You must Believe

 You must Believe

The apostle Paul writes,

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8,9.

The apostle Paul writing to the Romans states,

"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.

As Christians we believe that Jesus is the way to heaven. We believe that is by the grace of God we get to heaven. Through belief in His one and Only Son Christ Jesus.

Getting to heaven is not guaranteed. It takes an act of faith on the part of the individual. A person must believe in God in order to be saved. 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.

Please think about it. 

The Christian Mission

  The Christian Mission

The apostle Paul also 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 Corinthians5:18-20

The apostle Paul could not have made things more clear. If you consider yourself a true Christian your job is to help reconcile people to God.

Our job is to reach people for Christ. To show the love of Christ Jesus to those around us. To tell them

"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. 

If you say you are a Christian and are doing less than this it is time to reconsider what you truly believe.

Please think about it.

The Test

  The test

The apostle John writes,

"Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.  

He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.  

No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.  

This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother." 1 John 3:7-10.

Here is if you will the litmus test for someone who claims to be Christian.

1/ He does right.

2/ He does not sin.

John making it clear,

“This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother." 1 John 3:10.

The way I see it this is how we should judge anyone who claims to be a Christian.

Please think about it.

Christs reason for coming

 Christs reason for coming

Jesus said,

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:10,12.

Here put simply Jesus gives his reason for coming to this world. To lay his life down for his sheep.

The apostle Paul writes,

"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.

Sin is falling short of God’s ideal for us. Sin separates us from God.

God knew that we could not live a life good enough to be with Him that is why he sent Jesus,

Paul stating

“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 stating,

"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.

Do you believe this?

Please think about it.

He is

 He is

In John’s gospel we read,

"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.

In my previous two blogs I have written about who Jesus claimed to be and who his disciples believe him to be.

In this blog post I tell about what Martha a friend of Jesus believed Him to be and she makes it clear. She believes Him to be,

"I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world,".

So again as in my previous postings I ask you to consider who you believe Jesus to be?

I would however ask that before you make your decision. You read the New Testament and see for yourself what the writes of the New Testament believed Him to be.

Please think about it.

God's Son

 God's Son

In Matthews Gospel we read,

“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.  Matthew 16:13-17.

In my previous blog. I said Jesus claimed to be God incarnate. Today’s scripture reading is a conversation between Jesus and His disciples. Here Jesus asks them who do they believe Him to be. To which Peter answers,

“You are the Christ the Son of the living God”.

Keep in mind these men had sat under the teachings of Jesus for a number of years. They knew him personally and as such were in a position to judge who He was.

So either they were deceived or Jesus is the Son of the living God. God incarnate.

This is a choice people hearing about Jesus today must make. Either he is the son of God, God in the flesh, or he is not?

Please think about it.

Is He or is He not?

  Is He or is He not?

John's gospel records this incident in the life of Jesus. John writes,

"Then came the lire 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.

Jesus was no dummy. He knew the Jewish law of the day. He knew what the penalty for blasphemy was, yet He still maintained to be God incarnate.

Which to me means anyone reading this portion of scripture has a black and white decision to be made. 

Either Jesus was and is who he says he is. OR He is a monumental lier in all of history. One nearly three billion people around the world today, and millions more throughout history have believed.

Thus the question for you dear reader is do you believe Jesus is who He said He is or not?

Please think about it.

Do you trust?

 Do you trust?

In the book of Proverbs we read,

“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.

C. S. Lewis wrote,

"Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God." C. S. Lewis.

Personally I think this is easier said than done. That being said, I believe God wanted it that way. In the book of Hebrews we read,

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for

 and certain of what we do not see."  

                                                           Hebrews 11:1

People who have faith in someone or something are the strongest of followers. A true follower will quite literally go to the grave for what he or she believes in.

Thus it should be for followers of Christ Jesus. For followers of God.

If you claim to be a Christian, a true follower of Christ Jesus, are you willing to go to your grave for Him?

Please think carefully about it.

Do people see God in you?

  Do people see God in you?

The apostle Peter writes,

“If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1Peter 4:11.

What Peter is saying here is; If you are a Christian your life should always reflect God. So that God may be praised. 

Thus the question becomes, If you are a Christian a true believer in Christ Jesus, is your life reflecting God?

When people see your deeds and here your words, do they see the Love of God reflected in them?

Please think about it.

Do they see it?

  Do they see it?

In the book of Ephesians we read,

“I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”

                                                                                                      Ephesians 4:1.

If you consider yourself a Christian a true follower of Christ Jesus, do you live a life worthy of Him?

When people see your life do they see the fruit of the spirit?

The fruit of the spirit being listed in the book of Galatians as,

love, 

joy, 

peace, 

patience, 

kindness, 

goodness, 

faithfulness,  

gentleness...

self-control.... 

Galatians 5:22.

Do people see these fruits in your words and deeds?

Please think about it.

Their Stronghold

  Their Stronghold

The Psalmist writes,

"The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; 

he is their stronghold in time of trouble." 

                                                                      Psalm 37:39

We many go through a lot in life but if we put our trust in God, He will be there for us in our time of trouble.

That being said it takes a man or woman of faith to truly trust God in the hard times of life.

Do you trust God in both the good times and hard times of life?

Please think about it.

Treat others

  Treat others

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.

This is something I live by. We must be willing to treat others the way we would like to be treated. By doing so we can reach the world for Christ. If we fail to do so we risk turning people away from Christ.

Question. Do you treat people the way you like to be treated?

Please think about it.

A Believers Pledge

  A Believers Pledge

I’ve listened with interest and disgust over the last little while at the debates in political circles around the world but particularly in the United States. 

Sadly it seems hate and prejudges seems to be flooding into our society from all directions. Even men and women calling themselves Christians are being drawn into it.

With that in mind I felt prompted to write this the Believers Pledge.

As a believer in Christ Jesus,

I pledge...

To Love.

I Pledge...

As far as it depends on me...

To live at peace with all people.

I Pledge...

Never, Never, Never! To attack anyone...

Physically, or verbally.

Even if I vehemently disagree with them in any way.

I Pledge...

Never to demean anyone.

No matter their race, their ethnicity, their religion, or their lifestyle.

I Pledge...

As far as humanly possible,

To uphold the dignity of all whom I come in contact with.

I Pledge...

To obey the words of Christ Jesus who said,

“So in everything, do to others what you would have others do to you

for this sums up the law and the prophets.” 

                                                     Matthew 7:12.

   Please think about it.

God's Love

 God's love

The apostle Paul wrote,

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 8:38,39.

God’s love for mankind is incredible. While God has given each person the right to choose whether they believe in God or not. He still reaches out in love to not only those who believe in Him but those who don’t.

Jesus speaking of Himself showed how far God would go to reach everyone on the world He created, when He 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 my question is; do you believe in God.

Please think about it.

Life is eternal

 Life is eternal

In Ecclesiastes we read

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11.

C. S. Lewis stated,

"If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world."  C.S. Lewis.

Lewis was right. Life is eternal. This life is just the beginning of a journey that continues on through eternity. 

This life however determines where we will spend eternity. 

As a Christian I believe following Christ leads us to an eternity in heaven. That being said it is up to each individual to decide for themselves if my beliefs are right or wrong.

So what do you believe?

Please think about it.

You are the light

  You are the Light 

Jesus said,

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  

Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16.

This is as clear as it can be. If you claim to be a Christian a true follower of Christ Jesus “you are the light of the world”.

The apostle Paul wrote,

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!  

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 5:17-20.

We are Christ’s ambassadors. Christ’s representative on this earth. We are the ones who have a duty to spread the salvation message throughout the world.

So my question to you is; Are you telling the world around you in word and deed, about the Salvation that comes from God through Christ Jesus?

Please think about it.

Theirs and your fruit

  Theirs and your fruit

The apostle Paul writes,

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  

gentleness and self-control....” Galatians 5:22,23a

Above are listed what the apostle Paul stated were true Christian fruits. If we look at a person who claims to be a Christian we should see these fruits.

This should be doubly so for our religious and political leaders.

As believers in Christ Jesus we should be looking to see if those we follow are exhibiting 

 love, joy, peace, 

patience, kindness, 

goodness, 

faithfulness,  

gentleness and self-control

Question; Do you and the people you support exhibit these qualities?

Please think about it.

The resurrection and the life

 The resurrection and the life

In the gospel of John we read,

"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.

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.

Believing that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God, is the cornerstone of Christian belief. We Christians believe that by believing in Christ Jesus we will have eternal life with Him in heaven.

The way I see it I have nothing to lose by truly believing this.

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.

So where will you place your wager?

Please think about it. 

Will you be with Jesus?

 Will you be with Jesus?

The Psalmist writes,

"Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, 

whose hope is in the LORD his God,

 the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—

the LORD, who remains faithful forever.” 

                                                                Psalm 146:5,6.

Are you blessed by God? Is your hope in God.

The apostle Paul writes,

"Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 

"Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself. 2 Timothy 2:10-13.

So do you truly love God? 

Are you willing to suffer and die for Jesus?

Will you live with Jesus?

Will you reign with Jesus?

Please think about it.

You'll be treated the same way

 You'll be treated the same way

Luke’s Gospel records this incident between Jesus and a rich man,

“A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 

"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone.  

You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.''" 

"All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said. 

When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 

When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.” Luke 18:23. 

The message here is simple. Anyone wishing to become a Christian must be willing to give everything up for Christ.

Jesus never promised us riches or an easy life. He simply offered us eternal life with Him in heaven after this life is over.

In fact Jesus said,

"Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also." John 15:20.

      When becoming a Christian one must remember that they will be treated in the same way the world treated Jesus

Please think about it. 

Are you ready to meet God?

 Are you ready to meet God?

The Psalmist writes,

"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

There are many out there who say there is no God. Of these people someone once told me that by a person saying there is no God. There has to be a God. The logic is this,

“In order to say there is no God then one would have to have been everywhere and know all things. Attributes of God. Therefore the person saying there is no God is god.”

That being said I believe there is a God. A God that will be exalted among the nations, throughout the earth. A God that Christians are proclaiming throughout the earth as you read this.

I believe that every person that has ever lived, is living, or will live in the future will one day meet God, at the very least when they pass from this earth.

Thus the question becomes are you ready to meet God?

Please think about it.

God our refuge and strength

  God our refuge and strength

The Psalmist writes,

“God is our refuge and strength, 

an ever-present help in trouble. 

Therefore we will not fear, 

though the earth give way 

and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

 though its waters roar and foam 

and the mountains quake with their surging.”

                                                                      Psalm 46:1-3.

If you consider yourself a true Christian is God truly your refuge and strength?

I know it’s in man’s nature to worry about things. That being said as believers in Christ Jesus, as believers in God, we should be putting our trust in God each day. Both in the good times and in the bad.

So do you truly trust in God, in both the bad times and good?

Is God your refuge and strength?

Please think about it.

Respect for others

  Respect for others

The apostle Peter writes,

“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” 1 Peter 3:15,16.

Love and respect are two of the cornerstones of the Christian faith. If we do not show love and respect to those around us, they will not listen to us.

We must at all times love and respect even our worst enemy. 

At the same time we must be willing and ready to present the Gospel of Christ that gives us our hope, even in the darkest times of our life.

If you consider yourself a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus, are you showing respect to those around you irrespective of whether you agree with them or not?

Please think about it.

It will fall into the Abyss

  It will fall into the abyss

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” Proverbs 1:7.

I forget where I got this definition of wisdom but I like it, it states,

"Wisdom is the acquired skill of applying knowledge rightly".

I like what Abba Hillel Silver 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.

Having faith in God and following His commandments, His absolute values. Leads to a free and productive society.

Failure to do this leads society down the road to destruction.

We only have to look at Nazi Germany in the 1930's and early 1940's to see what happens if we fail to follow God’s commands and moral values. Tens of millions dead at the hands of Satanic men and women in the most destructive war in human history.

While I know, no government of earth today is Christian or God centred we still need a society that follows at the very least the basic moral principles God has laid down in the Bible.

For if society fails to do so it will fall into the abyss from which there is no return.

Please think about it.

Will you accept Christ Jesus today?

  Will you accept Christ Jesus today?

Matthews gospel records,

“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples.  

When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 

On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  

But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:10-13.

Jesus here makes it clear why He came to earth. To reach the sinner for God. To point the sinner to heaven. To show God’s mercy to all who would believe in Him.

The apostle Paul points out,

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  Romans 3:23,24.

We are all sinners. We all fall short of the glory of God. But all who believe in Christ Jesus are redeemed through Christ’s death on the cross.

The apostle Paul pointing out,

“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 tells us,

"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.

Will you confess your sin to God today and accept Christ Jesus into your life today?

Please think about it. 

A Command to Love

  A command to love

Jesus said,

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John13:34,35.

If we claim to be Christians, followers of Christ Jesus we must love as Jesus loved. And Jesus loved us so much He died on the cross for our sins.

In his letter to the Corinthians the apostle Paul defined Christian love this way,

"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

Just prior to this in 1 Corinthians Paul writes,

"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."1 Corinthians 13:1-3.

So my question to you dear reader is; 

Do you truly love others as Jesus did?

Please think about it.

God's forgiveness

  God’s forgiveness

The Psalmist writes,

“Lord, if you kept an account 

of iniquities, 

Lord, who could stand?

But with you there is 

forgiveness,

So you may be revered”

                              Psalm 130:3,4

The Psalmist here is telling us that if God kept an account of our iniquities no one would get to heaven. But the God we serve is a loving God. A God of forgiveness. 

The apostle Paul writes,

"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.

 Do you believe in God and the grace that comes from Christ Jesus?

Do you believe the words of the apostle John who states,

"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?

Please think about it.

I lift up my eyes

  I lift up my eyes

The Psalmist writes,

“I lift up my eyes to the hills— 

where does my help come from? 

My help comes from the LORD, 

the Maker of heaven and earth.” 

                                             Psalm 121:1,2.

I am so glad that I can say my help comes from the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth.

I am so humbled that God in the form of His Son Jesus Christ came to this world to save me. To help me in times of trouble. To be my guide in life.

Can you say this?

Please think about it.

The apostle Paul to the Athenians

 The apostle Paul to the Athenians

In the book of Acts we read,

"So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.  

A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.  

Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?  

You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean."  

(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) 

Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.  

For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. 

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.  

And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.  

From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  

God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.  

‘For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.' 

"Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man's design and skill.  

In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." 

When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject."  

At that, Paul left the Council.  

A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others”Acts 17:17-34.

The apostle Paul is speaking here to the Athenians and through them to us. He is telling us what he believed. Telling them about God and Christ Jesus who died for our sins and rose again that we might have eternal life.

Take a few minutes to read again what Paul said and ask yourself; Do I believe this?

Please think about it.

No God No Purpose

  No God No Purpose

In 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." Ecclesiastes 2:10,11.

Put simply a life without God is empty. 

The way I see it, God gives you purpose in life. If there is no God there is no purpose in living. I don’t believe that all we are on this earth for is to simply procreate and then pass on.

I believe life is eternal and that this life prepares us for where we will live in the next life.

Please think about it.

Lesson from a Faithful woman

 Lesson from a faithful woman

Isaiah the prophet wrote,

Surely God is my salvation;

I will trust, and will not be afraid,

for the LORD GOD is my strength

and my might;

He has become by Salvation 

                                            Isaiah 12:2

I write these blogs about two weeks in advance. But in the middle of March I sat at the bedside of a truly faithful woman. My wife Sharon. We’d been married for close to forty-five years. 

Sharon tended to keep a low profile. Serving the Lord in word and in deed without drawing much attention to herself.

But knowing her heart and kidneys were failing and that she was on life support. She asked to be let go into the arms of her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Then with the family and pastor gathered around she and we sang Amazing Grace, said a prayer and took her off life support. 

The nurses made her comfortable as all in the room listened to worship music. Within an hour or so peacefully she got her wish.

Dear reader

Is your life right with Jesus. Can you say for certain,

Surely God is my salvation;

I will trust, and will not be afraid,

for the LORD GOD is my strength

and my might;

He has become by Salvation 

                                            Isaiah 12:2.

Please think about it.

A Call to tell the world

A Call to Tell the World

Jesus said to His disciples and through them to us,

"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 we have a duty to Christ to go into all the world, be that world our neighbourhood, the nation we live in, or somewhere else in the world, and tell people about Jesus.

I believe the way we should be doing this is by presenting the gospel message in love. By saying “this is what I as a Christian believe. I leave it up to you as an individual to believe what I am saying, or not.

We must never force our faith on anyone. For a good example of how to present the gospel all we need to do is look at what the apostle Paul did in Athens a city filled with temples to a myriad of gods. 

Acts 17:17-31 shows Paul speaking at the Areopagus at the request of non-Christian Epicurean and Stoic philosophers.

Paul didn’t say I am right and you are wrong. He simply presented the gospel message and let them decide.

If you consider yourself to be a Christian take some time to study Pauls address to the Athenians to see how you can present the gospel message better.

Please think about it. 

The Resurrection of Jesus

 The Resurrection of Jesus

In Matthews Gospel we read,

"After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.  

His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.  

The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.  

Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." 

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.  

Suddenly Jesus met them."Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshipped him.  

Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." Matthew 28:1-10.

Of all the religions in the world only Christianity claims that it's founder rose from the dead. This is the cornerstone of Christianity. Without it Christianity would be a dead religion. 

The resurrection of Jesus from the dead confirms His identity as God incarnate and Saviour of all who would believe in Him. For only God could have done what Jesus did.

And the resurrection of Jesus was not just noted by His followers. Josephus a Roman Jewish historian noted, 

“About this time arose Jesus, a wise man, who did good deeds and whose virtues were recognized. And many Jews and people of other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. However, those who became his disciples preached his doctrine. They related that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was alive. Perhaps he was the Messiah in connection with whom the prophets foretold wonders.” [Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, XVIII 3.2].

Thus the question becomes do you believe this? With the more important question being do you believe what Jesus said about Himself when He 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.

Please think about it.

The reason Christ came

  The Reason Christ came

Matthew’s gospel tell us of this incident in the life of Jesus,

“When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 

On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  

But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:10-13.

Jesus had one reason for coming to the earth He created and that was to show each individual the way to heaven. 

God knew we could not live a life that was good enough to get us into heaven. Thus He sent Jesus to show us the way by going as far as humanly possible and dying in a most horrendous way. 

Does this seem odd? Yes it does. But as the apostle Paul pointed out

"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." 1Corinthians 1:18.

God’s ways are not our ways. Believing in a Saviour who died for our sins takes quite an act of faith which is what God wants.

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.

I think the reason God requires faith is that people who have true faith in anything will go to their graves for what they believe.

Which is what a true believer in Christ Jesus will do.

Please think about it. 

The thief who got into heaven

 The thief who got into heaven

"Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him (Jesus) to be executed.  

When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left....

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 

But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?  

We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’” 

Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” 

Luke 23:32,33,39-43.

I heard this the other day. A man walks up to the gates of heaven and is asked, “Why are you hear?”

He replies, “The man on the cross told me to come”

Though it is just a story about the criminal who believed in Jesus getting into heaven. What he did while hanging on the cross is something we all are called to do.

First of all he believed Jesus was innocent and that Jesus was who He said He was the Son of God. 

“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom”

Second he confessed his sins saying,

“We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 

In reply Jesus said,

"I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." 

Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God Saviour of all who believe in Him?

Will you confess your sins directly to God right now. The apostle John writing,

"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.

John also writing,

“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:12,13. 

The criminal on the cross that day with Jesus believed who Jesus was confessed his sins and was forgiven. Thus giving him entry into heaven.

Please think about it.

Jesus died for us

 Jesus died for us.

John’s gospel reads,

"The next day John (the Baptist) saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1:29.

The apostle Paul writes,

"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. 

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!  

For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!  

Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation" Romans 5:6-11

Good Friday is tomorrow. The day we Christians believe Jesus Christ The One and Only Son of God died for our sins. A controversial belief in some circles. With people asking if this is entirely true. 

To which I respond that it this is not true, Jesus is either a very misguided individual or even a lunatic who died for nothing. 

C. S. Lewis makes this statement,

"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.

Please think about it.

The Word of God

 The Word of God

The Psalmist writes,

"The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; 

the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple"

                                                                                    Psalm 19:7.

Many see the Bible as being a book of harsh rules. When it is quite the opposite. 

God has set forth within His Word a set of instructions that if followed will lead to a good and rich life. 

If society as a whole would follow the commandments of God it would be a much better place to live in.

In order for God’s word to have any effect in our society however means those who claim to be followers of Christ Jesus, should be living and presenting the word of God in word an deed. 

I like what Charles H. Spurgeon said about the Word of God. Who speaking to Christians said,

"The Word of God will be to you a bulwark and a high tower, a castle of defence against the foe. Oh, see to it that the Word of God is in you, in your very soul, permeating your thoughts, and so operating upon your outward life, that all may know you to be a true Bible-Christian, for they perceive it in your words and deeds." Charles H. Spurgeon.

Is the Word of God your bulwark against the foe?

Does the Word of God permeate your thoughts and deeds?

Please think about it.

Truth or lies?

  Truth or lies?

Luke’s gospel records this incident when Jesus as an infant was brought to the temple to be dedicated to the Lord.

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  

It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.  

Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,  

Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 

"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,you now dismiss your servant in peace. 

For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." Luke 2:25-32.

When it comes to this incident you can like with all the stories about Jesus, believe it or not.

But think of this. If this story and indeed the whole New Testament is made up then this is the most momentous lie in history. 

You must make your choice. Is the New Testament and all that is said about Jesus the biggest lie in all history or is it the truth. The choice is yours.

Please think about it.

A Question from Jesus

  A Question from Jesus

In John’s gospel we read,

“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.

While this question was asked to Martha it is a question we all must answer when confronted with Jesus.

Do you believe Jesus is the Christ the Son of God who has come into the world to offer eternal life to all who would believe in Him. 

Do you?

But before you answer please take some time to read the New Testament and see what those who knew Jesus best believed about Him.

Please think about it.

My Creator helps me

 My Creator helps me

The Psalmist writes,

"I lift up my eyes to the hills— 

where does my help come from? 

My help comes from the LORD, 

the Maker of heaven and earth.” 

                                        Psalm 121:1,2

For me being a Christian the greatest blessing I have is knowing that “My help comes from the LORD the maker of heavens and earth.”

The apostle John referring to Jesus as The Word states,

"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.

That same Jesus who created the heavens and the earth is there for me at all times to help me through all that comes up in life both the good and the bad.

Can you dear reader say the same?

Please think about it.

What will God say?

 What will God say?

The Psalmist writes,

"Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns." The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity. 

"Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; 

"let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth." Psalm 96:10-13.

God indeed reigns. God also created the world and everything in it. All of it belongs to God. That includes everyone who has ever lived and is living today.

And as the Psalmist makes it clear, 

“...He will judge the world in righteousness 

and the peoples in his truth.”

                                                          Psalm 96 13b

Thus I ask a question only you and God can answer; 

What will God say to you on the day He judges you?

Please think about it.

God's works

  God's works

“How many are your works, Lord! 

In wisdom you made them all.”

                                                Psalm 104:24

I took my young grandson to the Butterfly conservatory near where we live. As we slowly walked around butterflies of every conceivable variety flew around us. Then an amazing thing happened my grandson held his hand out and a butterfly landed on his finger and stayed for the longest time. He was over the moon.

As I looked at the delicate creature sitting on his hand I couldn’t help thinking of how wonderful God was. 

How incredible were His works. Everything from this delicate, intricately designed butterfly to the magnificent stars, planets, and galaxies. All designed for us.

The Psalmist writes,

"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  

Please think about it.

Enjoy Life

  Enjoy life

In the book of Ecclesiastes we read,

“Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.

Let your garments be always white. Let not oil be lacking on your head.

Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun because that is you portion in life and your toil at which you toil under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 9:7-9.

I’ve heard it said that the Christian life is “following a bunch of rules”. “A bunch of do’s and do not’s.” To which I say it is not. 

The Christian life comes with set of rules to live by that’s true. But those rules are like the rules for playing football. The rules are there so that you have good and fair game.

The rules Christians follow are layed down by God so that we know what He requires of us. That being said God wants us to enjoy life. The above Scripture tells us that.

"Go, eat your bread with joy, 

and drink your wine with a merry heart, 

for God has already approved what you do.”

                                                   Ecclesiastes 9:7.

So yes while we as believers in Christ Jesus have rules to follow. They are rules that help us live a good and happy life.

Please think about it.

It seems right but...

  It seems right but

In Proverbs we read,

“There is a way that seems right to a man 

but in the end it leads to death.” 

                                                 Proverbs 14:12.

Many today are following the crowd. Following religious and political leaders and philosophies that seem right but is not. 

We as individuals need to assess who we are following. We need to pray and ask God for direction. Because if we are following the wrong person or philosophy it can and will have eternal consequences.

For me the right path is following Jesus. 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.

But you dear reader must decide for yourself if I am right.

Please think about it.

By this shall they know

  By this shall they know

Jesus said,

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John13:34,35.

This is how people will know Christians. While at times we, as someone once said, “respectfully disagree” with other believers on the minor things. We must always show love.

Please think about it.

Do you Praise The Lord?

   Do you Praise The Lord?

“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 to believers.

Do you do what Psalm 9:1,2 is saying?

If not, why not?

Please think about it.

Words from the apostle Peter

  Words from the apostle Peter

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—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.  1Peter 1:3-5.

If you are a true believer in Christ Jesus you can join the apostle Peter in praising God.

We praise God for,

Giving us a new birth.

Giving us a living hope, 

Giving us an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.

All of which is kept for us in heaven.

Question is this you?

Please think about it.

He died for you

 He died for you

The apostle Paul writes,

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: 

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." 

                                                                   Romans 5:8.

In the book of Ephesians we read,

"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.

It is by the Grace of God that we get to heaven. Through our faith in Christ Jesus. 

C. S. Lewis wrote,

“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.” C.S. Lewis.

Christ died for you. It really is that simple. 

The apostle John writes,

"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.

Thus you have a choice to believe in The Lord Jesus Christ and be assured you are going to Heaven, or take your chances on not believing in Christ Jesus. 

But before you make your decision think about this. 

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

Please think about it.

God entered His creation

 God entered His creation

John’s gospel states,

“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.

What John is saying is that Jesus whom I calls “The Word” is God. That God in the form of Christ Jesus entered the world which He created to point us to heaven.

Which if you think about it is an incredible claim. Yet it was something John and all the disciples all believed. 

C. S. Lewis noted,

“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.

Please think about it.

Actions and Faith

 Actions and Faith

In the book of James we read,

“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.” James 2:14-17

James makes it very clear 

“faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

So my question to you is. Is your faith alive or dead?

Please think about it.

Doing God's work

  Doing God's work

Jesus 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.'” Matthew 25:34-40.

Are you doing God’s work? 

I am part of a church that encourages people to volunteer. We have both a food bank and an outreach to those who are homeless living on the street.

For those who volunteer it is a very rewarding ministry. Not only are they feeding those in need but at the same time they are showing the Love of Christ by their actions.

Francis of Assisi wrote,

“Preach the Gospel at all times 

and when necessary use words.”

                                     Francis of Assisi.

So my question to you the reader is; Are you showing the Love of Christ by your actions?

Please think about it.

What will He say to you?

  What will He say to you?

Jesus said,

“Many will say to me  on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  

Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:22,23.

I look around North America where I live and particularly in the United States I see the so called Christian nationalist mixing their religious beliefs with their politics. Never a good thing. A wise man once wrote,

“Mixing religion of any kind with politics is like mixing gasoline and water. The gasoline is unusable and the water is undrinkable. And the whole mixture is explosive.” Anonymous.

A true Christian is an alien in this world. The apostle Peter writes,

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  

Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 

Dear friends,

 I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." 1 Peter 2:9-12.

Peter makes it clear Christians are alien to this world. And that we are to preform “good deeds and glorify God...”

The apostle Paul tells us,

“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 5:20.

We are God’s representatives on earth. 

While we may be citizens of the country we were born in. The moment we accepted Christ into our lives we were held to a higher standard. God’s standard. Thus everything we do should be for the glory of God. To draw people to Christ.

Sadly there are many men and women who upon standing before Christ will here the words,

“I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”

They will here those words because they mixed there faith with their politics and other things.

Therefore if you consider yourself a Christian do what the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy,

"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

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

Please think about it.