There is one man

 There is one man

The apostle Paul wrote,

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.”  1 Timothy 2:1-6.

Paul makes it clear here that Jesus is the only mediator between God and man. It is through Jesus that we are saved. It is Jesus who died for our sins. 

Jesus himself 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

This is an incredible statement for anyone to make. Saying He is the only way to heaven.

I like what C. S. Lewis said about Jesus in Mere Christianity. Lewis wrote,

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to."   C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Please think about it.

Do you have eternal life?

  Do you have eternal life?

The apostle John writes,

“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  

He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” 1 John 5:11-12.

Here John makes a simple statement. If you believe in Christ Jesus you have eternal life. Jesus speaking of himself said,

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

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16,17.

In the book of Romans we read,

"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 in God and the saving grace that comes through Christ Jesus?

Please think about it. 

Handling the word of God

 Handling the word of God

The apostle Paul writes,

"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.

I feel we as Christians at times become so familiar with the scriptures that we take them for granted as a result we handle them without due care.

As believers in God. As believers in Christ Jesus. We must realize that the Bible is the inspired word of God. As such it must be handled with care. We must quote the scriptures in the context they are written.

We must never take scripture out of context in order to prove our point of view. We as the apostle Paul states,

"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.

Do you and the pastors and religious teachers you listen to handle the word of God correctly?

Please think about it.

Better than the day of birth

 Better than the day of birth

In Ecclesiastes we read,

 “A good name is better that perfumed oil and the day of death better than the day of birth.” Ecclesiastes 7:1.

“The day of death better than the day of birth”, quite a statement. Here the writer is not referring to one’s own death but to that of another. Bereavement should, or at least should be a call to those grieving to think of their morality. 

There’s an old saying I heard along time ago by C.T. Stud that said,

“We have only one life it shall soon be past only what’s done for Christ will last.” C. T. Stud.

So if you consider yourself a Christian a true follower of Christ Jesus, what have you done for Christ?

Please think about it.

Their fruit

  Their fruit.

Jesus said,

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.  

By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  

Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  

A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  

Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  

Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Matthew 7:15-20.

Here we are told by Jesus to watch out for false prophets in sheep’s clothing. These false prophets hide themselves in the guise of honest Christians. They know what to say in church and what not to say.  

The apostle Paul writes,

"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." 2Timothy 4:3,4

Such things are happening today. We have groups who are calling themselves Christians but are not. They are wolves who have infiltrated the Church for their own gain. Leading people down a pathway that leads to Hell. These are people we must watchout for.

The apostle Paul writes,

"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you." 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.

Paul makes it clear we are to expel false teachers from the church.

Question...

Are the pastors, evangelist, and religious leaders you follow wolves in sheep’s clothing?

Do you know the fruit of a false teacher is?

Do you know what the fruit of the good church leader is?

Please think about it.

To Judge

  To Judge?

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.

Do you judge people? I’ve heard many who call themselves Christians who are not, that say we shouldn’t be judging them. They hide behind the quote I posted above. Do not judge. Do not condemn.

This is all well and good. It is not our place as Christians. As followers of Christ Jesus, to judge non-Christians or where a person will spend eternity. That is up to God. 

That being said Christians for their own safety and to ensure the Gospel message is being properly presented, do have the right to judge those who call themselves Christians. The apostle Paul telling us.

"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you." 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.

And just how do we know who a true Christian is? The apostle Paul tells us,

The apostle Paul writes,

"The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 

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 5:19-23. 

As Christians we need to look carefully at those around us, including pastors, evangelist, other church leaders and indeed politicians. We need to look at them and ourselves and ask, “Am I. Are they exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Please think about it.

The gospel on with you take your stand

 The gospel on which you take your stand

In the book of 1Corinthians the apostle Paul writes,

“Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.  

By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.  

After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.  

Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,” 1Corinthians 15:1-7.

Hear Paul makes it clear that he believed that,...

1/ That Christ died for our sins,

2/ That Christ was buried,

3/ That Christ was raised from the dead on the third day.

4/ That Christ appeared to Peter and the Twelve apostles.

5/ That Christ appeared to more than 500 believers at the same time.

Then Paul notes that most of those who saw Christ after the resurrection were still alive.

This in my mind makes it clear Paul is not making things up. Jesus did in fact died for our sins, was buried and rose from the grave.

What do you think?

Please think about it.

God's expectation

  God's expectation 

In the book of Micah we read,

"He has showed you, O man, what is good. 

And what does the LORD require of you? 

To act justly and to love mercy 

and to walk humbly with your God." 

                                                    Micah 6:8.

God could not have made things more simple than He does through the prophet Micah. Take a few moments to read that portion of scripture again.

"He has showed you, O man, what is good. 

And what does the LORD require of you? 

To act justly and to love mercy 

and to walk humbly with your God." 

                                                    Micah 6:8.

Please think about it.

About the miracles of Christ

  About the Miracles of Christ.

In the book of Luke we read,

“Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him.  

As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her.  

When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.” 

Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!”  

The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. 

They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.”  

This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.” Luke 7:11-17.

I am always amazed at the miracles Christ did. I’m amazed because it proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus is God incarnate.

I’ve heard that some don’t believe Jesus did miracles. My answer, “If he didn’t do them why would the writers of the Bible include them?”. Including untrue miracles would be lying and disprove the very thing they are trying to prove. For that matter why would any of Jesus’ claims be true if the miracles were false.

C. S. Lewis wrote,

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to." C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.

Please think about it.

The world around you

 The world around you.

In proverbs we read,

“Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.” Proverbs 21:13.

We as Christians are called to help the poor. Now I know the Talmud is not a Christian book but there is an interesting quote in the Talmud that states,

“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.

If you consider yourself a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus, are you making the world around you “a household of Love?”

Please think about it.

Look after...

  Look after...

In the book of James we read,

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27.

Here James makes it simple. As Christians God expects our faith to be pure and faultless, “to look after orphans and widows”.

AND to keep ourselves “from being polluted by the world.”

In Zechariah 7:10 we read,

“...do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, let none of you devise evil against another in your heart” Zechariah 7:10.

In Deuteronomy we read,

“He (God) executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.” Deuteronomy 10:18.

These are clear scriptures telling Christians to help the less fortunate in whatever way they can.

So if you consider yourself a Christian, are you doing this?

Please think about it.

Turn from evil

 Turn from evil

The Psalmist states,

"Come, my children, listen to me; 

I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 

Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, 

keep your tongue from evil 

and your lips from speaking lies. 

Turn from evil and do good; 

seek peace and pursue it." 

                                                     Psalm 34:11-14.

Do you love life and desire many good days?

Next question. Do you keep your lips from lying?

            Do you turn from evil?

                                    Do you seek Peace and Pursue it?

Please think about it.

Remember what God has done

 Remember what God has done

In the book of Chronicles we read,

“Give thanks to the LORD, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done. 

Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts. 

Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. 

Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always. 

Remember the wonders He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He pronounced,...” 1 Chronicles 16:8-12.

Do you do this?

Do you sing praises to The Lord? 

Do you tell those around you what God has done?

Do you rejoice in knowing The Lord and all He has done for you?

Do you remember wonders, miracles and judgements He has pronounced? 

Please think about it.

Do you confess and believe?

  Do you confess and believe?

The apostle Paul writes,

"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

Here is a simple question in light of what the apostle Paul wrote.

Do you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart Jesus is Lord?

Please think about.

Between God and man

 Between God and man

The apostle Paul writes

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.”  1 Timothy 2:5,6

Jesus 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.

This is what Christians believe. We accept these two statements by faith. It’s that simple. I know it is a radical statement, but we Christians believe it to be true.

Blaise Pascal wrote,

“Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists.” Blaise Pascal.

That being said for most people having faith in anything especially God can be a very hard thing.

Which I believe is why the scriptures tell us,

"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.

Because those who truly believe in someone or something are the strongest believers.

So what do you believe?

Please think about it.

An Adulterous generation

 An adulterous generation

In the book of James we read,

"You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God."  James 4:4

I live in North America a part of the world where materialism is king. People are encouraged to buy the latest car, the latest smart phone, the latest designer clothing, the big beautiful house with all that goes with it and of course they are trying to get all the money they make.

Now there is nothing wrong with all of these things on their own. There’s nothing wrong with being rich and having the finer things in life.

The apostle Paul tells us,

"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.

Riches can pull us away from God. There are many preachers here in north America that say God wants you to be healthy and wealthy. If your not they say you have sin in your life. Nothing could be further from the truth. Preachers that say these things have been lured away from the true gospel message to enrich themselves with the things of this world.

But false preachers aside each person is responsible for themselves. We have to decide where our friendship lies. Is it with God or this world.

So where does your friendship lie?

Please think about it.

Who is Jesus really?

 Who is Jesus really?

"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 10:24-33

Is Jesus God incarnate? From what the apostle John records here, it seems Jesus is saying that. And that at a time when saying you are God could get you stoned to death. Which is what John records in the above passage of scripture.

I think C. S. Lewis put it best in his book Mere Christianity, when he wrote,

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. 

A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. 

He would either be a lunatic  on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg or else he would be the Devil of Hell.

You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to." C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.

Thus anyone being told about Jesus must make a choice. Is he like Lewis states, a lunatic, a poached egg, a devil demon a fool, a madman or God incarnate.

The choice is yours.

Please think about it.

Faith without works

  Faith without works

The apostle John writes,

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1John 3:17,18.

James elaborates on what John is saying,

"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

This says it all. If you see someone in need and don’t help him or her to the extent you can, the love of God is not in you. 

And there are many ways you can help those in need give and even volunteer at a food bank. Give a few dollars to someone begging on the street. Give to charities that help the poor.

What are you doing to help those in need?

Please think about it.

Being openhanded

  Being open handed

Jesus said,

“And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." Matthew 10:42

In Deuteronomy we read,

"If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community in any of your towns within the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted towards your needy neighbour… Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, ‘Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbour in your land." Deuteronomy 15:7,11

I like what is practised in Judaism. It’s something called Tzedakah. The simplest definition I can find is this I got this 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."

  Being open handed doesn’t necessarily mean giving large portions of your money to the poor, but rather what you can afford. 

So are you open handed to the poor?

Please think about it.

Dealing with your fellow man

  Dealing with your fellow man

In the book of proverbs we read,

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. 

Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31:8,9.

Do you stand up and help the poor.

Proverbs 29:7 states,

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

There’s an interesting quote from the Talmud that states,

“When a man appears before the Throne of Judgment, the first question he is asked is not, “Have you believed in God?”  Or “Have you prayed and observed the ritual?  “He is asked: “have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow men?” The Talmud

So I ask you dear reader. “Have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all you dealings with your fellow men?”

Please think about it.

A Call to Love

 A Call to love

  The apostle John wrote,

We love because he first loved us.  

If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.  

And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. 1John 4:19-21.

Do you love those around you? Do you show the kind of love God shows to you, unconditional love to all you meet, even those you disagree with?

The apostle John says you should.

The apostle Paul writes,

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly." Romans 5:6.

So my question to you dear reader is, do you love all you come in contact with, family, friend, or foe?

Please think about it.

Every hidden deed

  Every hidden deed

In the book of Ecclesiastes we read,

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

For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." Ecclesiastes 12:13,14. 

Do you fear God and keep His commandments? 

Have you tried to hide things from God?

Have you sinned against God?

If so have you confessed these sins to God?

Sin if falling short of Gods ideal for your life. Doing things that are against Gods commandments.

And if you have, (and we all, if we are honest have) then there is hope for you.

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.

So where do you stand with God?

Please think about it.

Light

  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”.

With that in mind as a true follower of Christ you need to watch what you do. As I said in my previous blog. If you claim to be a follower of Christ Jesus. Then it is through your words and deeds that people will see God.

At the same time a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus, is responsible for following what Jesus said 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.

Are you doing this?

Please think about it.

We are Christs ambassadors

  We are Christs ambassadors

The apostle Paul writes,

“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.

Here is an important fact all Christians, all believers in Christ Jesus need to understand. We are Christ’s ambassadors. 

Which means in is through the lense of our words and deeds that people will see God. If your actions and words are not showing love then people will think God is not a God of love. On the other hand. If your words and deeds are showing the unconditional love of God then people will see God as a God of love.

So my question to you is, when people look at your words and deeds what do they see?

Please think about it.

Mercy Judgement Forgiveness

  Mercy Judgement, Forgiveness 

Jesus made it clear,

"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.

In the book of James we read,

"Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!" James 2:12, 13.

So the question becomes, Do you judge people or do you show mercy toward those around you?

Do you obey the words of Jesus who when asked,

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 

Jesus replied: " ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 

This is the first and greatest commandment. 

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.'  

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. Matthew 22:36-40.

Please think about it.

Call to the rich

 Call to the rich

The apostle James writes,

"Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you.  Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.  

Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.  

Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.  

You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.  

You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you." James5:1-6.

Let me make it clear being rich is not a sin. The apostle Paul writes,

"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.

When it comes to wealth it’s what priority do you put on it. Many wealthy Christians have helped the church over the centuries.

What James is doing here is calling out the wealthy who have failed to pay there workers. Who have “condemned and murdered innocent men who were not opposing (them)”.

It is a call to wealthy men and women who are sinning. Even committing crimes.

It is a call to them to repent of their sins and turn to God.

Where do you stand with God?

Please think about it.

Don't be led astray

 Don' be led astray

The apostle Paul speaking to king Agrippa said,

"So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven.  

First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.  Acts 26:19 20.

The apostle John wrote,

"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.

In North America where I live love at times seems to be in short supply. We have people claiming to be Christians supporting a person who is cutting needed aid to their countrymen. Who is forgetting the poor. While scripture clearly says,

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

Where do you stand?

Please think about it.

Love the Christian way

 Love the Christian way

The apostle Paul writing on love states,

“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.

Love is the key to a Christian life. Love is what motivated God to send Jesus into this world. Perhaps the best known verse in the Bible is in the Gospel of John where Jesus is quoted, talking about himself and saying,

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

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16,17. 

True love can be costly. After all it cost Jesus His life. The apostle Paul telling us,

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

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

                                                                  Romans 5:8.

The Apostle Paul also defines 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.

Loving according the Paul’s definition is difficult and we all fall short from time to time. Still it is to this definition we as true believers in Christ Jesus must live up to.

Is the kind of love you show to others in line with this definition of love?

Please think about it.

How's a Christian to act?

 How's a Christian to act? 

"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 the one verse everyone who claims to be a Christian should think carefully about.

Put this way it means;

If you are

demonstrating against anyone. 

You are telling them 

they can demonstrate against you.

If you are 

speaking out and trying to restrict the rights of others 

given to them by the lawfully elected government.

You are telling others 

they can try to restrict your rights.

If you are 

imposing your morals on others

however good they may be.

You are telling them 

they can impose their morals on you, 

even if they are not as good as yours.

If you are 

trying to impose your faith on others 

rather than presenting your faith.

You are telling others 

they can impose their faith on you.

If you are

judging others.

You are telling others 

they can judge you in the same way.

If you 

are telling the world you are a Christian

You should be telling the world 

I love you 

as Jesus loves you,...

unconditionally.

                   Please think about it

Knowing the Clockmaker

  Knowing the clockmaker,

The Psalmist writes,

“The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” 

                                                                Psalm 14:1

“The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

                                                       Psalm 19:1

Voltaire wrote,

“I cannot imagine how the clockwork of the universe can exist

 without a clockmaker.”

                                    Voltaire

We may not be able to prove scientifically today in the twenty-first century that there is a God but that does not preclude His existence. Science is an on going search for what makes up the universe we live in. And from what I understand the evidence for a created universe is coming to light.

I was born in the 1950's. at that time black holes, planets in other star systems, many sub atomic particles, that we know of today were unknown. It didn’t mean they didn’t exist. It just meant scientist hadn’t discovered them. 

Scientist speculated on their existence because of what they seen in the world around them. Then postulated a theory and quite often had to wait for science to advance to prove they existed.

      Some of Albert Eienstein’s theories were not proven until long after his death. Yet Eienstein and others like him believed in their theories. They believed that they would one day be proven. In short they had faith in their theory.

The writer of Hebrews states,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for

 and 

certain of what we do not see.”  

                                          Hebrews 11:1

So it is with believers in God. We look at the orderly universe around us. We see that everything from the largest galaxy to the smallest sub-atomic particle is perfectly in sync with one another to produce life as we know it on this planet.

The conclusion we come to is that there is a Creator God behind it all.

If we are wrong we have nothing to fear. 

If we are right we enter into eternity knowing the very maker of the Universe. 

Please think about it.

Whoever believes

 Whoever believes

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 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.

When was the last time you confessed your sins directly to God? When was the last time you admitted to God that you fall short of what God wants for your life?

Paul also writes,

  “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,”1 Corinthians 15:3.

As Christians we believe that Christ died for our sins. The way we see it is God reached down to man. Jesus speaking of himself said,

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

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16,17.

God does not wont anyone to perish but they must believe in Christ Jesus. Jesus saying,

   "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 3:18.

Do you believe this?

Please think about it. 

At the bottom of the glass

 At the bottom of the glass

In the book of Jeremiah we read,

"You will seek me 

and find me 

when you seek me 

with all your heart." 

                                      Jeremiah 29:13.

An unknown author once wrote,

“Maybe the atheist cannot find God 

for the same reason a thief cannot find a policeman.” 

                                                                           Author Unknown.

It’s true you must be truly searching for God in order to find Him. You must be willing to admit that what you believe is wrong. To let God show you what is right. To show you that He exists. 

The proof of God is all around you,

William Philips Nobel prize winner in Physics wrote,

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

Werner Heisenberg the father of Quantum Mechanics wrote,

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 father of Quantum Mechanics Nobel prize winner in physics.

So the choice is up to you. Do you believe in God?

Please think about it.

Shama

  Shama

In the book of Deuteronomy we read,

"Hear, Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:4,5.

Known as the Shama prayer it is recited by Jews in the morning and the evening.

Jesus when asked,

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 

Jesus replied: " ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 

This is the first and greatest commandment." Matthew 22:36,37,38.

It is a call not to listen with your ears but to let the word of God sink in and generate a response. The kind of love the writer is talking about here is one who is acting loyally and faithfully. It is faithful obedience to an individuals relationship with God.

What is your relationship with God?

Is Christ the Lord of your life?

Please think about it. 

Not Condemn

  Not condemn

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.

I am someone who is not in favour of so called ‘hell fire and brimstone’ preachers. I say this because I don’t think yelling and screaming that someone is going to hell bothers non-believers because many times they don’t believe in hell.

In her book To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee writes,

“Sometimes the Bible in the hand of one man is worse than a whisky bottle in the hand of (another)....” Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird.

Harper Lee is right. People calling themselves Christians have probably done as much if not more to turn people away from Christ than those who are not Christians.

In the name of Christ many try to take away the rights or restrict the rights of those they consider morally wrong or those they disagree with. You cannot legislate morality. Nor did Jesus and his disciples ever try to do this.

Jesus and his apostles lived in a society that was as least if not more diverse than our twenty-first century society. Yet they didn’t try to overthrow the Roman government.

Instead they sat down with those they disagreed with and presented the good news of Jesus Christ, much to the dismay it seems of the religious leaders of their day.

From my point of view I believe we as 21st century believers, especially those of us who live in the western democracies need to follow their example.

We need to stop yelling at those we disagree with. Stop telling and them they are on the way to hell and point them to heaven.

Jesus speaking of himself said why he came to this earth. John’s gospel recording,

"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.

This is what we a believers in Christ Jesus must always remember. Our job is to save souls for Christ. NOT, condemn them or try to restrict their rights.

Please think about it.

For each of us

  For each of us

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.

C. S. Lewis puts it this way.

"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.

As Christians we believe you cannot live a life good enough to get into heaven. Isaiah the Prophet put it this way.

“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” Isaiah 64:6.

That is why we believe Jesus came into this world to take upon himself the sins of all those who would believe in Him.

Jesus speaking of himself said,

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

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16,17.

The primary reason for Jesus to come to this world is simple. To save the sinner and all of us at times sinned and fallen short of Gods ideals for our life.

Thus the question becomes do you believe this?

Please think about it.

A New Birth

 A new birth

The Psalmist writes,

"The LORD is my strength and my song; 

he has become my salvation." 

                                                        Psalm 118:14.

The apostle Peter tells us,

"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.

The apostle Paul writes,

“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.

So do you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord”?

      Do you believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead?

Please think about it.

His Love endures forever

  His Love endures forever

In the book of Psalms we read,

"Give thanks to the LORD, 

for he is good; his love endures forever. 

Let Israel say:

 "His love endures forever." 

Let the house of Aaron say: 

"His love endures forever." 

Let those who fear the LORD say: 

"His love endures forever." 

                                               Psalm 118:1-4.

Simple question, do you fear the LORD?

    Do you give thanks to the LORD,

    Do you believe Gods love endures forever?

Please think about it.

Worship the Lord alone

  Worship the Lord alone

Jesus when tempted by Satan said,

“...“It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’’” Luke 4:8.

In the book of Exodus we read,

"You shall have no other gods before me."Exodus 20:3.

You may say in the twenty first century we don’t have other gods but we do. Our gods may not be carved idols. But people today around the world worship every thing from trees and animals to money to men and women, and things they believe to be true on the internet.

God however makes it clear we are to have only one God. That being The LORD God Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

Joshua speaking to the Israelite said,

"Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.  

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:14,15.

Be coming a Christian a follower of Christ Jesus and true believer in God means a complete breaking away of those things that you, even without noticing it, are your gods.

Are you willing to do this?

Please think about it,

What will God Say?

  What will God Say?

The apostle Paul wrote,

"Love is patient, love is kind. 

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

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

it is not easily angered, 

it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil 

but rejoices with the truth.  

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

Love never fails....

And now these three remain: 

faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love."  

                                                       1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.

Without a doubt this is the definition of true Christian love. The kind of Love we as believers in God. As believers in Christ Jesus are asked to show.

Do you show this kind of Love in your daily life?

On the day you pass on into eternity will the people who knew you say you loved as Christ did.

Will God say it also?

Please think about it.

What God requires of the believer

  What God Requires of the believer

In the book of Micah we read.

"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8.

This is about as clear as it can be. The believer is required to...

Act justly.

Love Mercy.

Walk humbly with your God.

Do you do this?

Please think about it.

The Reason Jesus came

 The reason Jesus came

"But he was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:5.

It is universally believed by Christians that Isaiah the prophet here is speaking about Jesus. His words giving us the purpose of Christ’s ministry.

Jesus speaking of himself stating,

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

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16,17. 

The 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.” Romans 10:9,10.

Do you believe this?

Please think about it.

Come Listen

  Come listen

The Psalmist states,

"Come, my children, listen to me; 

I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 

Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, 

keep your tongue from evil 

and your lips from speaking lies. 

Turn from evil and do good; 

seek peace and pursue it." 

                                                     Psalm 34:11-14.

Do you love life and desire many good days?

Do you keep your lips from lying?

Do you turn from evil?

       Do you seek Peace and Pursue it?

Please think about it.

Faith deeds and the Christian

  Faith deeds and the Christian

The apostle John writes,

"This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.... 

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1John 3:11,17,18.

The Bible is full of admonitions to the believer to help those in need. 

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. 

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

Please think about it.

If you are a Christian

  If you are a Christian

In the book of Chronicles we read,

“Give thanks to the LORD, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done. 

Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts. 

Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. 

Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always. 

Remember the wonders He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He pronounced,...” 1 Chronicles 16:8-12.

If you claim to be a Christian

Do you do what the writer of Chronicles is saying to do?

Do you sing praises to The Lord? 

Do you tell those around you what God has done?

Do you rejoice in knowing The Lord and all He has done for you?

Do you remember wonders, miracles and judgements He has pronounced? 

Please think about it.

Either believe or don't

 Either believe or don't

The apostle Peter speaking about Jesus said,

“He is " ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.'  

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:11,12.

This is what Christians believe. Jesus is the way to heaven. You either believe it or you don’t.

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 it’s up to you dear reader. You can either believe in Christ Jesus and the Salvation He offers or you don’t.

Please think about it.

From Paul in Athens to you

  From Paul in Athens to you.

The apostle Paul while in Athens gave this sermon, 

“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.

This message is as true today as it was when Paul spoke it. And it has the same results. Many hearing it sneer. Many want to hear more. And many believe.

What about you dear reader? Which group are you in?

Please think about it.