Christian Principle for living #1 Love

 Christian Principle for Living #1 Love

There are some very important precepts within Christianity that all true believers in Christ Jesus I believe must be following. The first is Love.

Jesus said when asked the question,

“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 neighbor as yourself.’  

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

Earlier in Matthews gospel we hear Jesus taking this concept of love one step further. He said,

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,...” Matthew 5:43,44.

When it comes to Love the Apostle Paul made clear what Christian Love should be. He 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.

What these Scriptures from the New Testament say needs no interpretation. They make clear that believers in Christ Jesus should love unconditionally, God, their neighbour, and even their enemy. Not only that they should be praying for those who persecute them.

Thus the questions we as believers in Christ Jesus should be asking ourselves is; Am I loving all those with whom I come in contact with, friend, family or foe, in the way Jesus would have me love? Am I loving them in both word and deed?

Please think about it. 

Observations of a man

 Observations of a man

“He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing.” Job 26:7.

The above picture was taken by NASA astronaut William Anders on December 24, 1968, during the Apollo 8 mission, the first crewed flight to orbit the Moon.

The prophet Job never saw this picture. Yet Job looked up and perfectly described it. From the stand point of Apollo 8 earth is suspended on nothing and God did it. Not only that he placed it in the exact place for life to exist as we know it.

NASA astronomer Dr. John O'Keefe noted,

“We are, by astronomical standards, a pampered, cosseted, cherished group of creatures... If the Universe had not been made with the most exacting precision we could never have come into existence. It is my view that these circumstances indicate the universe was created for man to live in.” John O’keefe.

The Bible makes it clear,

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. 

And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters

And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. 

And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.

God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. 

And there was evening and there was morning the first day." Genesis 1:1-5.

The Bible doesn’t debate this point. For the simple fact it was written to believers and believers need no proof. 

To everyone else it is saying the choice is yours. What do you believe?

Please think about it.

Accepting the Love of God

  Accepting the Love of God

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.

Jesus talking about 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 loves is for everyone. And God give everyone the opportunity to accept the redemption from our sins that came from the death of Christ Jesus on the cross.

As we begin this new year have you accepted the love of God and the redemption for your sins that come through Christ Jesus?

Please think about it. 

Purified?

 Purified?

The apostle John writes,

“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.  

If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.  

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” 1John 1:5-7.

This is how we can tell a true Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus. A true follower of Christ. A True believer in God will as John states will not walk in darkness. They will not do evil things. They will show true love to God and to those around them. 

By walking in the light by believing in Christ Jesus our sins are purified by the blood of Jesus shed on the cross.

Are you walking in God’s light?

Have you been purified from sin through the blood of Jesus?

Please think about it.

The God I serve

  The God I serve

In the book of Isaiah we read,

"Have you not known? Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God?

The Creator of the ends of the earth.

He does not faint or grow weary;

his understanding is unsearchable." 

                                                   Isaiah 40:28.

This is the God I serve. An almighty God who is everlasting, who never grows faint or weary. Not only that.

In the book of Psalms we read,

"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.

Which tells me God knows me intimately. 

Is this the God you serve?

Please think about it

Worshiping God

 Worshiping God

In John’s gospel we read Jesus saying,

“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.  

God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23-24.

Do you believe in God? Is that belief simply intellectual? Acknowledging God exists. Or is your belief a deep spiritual belief?

Do you worship God in spirit and in truth? For this, according to Jesus, is what God is seeking.

Where do you stand when it come to Jesus and to God?

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.

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.

God's Anvil

 God's Anvil

In the book of Acts we have this account of the apostles being brought before the Sanhedrin,

"Then someone came and said, "Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people."  

At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them. 

Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest.  

"We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood." 

Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men!  

The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.  

God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Saviour that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.  

We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him." 

When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death." Acts 5:25-33.

Then a Pharisee named Gamaliel spoke,

 “A Pharisee named Gamaliel a teacher of the Law an honoured man, standing before the Sanhedrin as they were presiding over the trial of Christ’s apostles said,

“Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  

But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” Acts 5:38,39.

There’s a poem by an unknown author that I’ve always liked it reads,

Last eve I passed beside a blacksmith’s door,

And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime;

Then, looking in, I saw upon the floor

Old hammers, worn with beating years of time.

“How many anvils have you had,” said I,

“To wear and batter all these hammers so?”

“Just one,” said he, and then, with twinkling eye,

The anvil wears the hammers out, you know.”

And so, thought I, the anvil of God’s Word,

For ages skeptic blows have beat upon;

Yet, though the noise of falling blows was heard,

The anvil is unharmed - and hammers gone.

                                                                Anonymous      

 Gamaliel and the poet were right. The Gospel message is of God. As a result today Christianity is the largest religion in the word and all who have tried to destroy it have failed.

Please think about it.

Principles for living #7 Trust in The Lord

  Principles for living #7 Trust in The Lord

The writer of Proverbs tells us,

“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.

If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus do you trust God completely? Is your faith squarely in Him. The writer of Hebrew tells us,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see.”  

                                                           Hebrews 11:1

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, 

because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists 

and 

that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” 

                                                                            Hebrews 11:6.

I have learned first hand that trusting in God really does work. 

Yes there have been times when I thought things would not work out. Still I committed the situation to God and left it there. Ultimately the situation did work out, although sometimes not in the way I thought it would work out.

The apostle Paul said,

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

And Paul should know he went through a lot for his faith yet it all worked out in the end. Even though he was ultimately martyred for his faith he had the opportunity to share that faith throughout the Roman empire. He stood before everyone from rulers to slave and told them about his faith before leaving this earth for heaven.

So the question becomes, if you consider yourself a believer in Christ Jesus do you put your trust fully in Him? And do you share your faith?

Please think about it.

Having Faith

 Having faith

The Psalmist writes,

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 

If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” Psalm 139:7-10.

There is no where we can hide from God. Thus we as individuals need to make our peace with God. We need to acknowledge that he exists, and that takes faith. The writer of Hebrews telling us,

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6.

And that is the key. For having faith in anything, especially someone or something we can’t see is very hard. 

Question, Do you have faith that God exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek Him?

Please think about it.

I believe in God

  I believe in God

In the book of Genesis we read,

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1.

Albert Einstein one of the greatest scientist ever to live made an interesting statement. He said,

“Look deep into nature, 

and then you will understand everything better.”

                                                                 Albert Einstein

The psalmist writing several millenniums  before Einstein’s birth wrote,

“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.

I have always been of the opinion that science done correctly will show there is a creator behind it all. And science seems to be heading in that direction.

Scientist are looking into nature. They are seeing that everything from the largest galaxies to the smallest subatomic particles have all come together to allow life as we know it here on earth to exist.

To me that speaks of a creator.

Einstein noted,

“Human beings vegetables  or cosmic dust. 

We all dance to a mysterious tune, 

intoned in the distance by an invisible player.”

                                                              Albert Einstein.

I don’t know whether or not Einstein believed in God. I do know that his statement about we all being cosmic dust, dancing to a tune played an invisible player is true. 

The Bible tells me,

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1.

In other words God created the very cosmic dust that makes up the Earth the Universe and Everything in it. 

God is that “invisible player” Einstein spoke of.

Mankind is God’s creation. That being said God in making mankind did not make robots. He made individuals with a freewill to do as they wish.

That includes the right to believe in God or not to believe in Him. I and billions of people like me believe God exists.

I believe in God not out of blind faith. I believe in God because of what I see around me. I have looked at what the Bible says and what science says and find no contradiction. Both point to a creator.

The choice however is up to you. Each individual must decide what they believe and ultimately live with the consequence of their decision.

Please think about it.   

Gods light

 God’s light

The Psalmist writes,

"Your word is a lamp to my feet 

and a light for my path." 

                                                  Psalm 119:105 

If you consider yourself a true Christian. It is important that Gods word illuminates your way. The scriptures exist to give us a moral compass to live by as well as pointing us to salvation and our eternal home in heaven. Thus it is incumbent on us to not just read the scriptures but study them as well. So that we know what they say.

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

Thus my question to you is. Are you studying the scriptures? And, Is Gods word a lamp to your feet and a light to your path?

Please think about it.

Where is your trust?

  Where is your trust.

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

“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 one of the hardest things we can do is have faith in someone or something. And it is twice as hard to believe in something we can not see or touch. I think that’s why the writer of Hebrews tells us “without faith it is impossible to please God”.

The prise if you will for following God by faith is that God will reward those who earnestly seek Him.

So where is your trust? Where is you faith?

Please think about it.

Believing in your heart

   Believing in your heart

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.

I have always said believing in someone or something without physically seeing them is very hard. Yet that is what God expects. 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.

The reward for those who believe in God and the salvation that comes from God through Christ Jesus is salvation.

Do you believe in your heart that “Jesus is Lord” and that God raised him from the dead?

Please think about it.

Accepting Gods Salvation

 Accepting Gods Salvation

The apostle Paul writes,

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  

People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” 2 Timothy 3:1-4

Perhaps its because we are in an information age and we see more things happening because of it. We see our society degenerating. People are becoming lovers of self. Society is heading toward the abyss.

In his book "Essentials in Christian Faith" John B. Harrington, published in 1958, there is a quote that could have been written yesterday.

It's from Paul Gallico in Esquire Magazine in 1948 who writes,

"A writer in a popular magazine has written the following words; 'We are all, if you will pardon the expression, Headed for Hell in a handbarrow. If, ever the people of the world stood in need of a spiritual revival, it is now. We are beginning to poison the face of the earth with our miserable presence. The brakes are off. The cart of the world is sliding down the way greased with hatred, ambition, lies, self-seeking and avarice toward the pit.'"

Harrington notes that Gallico makes no pretense of being "a religious man" noting that "...for him it is precisely religion in its organized forms which has in part caused the situation he deplores. He is careful to state that it is not "religion" for which he is looking. For in his opinion, religion throughout the history of our culture has advanced its control over human beings by the investment of bigotry and persecution. 

Yet, out of despair over the current human situation he says; ‘The voice for which my heavy spirit is yearning must reach us all... For if it is not heard, we are lost. Something beyond our material enrichment and lust for power and position, some rewards founded on good will, selflessness, and the innate dignity of the human spirit...honour, humility, decency courage."

What Gallico is speaking about is what the apostle Paul predicted. And the solution to the problem. The only solution is the Christ Jesus.

Jesus said,

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30.

Society is degenerating and as I said the only way to overcome what is happening is to accept the salvation that comes from God. Through Christ Jesus.

Please think about it.

Loving God and your neighbour

  Love God and your neighbour

Jesus when asked,

  “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 

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

This is the first and greatest commandment. 

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 

                                                                                                   Matthew 22:36-40.

So Just what is true love?

As I have noted in previous blogs the Christian definition of love was written by the apostle Paul when writing to the Corinthians. 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.

So if you claim to be a Christian a true follower of Christ Jesus are you showing this kind of love to those around you?

Please think about it.