Live by faith

  Live by Faith

In the gospel of Luke we read,

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

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

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

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

When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Luke 18:18-22.

Here is what Jesus is saying here. Live by faith. Do not rely on your earthly wealth. Live by faith expecting God to supply you needs.

In the book of Philippians we read,

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus" Philippians 4:19.

Do you believe this. Do you rely on God to supply your needs?

Do you think the pastors and evangelist you support believe this?

Please think about it.

A Pledge

 A Pledge

Jesus said,

“So in everything, do to others 

what you would have others do to you

for this sums up the law and the prophets.” 

                                                              Matthew 7:12.

Thus as a believer in Christ Jesus,

I pledge...

To Love.

I Pledge...

As far as it depends on me...

To live at peace with all people.

I Pledge...

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

Physically, or verbally.

Even if I vehemently disagree with them in any way.

I Pledge...

Never to demean anyone.

No matter their race, their ethnicity, 

their religion, or their lifestyle.

I Pledge...

As far as humanly possible,

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

I Pledge...

To obey the words of Christ Jesus who said,

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

for this sums up the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12.

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

  

This sums up the law and the Prophets

 This sums up the law and prophets

Again it comes down to Matthew 7:12

"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.

I think this is of primary importance to all Christians. We must remember that we need to treat others the same way we would wish to be treated. For if we do this it will lead us to win souls for Christ.

Are you doing this?

Please think about it.

Choosing to Love

  Choosing to Love

The apostle Paul writing to the Corinthians defines Christian love as,

"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.

If you consider yourself a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus. Is this the kind of Love you show to those around you?

Please think about it.

Refraining from Judgement

 Refrain from Judging 

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.

An important element of Christian life is never to judge anyone other than for our personal protection, (physical and spiritual). We as believers in Christ must refrain from Judging others especially those outside the church. 

Additionally we should never judge an individual with respect to where they will spend eternity. That is God's purview. 

We as mere mortals do not have all the facts. We do not know why a person is the way they are. Only God knows that. That’s why we must show love and not judge in anyway toward those around us.

That being said, I believe Christians can judge other Christians but only to see that they are teaching sound doctrine. The apostle Paul stating,

“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.

Sadly within the church today too many people calling themselves Christians are judging people they disagree with outside the church. 

The late American evangelist Billy Graham once said,

It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God's job to judge

 and my job to love, 

                     Billy Graham

At the same those within the church are failing to judge whether or not, those calling themselves Christian leaders are truly teaching the word of God correctly.

No soul will ever be won for Christ by judging those outside the church. Those people will simply turn away and not listen.

At the same time men and women professing to be Christians will also turn many away from Christ. While at the same time leading believers away with half truths and misinterpretations of the gospel message.

Thus we as believers in Christ Jesus have two choices. 

1/ To avoid judging those outside of the church except for our personal physical protection.

2/ ensure that the pastors, evangelist, and Christian teachers you listen to are presenting the word of God correctly

Please think about it.

Look at it this way

 Look at it this way

Jesus said,

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.

Think of it this way

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 however good they may be on others.

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 God loves you,...

unconditionally.

Please think about it.

A note for the 21st Century Christian

 A note for the 21st Century Church

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

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." 1 Peter 2:11,12.

Think about this...

Jesus and his disciples, 

• Never Voted.

• Never Protested.

• Never judged anyone outside their own faith.

Yet they within a century they had spread the Good News of the Love of Jesus Christ throughout the known world.

They did so by,

• Presenting the Love of God to their family friends and foe alike.

• Showing Love and Mercy to all those they came in contact with.

• Living as far as possible at peace with those around them.

The disciples put into action the words of the Apostle Paul who wrote,

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

And the words of the writer of Hebrews,

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.

Above all they put into action the words of Jesus who said,

"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets" Matthew 7:12

Please think about it.

Humble yourself

  Humble yourself

“To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable:  

“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  

The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.  

I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 

“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 

“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14.

I believe the Christian life is about being humble before God and before our fellow man.

The apostle Paul tells us,

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!" Philippians 2:5-8.

In the book of James we read,

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, 

and he will lift you up."

                                        James 4:10.

Humility will win more souls for Christ than arrogance and self-righteousness will every time.

Please think about it. 

In everything

 In everything 

The apostle Paul writes,

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.  

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone Colossians 4:5,6.

Sometimes I think Christians forget about wisdom, especially here in North America. They are too focussed on getting things their way. On protecting their rights.

They spend their time complaining that the duly elected secular government is giving rights to people they object too. Then when a group pushes back they complain even more loudly. This should not be so.

As Christians we should be asking for Gods wisdom in reaching the world around us. We should be engaging those we disagree with, in a positive none condemning way. We should remember the words of Jesus who gave us a bench mark to follow when dealing with others, when he said,

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.

When dealing with those outside our faith, we should be asking ourselves; would I like to be treated the way I treated that person?  

Thus my question is: Do you, in everything, you do, do to others what you would have them do to you?

Please think about it.

Paul's call

  Paul’s call

The apostle Paul wrote,

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Colossians 3:12-14.

Is the above a description of what you do? When people look at your life do they see compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love?

Do you forgive others any wrongs they have done to you in the way the Lord did you? Do you forgive others unconditionally which is the way God forgave you?

Take a little time to pray and ask God to show you if you are truly doing what the apostle Paul is telling believers in Jesus to do.

Please think about it.

Just as your Father

 Just as your Father

Jesus said,

"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." 

                                                              Luke 6:36.

Mercy according to the Oxford dictionary is "compassion or forgiveness shown towards an enemy or offender in one's power."

Throughout my years in church work I have heard from various individuals that I shouldn’t associate with “certain people” because they are sinners. Those individuals were WRONG. And were sinners themselves. They were sinners because they judged others. Jesus saying, 

Judge not, that you be not Judged   

"For with the judgement you pronounce you will be judged with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1,2 

Paul writing to the romans stating,

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

Matthews Gospel records,

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

When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners'?" 

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Mark 2:15-17.

Jesus is the ultimate doctor. Healing the soul. His call is,

"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.

Jesus associated with everyone irrespective of who they were or their status in society. And we are called to do as he did. 

If we don’t take to Gospel message to the world who will?

Billy Graham the late American evangelist said,

"It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God's job to judge

 and my job to love," 

                            Billy Graham.

It is our job as Christians. As believers in Christ Jesus to present the gospel to all people without judging them. Jesus saying,

"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.

The only way we can do this is showing love and mercy to those around us.

Please think about it. 

The Christian lifestyle

 The Christian Lifestyle 

The apostle Paul wrote,

Love must be sincere. 

Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. 

Honour one another above yourselves.  

Never be lacking in zeal, 

but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord.  

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  

Share with God's people who are in need. 

Practice hospitality. 

Bless those who persecute you; 

bless and do not curse.  

Rejoice with those who rejoice; 

mourn with those who mourn.  

Live in harmony with one another. 

Do not be proud, 

but be willing to associate with people of low position. 

Do not be conceited. 

Do not repay anyone evil for evil.

 Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, 

live at peace with everyone. 

                                                  Romans 12:9-18.

If you consider yourself a Christian do people without you mentioning anything to them see what the apostle Paul is saying here in your life?

Please think about it.

Telling others about God

  Telling others about God

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 a fundamental scripture for all who believe in Christ Jesus.

1/ We are the light of the world.

2/ We are a city on a hill.

3/ we are to let our light shine before men.

We are to let out light shine that they may see our good deeds and praise God.

So my question to you if you claim to be a Christian is what are your words and deeds telling others about God?

Please think about it.

Extolling the LORD

  Extolling the LORD

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 you consider yourself a Christian do you extol the LORD at all times? Do you praise God enough during the day, during the week? Do you even praise the Lord during the day?

Why don’t you take just a few moments now and give praise to the Lord?

Please think about it.

Ambassadors for the Lord

  Ambassadors for the Lord

To the Corinthians 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.

Whether you like it or not if you claim to be a Christian you are an ambassador for Christ. People will judge Christ through the lens of your words and deeds.

Francis of Assisi wrote,

"The deeds you do

 may be the only sermon some persons will hear today" 

                                                                                   Francis of Assisi.

So if you claim to be a Christian. A follower of Christ Jesus what is your sermon. Are your words and deeds telling those around you about Christ?

Please think about it.

What we are for

 What we are for

Jesus said,

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  

For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Matthew 7:1,2.

The apostle Paul writes,

"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?" 1 Corinthians 5:12

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.

We need to be letting non-believers know what we are for, and not what we are against.

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 try to restrict their rights, and especially not judge where they will spend eternity for only God knows that. 

Please think about it.

Christians and love

 Christians and love

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. 

While to Talmud is not a Christian book it holds many Christian principles that Christian should follow,

“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.

Are you making the world around you a household of Love?

Please think about it.

What God Accepts

  What God accepts

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

Is this the kind of faith you exude? Do you do what you can to help the orphans, widows and others in need?

We here in Canada live in a rich country. Yet there are thousands of people living on the street or who’s incomes are so low that they have to choose between what they pay for, rent of food. Our church and many others in the city where I live reach out to those on the street with food and at this time of year warm clothing. 

We deliver thousands of food parcels each month for those in need. And the need never seems to end.

So I ask you if you are a Christian who has a good income with some to spare, are you doing your best to help those in need? For this is what God wants.

At the same time we are told to keep ourselves from being polluted by the world. Our actions should be driven by our faith in God and not influenced by the world.

So what are you doing to help the widows and orphans in their distress?

Please think about it.

Need Help

 Need Help

“That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake.  

Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.  

Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed.  

As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.  

Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.  

But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.  

Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.  

  Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.  

He who has ears, let him hear."...

“Listen then to what the parable of the Sower means:  

When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.  

The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.  

But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.  

The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.  

But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”  Matthew 13:1-9,18-23.

Here is a parable that tells where each believer stands. There are many people who go to church. Many claiming to be Christians that have fallen away or struggle for one reason or another with their faith. Thus the apostle Paul writes to the rest of us,

"We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves." Romans 15:1.

We who are strong in the Lord ought to help those who are weak in their faith.

Are there people around you whom you need to help spiritually?

Please think about it.

Show me your ways?

  Show me your ways?

“Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long.” Psalm 25:4,5.

As believers is God I think we all seem to take God for granted. We miss who he really is.

As such we need to remind ourselves that God is our Saviour and that all our hope is in Him.

This quote from Psalm 25 is, I believe a prayer we all need to be praying. We need to be asking God to show us his ways. We need to ask God to show us his paths and guide us in his truth. To teach us his truths.

Do you ask God to show you his ways? How often do you do it?

Please think about it.