As you would have them do to you

 As you would have them do to you

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.

How do you treat others? Do you show love and respect to everyone? Even those whom you disagree with?

Love Christian love is defined by the apostle Paul 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.

Is this the kind of love you show to others, even your enemies?

Do you treat others the same way you wish to be treated?

Please think about it.

It is Good

   It is Good

“It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning  and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp.” Psalm 92:1-3.

One of the things I think many Christians fail in is Praising God. We are quick to call on God when things go wrong but not so quick to take time to praise God.

Why not take sometime right now to simply praise God?

Please think about it.

Four things

  Four things

My parents were secular. They believed in God but didn’t attend church much. But there were three things I was brought up with.

From my study of the Bible I have added one thing. Making it four things I believe true Christians should be following.

1/Love God.

2/Love your neighbour. Remembering all people are your neighbours. 

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 neighbour as yourself.'  

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

3/Judge no one especially when it comes to where they will spend eternity.

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 said,

"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."1Corinthians 5:12,13

4/ Treat others the way you wish to be treated.

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.

Please think about it.

Your faith Your works

   Your faith Your works

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

Thus the question becomes, is your faith leading you to do good works?

Please think about it.

Sing for Joy

Sing for joy

The Psalmist writes,

“Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; 

let the people of Zion be glad in their King. 

Let them praise his name with dancing 

and make music to him with tambourine and harp. 

For the LORD takes delight in his people; 

He crowns the humble with salvation. 

Let the saints rejoice in this honour 

and sing for joy on their beds.” 

                                                        Psalm 149:2-5.

If you are a true believer in Christ Jesus why not take sometime right now to rejoice in your maker. Take now to praise the God of your salvation.

Please think about.

"Ephesus and you?

  Ephesus and you?

In the book of Revelations we read,

"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands:  

I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.  

You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.  

Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.  

But you have this in your favour: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.  Revelations 2:1-7.

It is said each church represented in the book or Revelations can refer to a church, a church denomination or even a person in the present day.

Here while the Lord comments on their deeds and hard work. That they have not tolerated wicked men. And that they have hated the practices of the Nicolaitans an heretical group. The Lord also notes,

• “Yet I hold this against you: 
• you have forsaken your first love.  
• Remember the height from which you have fallen!
• Repent and do the things you did at first”. 

Some scholars note that this could mean that they have lost their love of God, of Christ. Some have even said they have lost their love of each other. While others say they have lost their love of both.

Either way The Lord makes it clear if they don’t repent they will loose their status before God.

As individuals we need to look at ourselves; Is God truly my first love? Do I truly love those around me. Family, friends, and foe alike?

Do I need to repent?

Do you?

Please think about it.