Taking time

  Taking time

The Psalmist writes,

"Give thanks to the LORD, 

for he is good; his love endures forever. 

Let Israel say: 

"His love endures forever." 

Let the house of Aaron say: 

"His love endures forever." 

Let those who fear the LORD say: 

"His love endures forever." 

                                                  Psalm 118:1-4.

This is something all who believe in God should be doing. Praising God. 

All to often as we go through our daily routines we forget to praise the Lord. We forget to thank him for all that he as done for us.

God at times seems to be in the background of our lives. Someone we praise at night before bed. When we should be taking time throughout our day to at least praise Him.

How about you do you do take time throughout your day to praise God?

Please think about it.

Sing, Praise, Declaire

   Sing, Praise, Declare

The Psalmist writes,

"Sing to the LORD a new song; 

sing to the LORD, all the earth. 

Sing to the LORD, 

praise his name; 

proclaim his salvation day after day. 

Declare his glory among the nations,

 his marvellous deeds among all peoples."

                                                               Psalm 96:1-3.

This is the duty of all who believe in Christ Jesus. To declare Gods glory among the nations. Jesus said,

"Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20.

This is the duty of the Christian. The duty of all those who believe in Christ Jesus.

We are not to force our faith on someone or judge people. We are simply to present the gospel message to all mankind to those in our life. Be it in our neighbourhood, our country or around the world.

Are you doing this?

Please think about it.

The God you can call on

  The God you can call on

                     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.

Where does your help come from? If you’re a Christian, a true follower of Christ Jesus it comes from the LORD.

For me that is an incredible thing. The maker of heaven and earth helps me through each day and each problem that may come up.

The God I serve is a personal God who love each individual.

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.

Do you believe Jesus is the son of God the creator of the universe, the Saviour of the world? The God you can call on in your time of need?

Please think about it.

Moral Attributes

  Moral Attributes

                        The Psalmist writes,

"Your word is a lamp to my feet 

and a light for my path." 

                                                             Psalm 119:105

Man needs moral attributes for us to live by. The Bible provides those morals.  If we do not have moral absolutes, society will slip into a lawless abyss. 

We only have to look at world war two, where men and women did not obey the moral laws of God, caused tens of millions men, women and children to be murdered in death camps.

It is therefor imperative that we study the Bible and learn the laws God set down in order for society to function correctly.

Are you doing this?

Please think about it. 

Have you accepted?

  Have you accepted?

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.

This is the soul reason Jesus came to earth. He came to show each person the way to heaven. The Christian message is that simple.

Later in John chapter 6 we read,

“For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:40.

God wants everyone to turn to Him and accept the salvation that comes through Christ Jesus.

Have you accepted the salvation and eternal life that comes through Jesus?

Please think about it.

With Trusted Teachers

 With Trusted teachers

The Apostle Peter states,

"But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  

Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute."2Peter2:1,2  

This is happening today. There are many around the world who claim to be Christian but are not. These people deliberately twist the word of God for their own gains. Thus we must be well informed when it comes to the scriptures.

The apostle Paul telling us,

"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.

In order to handle the word of God correctly we need to study it for ourselves and with trusted pastors and teachers.

Are you doing this?

Please think about it.

Starting and Ending

  Starting and Ending

The Psalmist writes,

"Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,

for in you I trust.

Make me know the way I should go,

for to you I lift up my soul." 

                                          Psalm 143:8.

It is my belief we should start each day with prayer to the Lord. Asking God for a good day. A day where he gives us direction. A day in which we lift up our soul, our very being to Him. Likewise we should end our day praying to God. Thanking him for all he has done for us.

What about you? If you claim to be a Christian a true follower of Christ Jesus are you starting your day praying to God? And as you end your day are you praying to Him?

Please think about it.

Face to Face

  Face to Face

In the book of Psalms we read,

“One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” Psalm 27:4.

For me especially if I’ve had a hard day. This verse of scripture gives me hope and rest for my soul.

I am looking forward to the day when I will see the LORD in person. So what about you? If you claim to be a Christian a true follower of Christ Jesus. Are you waiting for the day you will meet God face to face?

Please think about it. 

To save the Lost

  To save the lost

In the gospel of Luke we read,

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." 

                                                                                                      Luke 19:10.

Here as we would put it in industry today is Jesus’ job description. 

The apostle Paul writing,

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

Earlier in Romans 3: 23,24 Paul tells us,

"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 cannot live a perfect life. We all fall short of what God wants for our life. That’s why the apostle Paul tells us,

“For our sake he made him [Jesus] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:20.

We Christians believe we cannot work our way to heaven. 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.

Thus we must humble ourselves before God. Confess our sins and ask God to come into our lives.

Have you done this?

Please think about it? 

God raised Him

 God raised Him

The apostle Paul 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.

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.

At first glance this statement seems simple enough. Believe in Jesus and you shall go to heaven. But is it? Many people have problems believing in someone or something they cannot see. So perhaps it’s not as easy as it seems.

So my question to you dear reader is do you believe in Christ Jesus and that God raised him from the dead?

Please think about it.

A prerequisite

  A prerequisite

Here is for many people a very hard thing. Many people can’t believe in anything that they cannot see or touch. Yet 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

In Hebrews 11:6 we read,

"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.

Faith in God is a requirement to getting to heaven. Yet many refuse to believe. 

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 do you believe in God and the salvation that comes through His Son Christ Jesus?

Please think about it.

In the good and the bad

  In the good and the bad

The Psalmist writes,

"I will extol the LORD at all times; 

his praise will always be on my lips. 

My soul will boast in the LORD; 

let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 

Glorify the LORD with me; 

let us exalt his name together." 

                                        Psalm 34:1-3.

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

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

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

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

Please think about it.

Spurred on

 Spurred on

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

While our faith saves us. We are called to do more. As the above words of Jesus notes. 

In the book of James we read,

"You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?" James 2:20.

Our faith must spur us on to do good deeds.

So the question becomes. If you consider yourself a Christian, a true follower of Christ Jesus. Is your faith spurring you on to do good works?

Please think about it.

With Equity

  With Equity

In proverbs we read,

"Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns." The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity." Proverbs 96:10.

I like this portion of scripture. It tells me God is fair and just. That he will judge all people equally. God does not play favourites.

The reason God can do this is because he knows us intimately.

The Psalmist writing,

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:13-16.

In Ecclesiastes we are warned,

"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." Ecclesiastes12:13,14.

That being said God does not leave us to our own devises, because he knows we cannot live a life good enough to get to heaven. Thus He sent Jesus. 

The apostle Paul writing,

“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.

Have you received by faith the salvation God offers through Christ Jesus?

Please think about it.

Test Everything

  Test everything

“Test everything. Hold on to the good.” 

                                                    1Thessalonians 5:15.

As Christians we are called to test everything. We should never follow by blind faith. We need to look at what is being taught. We need to question the pastor or evangelist that is speaking to see if he or she is properly teaching 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.” 2Timothy 2:15.

We need to question anyone calling themselves a Christian leader to see if they are correctly handling the word of God. There is nothing wrong in doing this. The apostle Paul writing,

"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.

Do you from time to time question the pastors, and evangelist you follow to see if they are teaching the word of God correctly?

Please think about it.

Take some time

 Take some time.

The Psalmist writes,

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; 

give thanks to [God] and praise his name.” 

                                                                         Psalm 100:4.

I found this cartoon on the internet and I think it possibly sums up how it can be with people at times.  As Christians we ask God for many things while at the same time forgetting to thank Him.

     It's not a unique situation.  We see this also in Luke 17:11-19. Where Jesus healed ten men of Leprosy and only one returned to thank him.

Is this you? Whether this is true of you or not, why not take some time to praise God now.

The Psalmist writing,

Praise the LORD. 

Praise God in his sanctuary; 

praise him in his mighty heavens. 

Praise him for his acts of power; 

praise him for his surpassing greatness. 

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, 

praise him with the harp and lyre, 

praise him with tambourine and dancing, 

praise him with the strings and flute, 

praise him with the clash of cymbals, 

praise him with resounding cymbals. 

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. 

Praise the LORD. 

                                                                           Psalm 150

Please think about it.

There will come a time

  There will come a time

In the book of Obadiah we read,

"For the day of the LORD is near upon all nations.

As you have done, it shall be done to you;

your deeds shall return on your own head" 

                                                                Obadiah 1:15.

I like this quote from Billy Graham it states,

“The Bible says today is the accepted time, today is the day of salvation... 

But there will come a time when it will be too late for you.” 

                                                                                             Billy Graham.

Are you prepared to meet God? Have you acknowledged by faith that there is a God who sent His One and Only Son to save our souls? Have you confessed your sins to God and accepted the salvation that comes through Christ Jesus?

The apostle Paul telling us,

"...Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord

 will be saved." 

                                                Romans 10:13.

So have you called upon the name of the LORD and confessed your sins to Him?

Please think about it.

Give Praise to the Lord

  Give Praise to the Lord

“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done.” Isaiah 12:4.

This is the job of the Christian. Not judging people. Not arguing with people. Simply telling the world about God and what he has done. 

Jesus said

"Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20

If you claim to be a Christian are you telling the world around you about Jesus and all he has done for you?

Please think about it.

Taking up your cross

  Taking up your cross

Jesus said,

"Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it." Mark 8:34,35.

Here Jesus warns what following him means. Put simply it means it means putting our trust entirely in Gods hands. As one commentator put it “it means letting go of self-determination and replace it with obedience and dependence on God.”

That’s a big step and I know many believers around the world are doing just that. However there are many here in North America where I live are not or are reluctant to deny themselves. Trying to have a foot in both the world and in heaven.

Jesus however said,

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

Where do you stand? Have you taken up your cross and following Jesus?

Please think about it.

Christianity a lifestyle

 Christianity A Lifestyle 

In the book of Deuteronomy we read,

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

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

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

Christianity is a lifestyle dedicated to God. It is a way of life. It’s loving God with all of our hearts. It’s impressing Gods commandments on our children. Talking about them at home and when we walk along the road. It’s praising and thanking God when we lie down to sleep and thanking Him every morning when we wake up.

If you claim to be a Christian do you do this?