I love You
The Psalmist writes,
“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Let Israel say: “His love endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say: “His love endures forever.”
Let those who fear the LORD say: “His love endures forever.”
Psalm 118 1-4.
When was the last time you gave thanks to God? When was the last time you lifted your hands in praise to God?
Why not take time now to praise God. To simply say to God "I love you".
Please think about it.
Something to do
The Psalmist writes,
“Praise the LORD.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with tambourine and dancing,
praise him with the strings and flute,
praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.”
Psalm 150.
So here’s something for you to do. If you are a Christian, a follower of Christ Jesus take time right now and throughout the day to Praise God.
Please don’t just think about it do it.
Above all
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 who wrote,
"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 2:11,12.
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 know we are all human, make mistakes and fall short of what God wants for our lives. That being said however, if we are truly followers of Christ Jesus we should be at least trying to make the above scriptures active in our daily lives.
Thus my questions to you.
Are you trying to live at peace with all those around you?
Are you trying to live a holy life?
Are you doing your best to abstain from sinful desires?
Above all are you treating those around you in the same way your would have them treat you?
Please think about it.
What are you telling others?
The apostle Paul writes,
“Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Colossians 3:12.
When people see you do they see these characteristics in your life?
Paul notes in his letter to the Galatians,
“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.
I don’t think that you can truly call yourself a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus if these attributes are not being exhibited in your life.
Paul writing to the Ephesians stated,
"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" Ephesians 2:10.
Are you doing good works?
Francis of Assisi tells us,
"The deeds you do
may be the only sermon some persons will hear today"
Francis of Assisi.
So what is your sermon telling others?
Please think about it.
Call on Him
Jeremiah the prophet states,
“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:12,13.
In order to find God we must be searching for Him. Not only that but when the truth of Gods existence is revealed to us, we must continue to seek the truths He offers to us.
Jesus said,
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23-24.
The Christian life is one of continued growth. The more we study the scriptures the more we grow into the person God wants us to be.
Jesus told us,
“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.” Matthew 7:7,8.
If you claim to be a Christian. A believer in Christ Jesus do you study the scriptures, praying, calling on God that He will show you the truths that are within their pages?
Please think about it.
Are you showing...
In the book of Genesis we read,
“So God created man in his own image,
In the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.”
Genesis 1:27.
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:13-16.
What these two portions of scripture mean to me is that God knows our very genetic make up. That we no matter who we are, we are made in Gods image. That God knows everything about us. As such only He has the power to judge us.
Jesus said,
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:37.
The Christian walk is one of 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 neighbour as yourself.'
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. Matthew 22:36-40.
We will never win a soul for Christ if we judge them. As the late American evangelist Billy Graham stated,
“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict,
God’s job to judge
and my job to love,”
Billy Graham.
So the question becomes, if you are a Christian. A believer in Christ Jesus are you showing the unconditional love to those around you?
Please think about it.
The Lord Gives and takes
In the book of Job we read,
“The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
may the name of the Lord be praised.”
Job 1:21
Do you believe this? I think this is a hard concept for people especially here in North America with its materialistic society to understand.
As for me I admire Job. He had things in perspective. He truly loved God and trusted in him. Job going as far as saying,
“Though He (God) slay me, yet will I hope in him;
I will surely defend my ways to his face.”
Job 13:15.
I wonder how many of us can say this? Could you?
Please think about it.
Do you?
The Psalmist writes,
I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonders.
I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
Psalm 9:1,2.
A simple question; Do you take time during your day to praise the LORD with your whole heart?
Are you glad about the relationship you have with God?
Do you rejoice in God?
Do you sing the praises to the Most High God?
Please think about it.
Can you?
Question; Can you with the Psalmist say?
“I will say of the LORD,
“He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
Psalm 91:2.
Can you truly say?
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God”
Psalm 20:7.
C. S. Lewis wrote,
“You can’t analyse God. He is too awesome, too big, too mysterious, I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You Yourself are the answer.
Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” C. S. Lewis.
If you claim to be a true Christian. A true believer in Christ Jesus do you truly trust God with your future and your life?
Please think about it.
So
The apostle Peter writes,
“Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.” 1 peter 2:16
In the book of James we read,
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,
because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgement!” James 2:12,13.
Jesus said,
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:37.
As Christians especially here in the democracies of the west we have great freedom to do as we wish. That being said the scriptures make it clear that we have limitations on our actions as Christians. Foremost is that we have no right to judge anyone. Especially those outside our faith. Not only that we are called to show mercy to those around us.
The bottom line however comes down to 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.
So in your dealings with others, especially those who do not believe as you believe or have a lifestyle different from yours do you
“Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.” Luke 6:31?
Please think about it.
You shall
In the book of Exodus we read,
“You shall have no other gods before me.”
Exodus 20:3.
So my question to you the reader especially if you consider yourself a Christian; do you have any other gods in your life.
Simply put other gods in the twenty-first century is anything in your life that comes before God. That can be anything from your political views, to sports, to hobbies, to money or the making of money beyond what you really need.
Sadly may calling themselves Christians in especially North America have many gods in their lives and quite often don’t realize it. That’s why at times we need to sit down in a quiet place pray and ask God to show us what we are putting before Him
In the book of Joshua we read,
“Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshipped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24: 14,15.
Please think about it.
Can you?
The Psalmist writes,
“I say to the Lord,
You are my Lord;
apart from you I have no good thing.”
Psalm 16:2.
For the last few blog posts I have written about how I believe we get to heaven. Now my question to you is, can you for certain say with the Psalmist,
“I say to the Lord,
You are my Lord;
apart from you I have no good thing.”
Psalm 16:2.
Please think about it.
It is simple,... or maybe not.
The apostle Peter said,
“And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” Acts 2:21
The apostle Paul wrote,
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Romans 10: 9,10.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“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 often think God called us to believe in Him by faith because it is not an easy thing to do. Most people I would think have a problem believing in something they cannot see, hear or touch. Yet this is exactly what God wants from us.
The writer of Hebrews telling us,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for
and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1.
Thus I would ask do you have the faith to believe Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead?
Please think about it.
Why we do it
Jesus told this parable,
“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.
Someone as asked “why do Christians talk about Jesus so much?” the answer to that is in the above quote from Jesus.
We as Christians, as believers in Christ Jesus truly believe we have, in Jesus found a hidden treasure or a fine pearl of great price, and we want to tell the world about it.
We do truly believe that the most important person in all of history and in our personal lives is Jesus.
Jesus is God incarnate who came to this earth to die for our sins. To make away for us to go to heaven.
The apostle Paul telling us,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.
That being said all we can do is present what we believe to anyone who will listen. All we can do is tell those around us what the apostle Paul wrote,
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:9-13.
Do you believe this?
Please think about it.
Are you sure?
Jesus referring to 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.
As Christians. As believers in Christ Jesus we must never loose sight of the fact that the sole purpose in Jesus coming to this world was to save the world.
Jesus although God, with the right to judge the world, did not come into the world to judge it. He came to show how much in human terms he would go to provide a way for individuals to enter heaven.
The apostle Paul tells us,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.
Paul also writing,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9.
God knew we could not live lives good enough to enter heaven that is why he sent Jesus to die for our sins. For all the times we have fallen short of what God wants for our lives. For all times we have ever done wrong.
The key in all of this is faith. We must have faith in God.
The writer of Hebrews telling 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.
The apostle Paul writing,
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved"Romans 10:9-13.
Thus my questions to you;
Do you believe this?
Are you sure you are going to heaven?
Please think about it.
A command
In the book of Deuteronomy we read,
“There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.”Deuteronomy 15:11.
Here God makes it clear that there will always be poor. Which history has proven to be true. Even in the richest nations on earth there are people who go hungry, do not have a roof over their head. People who struggle to make ends meet.
There are a myriad of reasons a person is poor. The reasons are unimportant. The important thing is that we are commanded by God to help the poor.
In the Talmud we read.
Rabbi Akiba was asked by a Roman general, “Why does your God who loves the needy not provide for their support Himself?” He answered, “God the Father of both the rich and poor, wants the one to help the other so as to make the world a household of love.” The Talmud.
I think there is an important moral point here for Christians and for that matter all of us. I firmly believe morally we have a responsibility to help the poor. If we own a business we have a moral obligation to pay a living wage to employees.
Likewise there is a case for everyone to support a business that pays its employees well, offers good benefits and a good working environment.
We should as individuals do our best to support charities that help the poor.
In proverbs we read,
“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.”Proverbs 19:17.
The gospel of Matthew records Jesus as saying,
“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, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’”Matthew 25:44-45.
The Apostle Paul writing,
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”Galatians 6:9.
Please think about it.
Don't grow weary
The apostle Paul writes,
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”Galatians 6:9.
This is a simple admonition from the apostle Paul. “Let us not grow weary of doing good”.
A young Jewish girl, Anne Frank, in hiding, in fear for her life during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands wrote in her diary.
“Give of yourself, give as much as you can? And you can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness! If everyone were to do this and not be as mean with a kindly word, then there would be much more justice and love in the world. Give and you shall receive, much more than you would have ever thought possible. Give, give again and again, don’t lose courage, keep it up and go on giving! No one has ever become poor from giving!” Anne Frank.
When I read these words of this young girl living every day in fear for her life I am always amazed that she could write these words. If anyone had a reason to cry out for vengeance against those who were persecuting them certainly Anne had.
Anne is not alone. I read and hear first hand accounts of Christians around the world today who are being persecuted, physically and verbally abused, even sent to prison, for their belief in Christ Jesus, who call out asking the world to pray for their persecutors. To show the Love of God to them.
Men and women who are following the what Jesus said,
"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you....
Do to others as you would have them do to you....
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”Luke 6:27,28,31,36 Question: Are you doing this?
Note to Christians a note to us all
In the book of Matthew we read,
“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.
Jesus makes things absolutely clear here. Helping the hungry, the poor, those in prison, the needy, the stranger, even giving someone a drink of water will receive a heavenly reward. Not doing so has “adverse effects”.
I believe one of the traits of a true believer in Christ Jesus is their compassion. A Christians faith spurs them on to do good works. To help someone in any way they can.
So my question to anyone reading this who claims to be a Christian. Who claims to be a follower of Christ Jesus; Do you do what you can to help those in need?
Take a close look at your words and deeds. Be honest with yourself. Ask yourself when I stand before God will I hear,
“Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.’
Or will you hear,
“Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
Please think about it.
Lend to The Lord
In the book of proverbs we read,
“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.” Proverbs 19:17.
Do you lend to The Lord? Are you kind to the poor?
Take a look in any city in the world and you will see people living on the street. They are there for a myriad of reason, mental illness, addiction to drugs or just simply not earning enough to be able to keep a roof over their head.
In every city there are also the “hidden poor”. These are people working in low paying jobs who have a place to live but sadly have to decide each week whether to pay the rent, or buy food.
Christians historically do help the poor. There are many Christian agencies, churches, and individuals that do a lot to help those in need.
Christians however have a lot to learn from our Jewish friends who have a custom or obligation, they called “Tzedakah”. According to one Jewish website,
“The word “tzedakah” is derived form the Hebrew root Tzadei-dalet-Qof, meaning righteousness, justice or fairness. In Judaism giving to the poor is not viewed as a generous, magnanimous act, it is simply and act of righteousness, performance of a duty giving the poor their due."
Tzedakah is an obligation in Judaism.
"The obligation to perform tzedakah can be fulfilled by giving money to the poor, to health care institutions, to Synagogues or educational institutions. It can also be fulfilled by supporting your children beyond the age when you are legally required to, or supporting your parents in their old age. The obligation includes giving both to Jews and gentiles...”
Thus my questions;
Do you lend to The Lord?
Are you kind to the poor?
Do you give the poor their due?
Please think about it.
Can you say with confidence...
In the gospel of Matthew we read of this conversation between Jesus and a rich young 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.
If you are a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus do you think you could give up everything you have and follow Jesus by faith?
Now here’s another question. Many evangelist especially here in North America are wealthy; of the ones you know and support, do you think they could give up all their wealth and follow Jesus relying only on their faith in God to supply their basic needs?
We as followers of Christ Jesus are called to have complete faith in God to supply our needs. While being rich is not a sin and there are many wealthy people within the church that do great good with their wealth. Love of money can cause problems. The apostle Paul stating,
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:10.
In the book of Hebrews we read,
“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5,6.
Can you say with confidence “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid”?
Please think about it.
Called to do good
Isaiah the prophet said,
“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.” Isaiah 1:17.
Sadly I feel here in North America there are many Christians who do not follow what Isaiah is saying here. This has been especially true during the last four years in America. Compassion for the poor, fatherless, widows and oppressed has been lacking.
Politicians calling themselves Christians and even some calling themselves Christian leaders have refused to use their position to help those in need.
I like what Tony Campolo the American evangelist said,
“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.” Tony Campolo.
This is what we as believers in Christ Jesus should be doing. For in showing the love of God in very practical ways we will win souls for Christ.
Please think about it.
As one approved
In the book of Genesis we read,
“So God created man in his own image,
In the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.”
Genesis 1:26, 27.
We are created according to scripture in the image of God. However there are some within the Church especially here in North America that are making God in their image.
They are picking and choosing scriptures to make God conform to what they believe. And in doing so, sadly, they are leading people astray.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“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
As someone said to me, “the wolves are not outside the church these days. Many are within the church aiming to destroy it from within.
As Christians we need to watch out for those who are misusing scripture. Men and women who are heretics.
The apostle Paul tells us,
“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.
In order to do this we need to read the Bible for ourselves, pray and ask God to show us the truths that are in the Bible.
We need to heed the words of the apostle Paul who wrote,
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 2Timothy 2:15.
Please think about it.
Keep this in mind.
Jesus is quoted as saying,
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:37.
Jesus said,
“Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.”
Matthew 5:7
James the half brother of Jesus wrote,
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgement!” James 2:12,13.
These are scriptures we as believers in Christ Jesus need to keep in mind when we are interacting with those around us.
Please think about it.
If Possible
The apostle Paul wrote,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you,
live at peace with everyone.”
Romans 12:18.
Do you? Do you live at peace with those around you, especially those whom you most vehemently disagree with?
There are many here in North America where I live who claim to be Christians but go around picking fights with anyone they disagree with. This should not be.
Jesus and the apostles never picked fights with those outside of their Jewish faith. Paul never demanded changes to Roman law. Nor did any other disciple of Christ.
They like we today lived in a multicultural society where there were many beliefs and practices that they would not have liked. Yet they never spoke against them.
Even when the apostle Paul was asked to speak at the Areopagus (Acts 17:17-34) in Athens he never spoke against the beliefs of those around him
As a result people listened to his message and some were saved.
Paul and the other disciples kept on script. No matter what situation they found themselves in they did their best to live at peace with those around them and present the Gospel of Christ.
Are you doing this?
Please think about it.
I Will
The Psalmist writes,
"I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
My soul will boast in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together."
Psalm 34:1-3.
Do you do this? Do you “extol the LORD at all times”?
I am always amazed at the reports that I read from Christians around the world that live under persecution or are in jail for their faith in Christ Jesus. These brothers and sisters in Christ some in very bad situations keep their faith and praise the Lord.
It reminds me of Paul and Silas who were in prison. The book of acts recording,
“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.” Acts 16:25.
In what for Paul and Silas must have been a very bad time they prayed and sung hymns to God. Such a thing should be an example to us who live in freedom.
As Christians who live in freedom we should always remember to pray and praise God no matter what situation we are in.
Thus my question to you the reader; Do you pray and give praise to God at the very least daily?
Please think about it.
A Lesson from Jesus Freaks
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
Way back in the seventies I met up with a group of Christians that to say the least were outside the norm of the day, Jesus Freaks, the hippy version of Christianity. Meeting them changed the direction of my life.
They were odd an odd lot, at least from the mainstream churches. In the fact they, when it came to worshipping God they did things that were in some churches taboo. They worshipped God in dance, they sang and praised God using guitars, tambourines, drums and any other instruments they could play. They sang songs that were not in the hymnals. And they did all this while in blue jeans and tee shirts. Quite the opposite to many churches who expected people to come in their Sunday best outfits.
The Jesus Freaks I hung out with were young most of us in our late teens to late twenties. They accepted everyone at face value. Loving them and teaching them about Jesus. Something many church congregations at the time did not do, unless you conformed to unimportant things like wearing your Sunday best clothing and following a carved in stone ritual.
Above all they didn’t judge anyone. They let Holy Spirit convict people of their sins. All they did was Love and present the word of God.
They believed 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.
And the two most important things when it comes to doing to others as you would have them do to you, they and I today believe is to show and present the Love of God to those around you without judging them.
As the late American Evangelist Billy Graham put it.
“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict,
God’s job to judge
and my job to love,”
Billy Graham
This is a lesson that individual Christians and church congregations today can learn from the whole Jesus freak movement of the past.
Please think about it.
A daily thing
“Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long.” Psalm 25:4,5.
Here is something we as believers in Christ Jesus need to be praying daily. It’s a simple request to God to lead us into truth.
In a world filled with half truths, and out and out lies both from outside the church and from those espousing to be Christians we need God guidance daily.
We need to be praying and reading the word of God daily so that we know the paths God is leading us in.
Are you spending to quality time in the word of God?
Are you taking quality time to pray and ask God of guidance?
Is your hope truly in God?
Please think about it.
Doing Good
Isaiah the prophet said,
“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.” Isaiah 1:17.
Sadly I feel here in North America there are many Christians who do not follow what Isaiah is saying here. This has been especially true during the last four years in America. Compassion for the poor, fatherless, widows and oppressed has been lacking.
Politicians calling themselves Christians and even some calling themselves Christian leaders have refused to use their position to help those in need.
I like what Tony Campolo the American evangelist said,
“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.” Tony Campolo.
This is what we as believers in Christ Jesus should be doing. For in showing the love of God in very practical ways we will win souls for Christ.
Please think about it.
Love says it all
Jesus said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16,17.
In the book of Proverbs we read,
“Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.”
Proverbs 3:3,4.
Love says it all. If we are faithful and love God. The love of God will radiate through us to those around us.
As a result of our love and faithfulness to God as the proverb states, we will win favour and a good name in the sight of God and man.
Thus my questions to you;
Are you faithful to God?
Is the love you have in your life the unconditional love of God?
Do you show this Love to the world around you?
Please think about it.
What shall I cry?
Isaiah the prophet wrote,
"A voice says, "Cry out." And I said, "What shall I cry?"
"All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.
The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass.
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40:6-8.
Let’s face it you are not going to live forever. No matter how good your health is you will one day die. So the question becomes, where will you spend eternity?
If you’re an atheist you might say you just cease to exist. You don’t live on in eternity. But what if the atheist is wrong as I believe they are?
In order to know for sure that God does not exist and that you don’t live on into eternity. You have to have all knowledge and have been everywhere. And we know that no one in this life has come back from beyond the grave to tell us what it is like.
Blaise Pascal wrote,
“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.
That belief in God however has to be true belief. Not just an intellectual belief. The writer of Hebrews states,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope
for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1.
Jesus said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16,17.
So what do you believe?
Please think about it.
What are you doing?
The apostle Paul wrote,
“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:18-20.
If you consider yourself a Christian are you truly an ambassador for Christ?
An ambassador is someone who represents his or her nation or king. It is through the lense of the ambassador that people see their nation.
Paul here tells us that through us God is making His appeal to those around us.
Francis of Assisi wrote,
Preach the Gospel at all times
and when necessary use words.
Francis of Assisi
He also wrote,
“The deeds you do
may be the only sermon some persons will hear today”
Francis of Assisi.
If you claim to be a Christian a follower of Christ Jesus then people are watching not only your words but your deeds also.
Your deeds and words have the power to bring people to Christ or push them away.
So what are your words and deeds doing? What are you doing?
Please think about it.
