith throughout the Roman empire. He stood before everyone from rulers to slave and told them of his faith before leaving this earth for heaven.
So the question becomes, if you consider yourself a believer in Christ Jesus do you put your trust fully in Him?
Please think about it.

Christian Principles #6 Flee Evil

 Christian Principles #6 Flee evil
The apostle Paul writing to Timothy states,
“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”  2 Timothy 2:22.
The Psalmist tells us,
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. 
Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 
For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish” Psalm 1.
Do you flee evil?
As believers in Christ Jesus we should. That’s not to say we cannot talk to someone who just might be a sinner. That would be wrong. After all Jesus sat with people the religious men of his day deemed sinners.
Marks gospel records,
“When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:16,17.
It is the job of a believer in Christ Jesus to point sinners to God. After all the apostle Paul 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.
As Paul noted we are all sinners. The only difference between a believer in Christ Jesus and a sinner is we have had our sins forgiven by the grace of God “through the redemption that  came by Christ Jesus.”
Non-Christians however should be able to look at our life and see that we do our best not to take part in anything sinful. We shouldn’t have to tell them. Our actions should be enough.
So the question becomes, If you are a believer in Christ Jesus, are you doing your best to flee evil, to live a life free of sin?
Please think about it.

Christian Principles for living #5 At peace with God

Christian Principles for Living #5 At Peace with God
The apostle Peter writing to Christians reminds believers that Jesus will one day return and this earth will pass away. That He will come quickly when we are least expecting it. Therefor we need to be at peace with God. Peter writes,
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.
    That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.  
But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 
So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.  2 Peter 3:10-14.
As believers we many times fall short of what God wants for our lives. It is however incumbent upon us as soon as we realize we have made a mistake to ask God’s forgiveness.
As believers we truly need to look at our lives from time to time and ask ourselves am I truly living a life that is glorifying God?
Am I truly at peace with God?
Please think about it.

Christian Principles for living #4 Living at peace

Christian Principles for living #4
Live at Peace with those around you.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”  Romans 12:18.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.
The Apostle Peter tells believers in Christ Jesus,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 
Dear friends,
I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:9-12.
Believers in Christ Jesus are called to live a good and peaceful life. A life of holiness.
As believers in Christ we need to take a look at the actions of Jesus and the apostles. They never spoke out against anyone outside their faith. They never protested for any reason. They did as far as was possible live at peace with those around them. They lived a life of love.
In doing so they opened up doors to talk with other groups throughout the known world. As a result in just over a century, Christianity had spread throughout the known world.
These men and women respected all those they came in contact with. They lived peaceful loving lives.
As a result they stood in the Areopagus in Athens and spoke to the learned men and women there. They spoke with politicians, soldiers, tax collectors, and people of every strata of society from slaves to rulers.
This is what we in the twenty-first century church need to do. Are you?
Please think about it.

Christian Principles for living #3 Christian attributes

Christian Principles for living #3 Christian attributes
The Apostle Paul writing to believers in Christ Jesus tells us,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22,23.
Here is a simple test for anyone calling themselves a believer in Christ Jesus. Now keep in mind believers in Christ are far from perfect. We are all human with human frailties and failings.
That being said however as believers in Christ we should be striving to be Christ like. We should be trying to make the fruits of the spirit part of our daily life.
Francis of Assisi wrote,

“The deeds you do

 may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 

                                                                     Francis of Assisi.

If our lives are exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control, the sermon people will see in us is the Love of Jesus.
Question: When people see your life do they truly see the fruit of the Spirit of God?
Please think about it.

Christian principle #2 Deeds

Christian Principles of Living #2 Deeds
James the half brother of Jesus states,
“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. 
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” James 2:14-20.
There are many Christians who will tell you, you are saved by faith. That is true. However James here make it clear our faith needs to be accompanied by works. Good deeds.    If we indeed have true faith in Jesus it well spur us on to good deeds. Simply believing in God should never be enough for the believer in Christ Jesus. We need to put our faith into action.
Jesus made this clear when he said,
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  
I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ 
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.  
For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,  
I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 
“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Matthew 25:34-46.
If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus are you putting your faith into action?
Please think about it.

Christian Principles for Living #1 Love

Christian Principles for Living #1 Love
There are some very important precepts within Christianity that all true believers in Christ Jesus I believe must be following. The first is Love.
Jesus said when asked the question,
“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
Earlier in Matthews gospel we hear Jesus taking this concept of love one step further. He 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.
When it comes to Love the Apostle Paul made clear what Christian Love should be. He wrote,

“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.

What these Scriptures from the New Testament say needs no interpretation. They make clear that believers in Christ Jesus should love unconditionally, God, their neighbour, and even their enemy. And The should be praying for those who persecute them.
If you consider yourself a believer in Christ Jesus do you show this kind of Love to those around you?
Please think about it. 

Akin to mixing Christianity and Atheism

Akin to mixing Christianity with Atheism
The book of Exodus records God as saying,
"You shall have no other gods before me. 
You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.  
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand  generations  of those who love me and keep my commandments.” Exodus 20:3-6.
This is a commandment from God whether they realize it or not many Christians particularly here in North America where I live, break this commandment all the time.
   Anything that comes before God is an idol. Anything that is placed on an equal plain to God is an idol. That not only includes some of the obvious things like possessions and money. But other less obvious things like Political and religious leaders, and political parties.
Here in North America and more so in the United States than in Canada people calling themselves Christians are mixing their religion and their faith. They are quite often without realizing it saying one party is “more Christian” than another.
The Christian faith even in a free and democratic society in which we in the west live should vote, but we should never be mix our faith in anyway with politics. We must follow the examples of Christ and the apostles who never took sides politically.
Our job is to evangelize, not play politics.
By taking political sides we dilute our faith. It is akin to mixing our faith with atheism. There are politicians of all different stripes that are Christians. Thus saying one political party is for God is wrong.
We are called by God Himself to,
“You shall have no other gods before me. 
You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.  
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand  generations  of those who love me and keep my commandments.” Exodus 20:3-6.
If you love God. If you truly believe in Christ Jesus. Then you should not as I said, placing, politics, possessions, or anything else ahead of God.
Thus my questions to you.
If you claim to be a Christian are you putting anything ahead of God?
Are there any idols in your life?
Please think about it.

Do you live at Peace?

Do you Live at Peace?
The apostle Paul writes,

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

live at peace with everyone.”  

                                                     Romans 12:18

        The Writer of Hebrews stating

“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

Sometimes I think that those calling themselves Christians here in North America don’t listen to the scriptures quoted above. They don’t live in peace. Sadly quite often they break the peace. They don’t break any law. They don’t call for insurrection. But they do break the peace usually in the name of free speech or in the assertion they are exercising “their rights”.
In a free and democratic society such as we North American Christians live, the government gives us freedom of speech and fundamental rights that are the envy of much of the world. Yet many Christians abuse those rights.
In North America many Christians are known for what they are against, not for what they are for.
Christians it seems demonstrates against anything they disagree with, which in my opinion is wrong.
Jesus and his disciples lived in a world that was at least as multi-culturally diverse as the one we live in. There were everything from the temple prostitute priestesses of Corinth, to fights to the death in the coliseums. There were religious practices that would have been abhorrent to the disciples and Jesus. Yet neither Jesus or his disciples spoke out against them.
Jesus and his disciples associated with everyone from prostitutes, to Roman centurions, soldiers, to Samaritans, to Jewish religious leaders, tax collectors and the average man and woman on the street. They made no distinction between one person or another.
This is how they won people to the fledgling church.
They understood that living at peace with everyone, even if they disagreed with them, was the best way to win souls for Christ.
If you claim to be a Christian a follower of Christ Jesus do you do your best to live at peace with everyone?
Please think about it.

He Claims to be God

He Claims to be God
John’s gospel records this interaction between Jesus and a group of Jews in Solomon’s Colonnade. John states,
"Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade.  
"The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." 
Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.  
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.  
I and the Father are one." 
Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?" 
"We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God." John 10:22-33.
If Jesus was a mere man why would he claim to be the Son of God? That could be at the very least blasphemes. Causing people to, as John notes, want to stone him.
Also looking at it through the lense of history Jesus in making such statements, may even be considered insane.
  Furthermore if Jesus was not the Son of God. If what he said was a lie. Why would anyone who supported Him write down his claim to be God?
It’s illogical that anyone wanting to promote Jesus as the Messiah, would put anything into writing that would damage the cause of the fledgling movement.
The writer of Hebrews make it clear what Christians in the early church believed stating,
“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
The writer of Hebrews as do all true believers in Christ Jesus, past and present, believe Jesus is God incarnate, God in the flesh. We believe He created the universe and everything in it and He provided purification for our sins.
This is what the gospel writers ask you the reader to believe. Thus the question becomes. Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God, God incarnate, creator of the universe, the one who purifies us from sin?
Please think about it.

Warning from Paul and Peter

Warning from Paul and Peter

The apostle Paul wrote,

‘Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ 

and stewards of the mysteries of God. 

Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”

                                                                               1Corinthians 4:1,2

As believers in Christ Jesus we are “stewards of the mysteries of God.”
A steward was a servant who was trusted by his master to look after all of his belongings. He was expected to do that with the utmost honesty.
This is what God expects of all who claim to be believers in Christ Jesus. We are entrusted with the most important message of all time. The message of Salvation through the grace of God.
The apostle Peter wrote,
“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.
If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus this is what you are asked to do.
Please think about it.