Not our way

  Not our way

The apostle Paul wrote,

"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.

On the day Jesus was crucified Luke’s gospel records,

"The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One." Luke 23:35.

To a people looking for liberation from the Roman boot. Looking for a saviour to get them from under Roman oppression. Jesus hanging on the cross didn’t fit the bill.

The Jews of Jesus’ day were looking for a conquering  Messiah to lead them, victory over their oppressors, not a suffering Messiah.

What they, and people today fail to see is that God does not work the way man works. Lets face it most people living under oppression long for the day a leader arrises to free them. Usually by force of arms.

Jesus was totally the opposite of this. He died to make us free. Not necessarily in physical way. But rather spiritually.

Jesus is God reaching down to man.

The apostle Paul writing,

"But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit" Titus 3:4,5.

The apostle Paul writing to Timothy states,

"Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." 2 Timothy 4:8.

Jesus speaking of Himself said,

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16. 

Thus the question becomes; Do you believe in Jesus?

Please before you answer that question take time to not just read the New Testament but study it. Taking time to Pray and ask God to show you the truth about Jesus.

Please think about it.

Advice from a Christian Grandpa

  Advice from a Christian grandpa

A short while ago I was encouraged to write some words of advice to my grandchildren. The words I wrote I believe is good advice for everyone.

One make sure you truly are in a right relationship with God. Make sure you are not just reading the Bible but studying it. So that you know what is right in Gods sight for you. 

DON'T be a follower of some fancy pastor or evangelist. Follow the words of the apostle Paul when he said,

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." 2Timothy 2:15.

Men and women are imperfect and there are many pastors and evangelist out there who have strayed from the truth and are preaching simply to make themselves rich often at the expense of the poor. Stay away from them.

Secondly do what you can to help those in need. Follow the words written in the book of James that states,

"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.    If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." James 2:14-17.

Simply put let your faith spur you to good works.

Be what the Jews call a tzaddik.  This is the simplest definition I can find,

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....

  Giving to the poor is an obligation in Judaism, a duty that cannot be forsaken even by those who are themselves in need. Some sages have said that tzedakah is the highest of all commandments, equal to all of them combined, and that a person who does not perform tzedaka is equivalent to an idol worshipper...

According to Jewish law, we are required to give one-tenth of our income to the poor. Although those in need do not necessarily need to give this much. And one should never give so much as to make one in need of financial help.

Thirdly have adventures! Don’t just stay near where you were born. Travel (take your faith with you and if you get a chance to share it, do so. Share it however, never force it on anyone.). 

    Explore not just your own country but others. Learn as much as you can about other cultures and ways of life. Judge no one.

Live life to the fullest. Follow the advice of the apostle Paul who wrote,

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." Romans 12:18

And always follow 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. 

                                              Please think about it.

With your whole heart

  With your whole heart

The apostle Paul wrote,

"Devote yourselves to prayer, 

being watchful and thankful." 

                                      Colossians  4:2

Writing to the Romans Paul said,

"Be joyful in hope, 

patient in affliction, 

faithful in prayer."

                                 Romans 12:12  

In the book of Jeremiah we read,

“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

If you claim to be a Christian. A true believer in Christ Jesus. Do you pray?

Prayer takes us to the very thrown room of God. It puts us in touch with the Creator of the universe and as such helps us through each day.

So if you are a Christian. A true believer in Christ Jesus are you truly praying with your whole heart?

Please think about it.

A Christians duty

 A Christians Duty

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.

As Christians. As believers in Christ Jesus we have a divine duty to our fellow men. 

If we truly believe the words of Jesus who said,

“Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6.

Then we should strive to present the Gospel Message to those around us. If we believe that we truly know the way to heaven. Then we have a duty to tell others.

And I stress here “we should present the Gospel”. We are called to present the gospel message. Not force it on people. And we are certainly Not to judge others. Especially when it come to where they will spent eternity. That is Gods job not ours.

So if you consider yourself to be a true follower of Christ Jesus are you presenting the gospel message to those around you?

Please think about it.

God the Church and you

 God the Church and you

In the Gospel of John we read,

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

He was with God in the beginning. 

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

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

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

This is a cornerstone scripture for all true Christians. Jesus here is called “The Word”and John makes it clear that Jesus and God are one.

There is a work called The Apostles Creed. Now while this was not written by and apostle of Christ it sums up what True believers in Christ Jesus believe. It states,

I believe in God the Father the almighty maker of heaven and earth

I believe in Jesus Christ God’s on and only Son, our Lord and Saviour.

I believe Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary

 I believe Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate; 

That He was Crucified, died, was buried. That he descended in hell.

I believe He rose again on the third day from the dead.

 I believe that he ascended into heaven 

and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.

I believe Jesus will one day Judge the living and the dead.

 I believe in the Holy Ghost

I believe in the Church which is the communion of the saints,

 I believe in the forgiveness of sin.

I believe in the resurrection of the body.

 I believe in life everlasting.

Do you believe this?

Please think about it.

God, you, and your children

 God, you and your children 

In the book of Deuteronomy we read,

"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  

These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  

Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."  Deuteronomy 6:5-7

The late evangelist Billy Graham said,

“The greatest legacy one can pass on to one's children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one's life, but rather a legacy of character and faith.” Billy Graham.

If you claim to be a Christian. A true believer in Christ Jesus do you believe this? More importantly, are you doing this?

Please think about it.

Focus

  Focus

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.

The American evangelist Tony Campolo wrote,

“Let us preach Christ, let us be faithful to proclaiming the Gospel, but let's leave judgment in the hands of God.” Tony Campolo.

My question to anyone reading this who claims to be a true follower of Christ Jesus is, are you doing this?

Are you making sure you are not judging those around you?

Are you focusing on what Jesus commanded us to do when He 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.

Please think about it. 

Surely people are grass

  Surely people are grass

The Prophet Isaiah writes,

"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.

We humans are a frail bunch. The strongest person in the world. The healthiest person in the world have usually past on to eternity before their hundred tenth birthday. 

All of our accomplishments if we are lucky will be written down in a history book destined to accumulate dust on a shelf. Or lost among the myriad of information on the world wide web.

Who remembers good men like William Hamilton Merritt (July 3rd 1793-July 5th 1862) People living around the Niagara region in Canada see his name on many things but do they know who he is and what he did?

Who remembers Charles Lightoller (30 March 1874 – 8 December 1952). If they remember him from the Titanic. Do they even know he rescued  127 British servicemen from the beaches of Dunkirk during world war two in addition to doing other things for the British Admiralty during world war two.

We might remember Guglielmo Marcon (April 25, 1874-July 20, 1937) or Albert Einstein ( March 14, 1879-April 18, 1955) but how many of us know what the full extent of their contribution to human history was?

While these men in their own way were great. Their flowers have faded with the passing of time. 

That being said the word on God is still standing. The Bible is being read daily by billions of people world wide. That despite some governments trying to prevent it.

“Surely the people are grass.” says Isaiah, “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." 

Please think about it.

Money God and your faith

 Money God and your faith

Jesus told this parable,

"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.  

At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores  and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 

"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried.  

In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  

So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' 

"But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.  

And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.' 

"He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house,  

for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' 

"Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' 

" ‘No, father Abraham,' he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' 

"He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' " Luke 16:19-31

Before I proceed. There is nothing wrong with being rich and having a lot of money. The apostle Paul makes it clear,

“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.

The problem is the emphasis you put on the riches you have and how you use them. In the scenario above the rich man apparently had no compassion on poor Lazarus. His life was wrapped up in his wealth.

He even it seemed had turned away from his faith.

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....

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money” Matthew 16:19-21,24.

So where is you faith?

Please think about it.

A decision to make

  A decision to make

In the book of Ecclesiastes we read,

"I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labour. 

Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun." 

"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 

For God will bring every deed into judgement, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil."Ecclesiastes 12:10-14. 

If you think about it. If all that there is, is this life. If all we are to do is live for a handful of years, then procreate die. Life is meaningless. 

On the other hand if life is eternal and this life is just the start of a journey through eternity. Then we should at least think of where we will spend that eternity. 

Now many would say we can’t determine where we will spend eternity. That is not so if we who believe in Christ Jesus are correct. 

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.

Each individual however must decide for themselves if what Jesus is saying is true. Then if they believe they must take the next step. 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.  Romans 10: 9,10.

Please think about it.

Chasing them away

 Chasing them away

In the book of Mark we read,

"While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.  

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 2:15-17

In the Talmud we read,

“An aged man, whom Abraham hospitality invited to his tent, refused to join him in prayer to the one spiritual God.  Learning that he was a fire-worshipper.   Abraham drove him from his door.  That night God appeared to Abraham in a vision and said: ‘I have borne with that ignorant man for seventy years: could you not have patiently suffered him one night?” The Talmud.

Now while the Talmud is not a Christian book the illustration given here of Abraham chasing away a non-believer, illustrates what a lot of Christians do. They drive people from Christ.

Jesus as recorded in Matthew 28:18-20, makes it clear that we as His followers are to make disciples. Teaching them what He has taught us.

The only way we can do this is if we sit with sinners and don’t judge them. It’s that simple.

Our job is to present the gospel message of salvation through Christ Jesus. To tell unbelievers the same thing the apostle Paul wrote about,

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6-8.

Paul also 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.”  Romans 10: 9,10.

When you interact with those around you are you telling them this message or are your words and deeds chasing them away?

Please think about it.

The greatest of all light

  The greatest of all light

The apostle John writes,

“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.  

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.  

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

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:8-11

There is a Lebanese Prayer that states,

“O God, Creator of Light:

at the rising

of your sun this morning,

let the greatest of all light,

your love,

rise like the sun within our hearts.

Amen.”

Is the Love of God truly in your heart today?

Please think about it.

Jesus and God

 Jesus and God

In John’s gospel we read,

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

He was with God in the beginning. 

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

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

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

Here in a nut shell is what Christians believe. We believe that God made the heavens and the earth. But we do not stop there. We believe that Jesus and God are one. That God in the form of Jesus entered the world He created to point mankind to heaven.

The apostle John tells us Jesus said,

"I and the Father are one." John 10:30.

The apostle Paul explains 

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 

    Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6-8.

That being said neither I or anyone else can force you to believe this. 

As Yeshayahu Leibowitz, a Judaic scholar and professor of biochemistry said,

“You can ‘t force people to do what they don't want to do, to feel what they don't feel.  If someone wills one thing, you cannot tell it to will another.  It has to come from within.” Yeshayahu Leibowitz.

So what do you believe?

Turning from

 Turning from

The Psalmist writes,

"I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;

 before the "gods" 

I will sing your praise.”

                                     Psalm 138:1.

Whether we like to admit it or not there are a lot of gods in twenty-first century society. Money, possessions, even adoration of sports, entertainment, and political figures to name a few.

As believers in Christ Jesus. As true Christians we need to shun these gods. 

We need to be praising our God. The LORD of lords and King of kings. The LORD GOD ALMIGHTY. 

Are you doing this? 

Are you turning from the gods of this world and praising THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY?

Please think about it.

Come Praise the Lord!

  Come Praise the Lord!

The Psalmist writes,

“Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD 

who minister by night in the house of the LORD. 

Lift up your hands in the sanctuary 

and praise the LORD. 

May the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth,

 bless you from Zion. Psalm” 

                                                    134:1-3.

If you are a believer in Christ Jesus. If you claim to be a true Christian will you take time now to Praise The Lord?

Please don’t just think about it. Do it!

Look out

   Look out

"Let each of you look not only to your own interests, 

but also to the interests of others."

                                                                  Philippians 2:4.

I live in Canada and since the pandemic hit I have heard many Christians say, “I’m not taking the vaccine that’s my right.”.

And it is there right. In Canada everyone has the freedom to choose to do as they wish. 

Christians however have a duty to those around them to look out for the interest of others. And if that means taking a safe vaccine so be it.

The pandemic and vaccine aside. Christians have a duty to those around them the help those in need. Especially those brothers and sisters in the church.

So, especially if you live in one of the worlds true democracies, are you looking out for those around you?

Please think about it.

Jesus flips it

 Jesus flips it 

In the gospel of Mark we read,

“Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." Mark 9:35.

Do you have a servants heart?

If you consider yourself a Christian, a true believer in Christ Jesus do you truly have a servants heart? Do you do your best to help those around you to the extent you are able?

How about the ministries, pastors, evangelist and even politicians you support, do they truly serve others?

One of the many ways a person shows they are a true believer in Christ Jesus is by being a servant. 

There are many in our world today who believe the greatest person is the wealthiest, or most successful in business or in politics. In Christianity that is not so. Jesus himself flips that idea around, saying.

“If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and servant of all”

Is this you?

Please think about it.

The rights of the poor

 The rights of the poor

"A righteous man knows the rights of the poor; a wicked man does not understand such knowledge."Proverbs 29:7.

Here’s something those calling themselves Christians should think about. In Jewish law there is a thing called Tzedakah.

Here’s a definition I got from a 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....

Giving to the poor is an obligation in Judaism, a duty that cannot be forsaken even by those who are themselves in need. 

Some sages have said that tzedakah is the highest of all commandments, equal to all of them combined, and that a person who does not perform tzedaka is equivalent to an idol worshipper..."

I believe this is what James meant when he wrote,

"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

I believe Christians from every walk of life, especially if they are materially blessed, a politician, or a pastor or an evangelist has a duty to help the poor.

Are you doing what you can to help the poor?

Please think about it.

Apart from God

Apart from God

The Psalmist states,

“You are my Lord; 

apart from you I have no good thing.”

                                               Psalm 16:2

If you consider yourself a true believer in Christ Jesus can you truly say what the Psalmist is saying here?

Please think about it.

Justice, Love, Kindness

  Justice, Love, and Kindness

The Prophet Micah said,

“He (God) has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8.

This is for many people hard to do. It’s very easy to see the wrong someone does. Many people who call themselves Christians are quick to point out the sin someone is committing.

This is not what God wants of all those who call themselves Christian. Of those who claim to be true followers of Christ Jesus.

Yes it’s true the apostle Paul said,

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23.

But you’re not going to win a soul to Christ if you don’t first show justice, love, and kindness to those around you.

When a person sees you love them and do not judge them. It is they will listen to you and the Holy Spirit can work in their lives.

The late evangelist Billy Graham once said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God's job to judge

 and my job to love,” 

                                 Billy Graham.

If a person is honest with themselves they will know they are not perfect. They know more than anyone else the mistakes they make. They know they sin Not only that many people hang on and quite often brood over their mistakes.

As Christians it is our job to show Gods love to them and remind them of what the apostle John said,

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."1John 1:9.

If you consider yourself a true follower of Christ Jesus are you doing this?

Please think about it.

Will be saved

 Will be saved

The apostle Paul writes,

"for all have sinned 

and fall short of the glory of God," 

                                             Romans 3:23.

The encyclopaedia Britannica states, 

“Sin, moral evil considered from a religious standpoint. Sin is regarded in Judaism and Christianity as a deliberate and purposeful violation of the will of God”.

It is something we all have done at one time or another. 

Sin separates us from God. Thus God sent Christ Jesus to pay the price for our sins and open the door to heaven. The apostle Paul writing,

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

The apostle John writes,

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  

If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” 1John 1:9-10.

The apostle Paul stating 

“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? If so have you confessed your sins to God? Have you accepted Jesus Christ into your life?

Please think about it.

Leave Judgement to God

  Leave judgement to God

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.

If you are a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus, do you judge other people? If you see someone with a lifestyle you disagree with do you judge them?

According to what Jesus is reported to say in the above quote from Luke’s gospel you shouldn’t be judging anyone.

When we judge someone outside our faith we give them the right to judge us. 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.

The American Evangelist Tony Campolo said,

“Let us preach Christ, let us be faithful to proclaiming the Gospel, but let's leave judgement in the hands of God.” Tony Campolo.

So if you believe in Christ Jesus if you claim to be a Christian are you doing this?

Please think about it.

A Sacred Duty

   A Sacred Duty

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 Christians. We who believe in Jesus Christ have a sacred duty to perform. A responsibility to God, to point people to heaven. To make disciples for Christ. It is that simple. 

We must do our best to present the gospel of Christ to those around us in a loving and caring way.

Thus the question becomes; If you consider yourself a true follower of Christ Jesus are you doing your best to present the Gospel message to those around you?

Please think about it.

A Mote of celestial dust

   A mote of celestial dust

"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

         Above it a picture taken by the Voyager space craft from a distance of 6 billion Kilometres, (4 billion miles).

Carl Sagan said,

"From this distant vantage point, the Earth might not seem of any particular interest. But for us, it's different. Consider again that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there – on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam." Carl Sagan.

What amazes me more than this is that God chose to set foot on that pail blue dot in the form of His One and Only Son, Jesus Christ. And He did so to point mankind to Heaven.  Jesus speaking of Himself said,

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

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  

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.

Believe it or not.

Please think about it.

I Know

  I know

"The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands." 

                                                                     Psalm 19:1

When it comes to Gods existence, God wants us to have faith that He exists. But I don’t believe He expects blind faith.

Ben Zion Bokser writes,

"I have not seen the robin but I know he is there because I heard him singing through my window from the tree-top outside.

I have not seen God.  But I have looked at my child's eyes, and have been overwhelmed by the miracle of unfolding life.

I have watched the trees bedeck themselves with new garbs of green in the spring, and have been stirred by the miracle of continual rebirth.

I have looked at the stars, and have been overcome by the miracle of the grandeur and majesty of the universe.

I know that God exists, because I have heard the song of His presence from all the tree-tops of creation." Ben Zion Bokser.

The more science reveals to us about the world, indeed the universe around us. The more they are discovering that it is created in such away as to allow life to exist as we know it.

Stephen Hawking one of the greatest minds of the twentieth century said,

“The universe and the laws of physics seem to have been specifically designed for us" Stephen Hawking.

William Philips Nobel prize winning Physicist, said.

“I believe in God more because of science than in spite of it"William Philips.

Werner Heisenberg father of Quantum Mechanics Nobel prize in physics notes,

“The first gulp from the glass of natural science will make you an atheist, but at the bottom of the glass God is waiting for you" Werner Heisenberg.

These men who are far more knowledgeable than me have come to the realization that God exists through their work in science.

That being said there are many out there who don’t believe the science. They simply have the idea that God doesn’t exist, which is their right.

The question is do you believe God exists?

Please think about it.

Love is

  Love is

The apostle Paul writes,

"Love is patient, love is kind. 

It does not envy, it does not boast, 

it is not proud.  

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

 it is not easily angered, 

it keeps no record of wrongs. 

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

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

Love never fails....

                                                1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

In 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.

Question: If you claim to be a Christian, a true believer in Christ Jesus, are you showing the Love of God to those around you.

Is the love you show to those around you, the love the apostle Paul describes? 

Please think about it.

It's about

  Its about

In Lukes gospel we read,

“In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.  

A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.  

So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.  

But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.  

He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him.  

The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,' he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' 

"Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" 

The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."” Luke 10:30-37.

Who is your neighbour? 

This morning the devotional I read asked the question, “who has helped you in your life?” It caused me to think. There have been so many. Over the years I’ve gone through a lot, and Praise God He’s been there for me. God has brought many people to help me get through the hard times. People who in some cases hardly knew me.

People who’ve set an example to me and my family as to how a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus should live.

Being a Christian is not about becoming rich or powerful. Being a Christian is about following the example of Jesus. It’s about being a good Samaritan. Helping people less fortunate than yourself in any way you can. Even if that’s just giving a dollar or two to the Salvation Army at Christmas. Or giving a few dollars to someone who is homeless on the street. Or to any good cause that helps people.

It’s also about pointing the way in word, and in deed to Christ and the Salvation He offers. 

Please think about it.

Your life and lifestyle

 your life and lifestyle

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

The writer of Hebrews wrote,

“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 Paul wrote,

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.

As Christians we have an obligation to be doing what the above scriptures are telling us to do. People need to see our lives filled with love for all people even our enemies.

Unfortunately way to many people claiming to be Christians do not exhibit these attributes toward others. They have become bad religious copies of the world. 

Billy Graham said,

“Those outside the church expect followers of Christ to live differently, 

yet today many in church are chasing after the world - 

not to win them, but to be like them.”

                                                    Billy Graham. 

This should not be so.

Francis of Assisi said,

“The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon 

some persons will hear today” 

                                            Francis of Assisi.

If you claim to be Christian take some time to assess your life, lifestyle and actions toward those around you. Ask yourself, What is my sermon telling the those around me about me. About Christ.

Please think about it.

Perhaps faith

  Perhaps faith

“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.  

For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” 

Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?  

For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.  

Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  

For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.”1 Corinthians 1:18-25

The above is what Christians believe. We present to the world a Saviour that is the Son of God. A Suffering Messiah.

We ask people to believe by faith that Jesus is the One and Only Son of God. That he came to earth died, was buried, rose from the dead, walked the earth briefly, before ascending to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father.

We ask people to believe in the trinity, The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one being existing in three parts.

These are hard things to accept. Yet they are the basics of Christianity.

They are truths that a true seeker of God will find to be true if they read the Bible.

 It however takes faith. The writer of Hebrews stating,

“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

And faith, especially in someone or something we cannot see is the hardest thing for anyone to do. Perhaps that is why God asks us to have faith in Him.

Please think about it

In good times and in bad times

 In good times and in bad

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.

If nothing else the New Testament shows Jesus and his apostles experienced all that it is to be human. They attended weddings. The followed the rules set down in the Torah. They interacted with people of all walks of life.

They were also beaten, thrown in prison all but one dying for their faith. Yet through all of this they praised God. They praised him not only in the good times, but after they’d been beaten and while they were in prison.

They praised God because they knew that even in their darkest hour God was with them. 

How about you; do you praise God in the good times and in the bad?

Please think about it.