A Thorn in the flesh

  A thorn in the flesh

The apostle Paul writes,

“To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.  

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.  

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."     Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  

That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2Corinthians 12:7-10.

Sadly I’ve heard many preachers throughout the years say God wants you to be “healthy, happy and wealthy.”

While God wants the best for us, He does let us go through difficult time. Case in point the scripture above penned by the apostle Paul who had “a thorn in the flesh.”.

We are not told what it was and that is unimportant. What is important here is that the apostle Paul had asked God three times to take away the thorn. And God made it clear it was His (Gods) grace that was sufficient for Paul. That God’s power was made perfect in weakness.

It is especially in those times when we are at our weakness that we should be drawing close to God. Asking God for help and insight as to what we can learn from our hardships.

Please think about it.

A Note from the Apostle Peter

 A note from the Apostle Peter

The apostle Peter states,

"But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 

So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him.  2 Peter 3:13,14.

Are you doing your best to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with God?

Someone has said Christianity is a religion of rules. Of do’s and do nots. Rules that are hard to follow.

While it is true we are called to live a good moral life. Any rules Christians have to follow are no more constraining than following the rules of a given sport.

In order for the sport to be fair and safe for all. One must follow the rules. Something sportsmen and women do without even thinking. They just come naturally to them.

For Christians it’s the same. God has set before us a set of moral and ethical rules that if followed will lead to a good life. Such rules become natural to follow for those who read the Bible and interact with other Christians.

Peter knew that we don’t always follow Gods rules correctly. That we sometimes fall short of what God wants to be. And God knows this also.

That’s why Peter said “make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with God”

And for those times we fall. The times we sin we can go to God in prayer and ask forgiveness. The apostle John writing, 

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1John 1:9.

So if you consider yourself a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus, are you doing your best to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with God?

Please think about it.

I will hope in Him

  I will hope in Him

In the book of Job we read,

“Though He slay me, yet will I hope in him;

 I will surely defend my ways to his face.” 

                                                                      Job 13:15.

The story of Job is fascinating. Job lost everything. Yet he could say “though He slay me, Yet will I hope in him”

I wonder how many calling themselves Christians today, if put in the same circumstances of Job could say the same.

I particularly think of those calling themselves Christians in North America with all it’s freedoms. A place that enjoys freedoms that are the envy of the world. Where fear of persecution is minimal.

Could Christians in Canada and the United States if they lost everything say as Job did,

“Though He slay me, yet will I hope in him.”

Could you say this?

Please think about it.

Evaluate

  Evaluate

The psalmist writes,

"On my bed I remember you; 

I think of you through the watches of the night. 

Because you are my help, 

I sing in the shadow of your wings. 

My soul clings to you; 

your right hand upholds me." 

                                        Psalm 63:6-8.

Do you remember God as you lay on your bed? 

Is God your help in all situations?

Do you sing praises to God?

Do you cling to God?

Can you see how God has looked after you throughout your life?

Why not take some time now to look at your life and your relationship with God. Take time to evaluate Gods place in your life.

Please think about it.

In good and bad

 In good and bad

In the book of Lamentations we read,

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22,23.

God’s love is unending. Not only that God’s love can reach even the darkest places.

Corrie Ten Boom who survived Ravensbruck concentration camp during world war two, said, 

"There is no pit so deep 

that God's love is not deeper still". 

                                                  Corrie Ten Boom.

The apostle Paul who knew about suffering for being a believer in Christ Jesus, wrote,

"Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 

"Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself. 2 Timothy 11-13.

I don’t know why God lets us go through hard times. But I do know that in those hard times and in the good times. God is with us. 

For me there is one verse that has encouraged me, especially in the hard times. It reads,

"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.

We may not know why we are going through tough times but we do know if we keep trusting in God He will bring us through it.

Please think about it.

Spotless

  Spotless

The apostle Peter writes,

"But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 

So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.  2 Peter 3:13,14.

This is a call by the apostle Peter to all who believe in Christ Jesus. When Christ returns we need to do all that is humanly possible to “be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with God”

So here is my question to you. If you believe in Christ Jesus, were He to return today would He find you spotless, blameless and at peace with God?

Please think about it.

What will God See?

  What will God see?

In the book of Proverbs we read,

"For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD,

 and he examines all his paths." 

                                                                      Proverbs 5:2.

I don’t believe the idea that God is a big old self-centred man with a big stick ready to hit us when we do wrong. We only have to read John 3:16,17 to know that. 

John 3:16,17 states,

"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.

At the same time God is watching us and will judge us fairly in according to what He sees.

So my question to you is. When you stand before God and He examines your life What will God see?

Please think about it.

Our focus

  Our focus

The apostle Paul writes,

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."  Galatians 2:20.

In this statement the apostle Paul makes it clear that once we have accepted Christ as our saviour it is no longer we who live but Christ in us.

Upon accepting Christ into our lives our focus should change form ourselves and what is good for us. To one of doing the will of Christ.

If we claim to be a Christian a true follower of Christ Jesus we should be studying the scriptures to see what God requires of us. 

We must do this in order to grow in Christ Jesus. To become Christ like. Because wether we like it or not when we claim to be a Christian people will look at our lives and judge Christ by our words and deeds. As Francis of Assisi wrote,

"The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon some persons will hear today" 

                                                                             Francis of Assisi

Please think about it.

Is God your Strength?

 Is God your Strength?

The Psalmist writes,

"I love you, O LORD, my strength. 

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." Psalm 18:1,2.

Do you love the LORD?

Is God, your, rock, your fortress, your deliverer. The rock in which you take refuge?

Is God the first person you go to in time of trouble?

Are you willing to trust God with your life?

Take a few minutes to assess your relationship with God. Ask yourself can I say with the Psalmist, 

"I love you, O LORD, my strength. 

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." Psalm 18:1,2.

Please think about it.

Giving you all

  Giving your all

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.

The apostle Paul makes it clear 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”.

These words may seem easy to follow but they for many can be hard words to follow. 

Believing Jesus is God incarnate and believing He rose from the grave seems to many people strange. Even the apostle Paul notes,

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18.

I firmly believe God did it this way because those who truly believe in anything will literally go to the grave for what they believe. Which is the kind of people God wants.

The Christian life is not all smooth sailing. From it’s beginnings in Israel to present day there are those who have persecuted, imprisoned, and put Christians to death for what they believe. 

Yet even knowing they could face persecution, imprisonment, and death, the true believer in Christ Jesus does not shrink away from telling those around them what they believe.

The apostle Paul states what true Christians believe. Saying,

"For to me, to live is Christ 

and to die is gain." 

                                Philippians 1:21.

If you claim to be a true believer in Christ Jesus are you willing to give your all for what you believe?

Please think about it. 

We must look at their life

  We must look at their life

Jesus said,

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  

Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  

Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23.

I live in North America were many say they are Christians but they are not. This I know can be confusing for non-Christians. After all anyone calling themselves a Christian is a Christian to them.

At the same time I believe there are many calling themselves Christian who are misled by the pastor, evangelist or teacher they are following. Something that can have eternal consequences.

I believe the best way to tell a true Christian is to look at their life and lifestyle.

In the book of Galatians we read,

“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. 

I firmly believe that we should not believe someone is a Christian simply because they say they are. We must look at their life. We must look to see if they exhibit the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 

Please think about it.

To those in the West

 To those in the west

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.” Mark 8:34.

I firmly believe that we who believe in Christ Jesus living in the western democracies don’t fully comprehend this statement. With all of our freedoms we fail to realize that the cost of following Christ can and is extreme for those in countries where the freedom to worship God is prohibited. Where worshipping God can get you and your family sent to jail or labour camps.

Even in some democracies in the world where Christianity is a minority faith. Believing in Christ can lead to persecution. Persecution that can force a believer to leave his or her home village or town, get dismissed from their job, and in some cases lead to their families breaking ties with them.

As a result we living in the west fail to count the cost of following Christ.   

As a result we quite often take our faith in Christ too lightly to the point at times we place God of second or third priority in our life.

Quiet often choosing to do other things ahead of serving and worshipping God.

Some believers even going as far as hiding their faith from their co-workers or employers.

To those in the west I would remind them of the words of Jesus who said,

"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.  

But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven." Matthew 10:32,33.

So to those reading this who are living in the democratic and free democracies of the west do you admit to those around you, you are a believer in Christ Jesus?

Have you counted the cost of following Christ?

Do you put God ahead of all things in your life?

Please think about it.

Get Wisdom

  Get wisdom

In the book of Proverbs we read,

"Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. 

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. 

Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. 

Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honour you. 

She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendour." Proverbs 4:5-9.

What is wisdom? Here’s one definition I believe sums wisdom up, 

“the ability or result of an ability to think and act utilizing knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense, and insight.”

When it comes to being a Christian. A true believer in Christ Jesus. We need to ask God to give us wisdom in all situations in life.

One of the best ways is to pray and study the scriptures, not just read them. Pray and ask God to show you the truths held within the Bible. At the same time look at what various people in the Bible did. How they overcome problems.

Question... Do you ask God to give you wisdom, especially when dealing with other people?

Why not take some time right now to pray and ask God for wisdom.

            Please think about it.

Live in Peace

 Live in Peace

The apostle Paul writes,

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

live at peace with everyone." 

                                                                Romans 12:18.

What exactly does it mean to live at peace with everyone?

For me it means to live in peace with everyone means to respect the beliefs and lifestyle of others even if we disagree with them.

It means doing our best to show unconditional love to those around us. To present our faith in a non-threatening way, and not force our faith on anyone.

It all comes down to 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.

For evermore

For evermore

The Psalmist writes,

"Seek the Lord, and His strength: 

seek His face evermore." 

                                                Psalm 105:4.

Being a Christian not simply saying “I believe in God and that Jesus paid the price for my sins”.

Being a Christian is going before God continually to seek His wisdom and guidance. 

The late American evangelist Billy Graham,

“The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, 'O God, forgive me,' or 'Help me.'” Billy Graham

In our lives we will have many ups and downs. 

The key however whether we are in one of the valleys of life or having a mountain top experience is to seek God continually.

We do this by studying the scriptures, praying, and praising God.

Do you seek The Lord continually in good times and in bad?

Please think about it.

God's representative

God's representative 

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.

It’s interesting here Jesus speaking tells us WE are the light of the world. The apostle Paul tells us,

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!  

All this is from God, Simultaneously reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.  

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 Corinthians5:17-20.

Simply put we are Gods representatives on this earth. It is through the lense of our words and deeds that people will see God. Therefore we must live a life that is as close to God as is humanly possible.

We will never be a prefect witness for God. However if we do our best. Asking Gods guidance in all we do. While at the same time being willing to admit our mistakes both to God and anyone we may have wronged, then asking for their forgiveness. We can be an effective ambassador for Christ.

So are you doing your best to represent God to the world around you?

Please think about it.

You'll be treated the same way

 You'll be treated the same way

Luke’s Gospel records this incident between Jesus and a rich man,

“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." 

When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.” Luke 18:23. 

The message here is simple. Anyone wishing to become a Christian must be willing to give everything up for Christ.

Jesus never promised us riches or an easy life. He simply offered us eternal life with Him in heaven after this life is over.

In fact Jesus said,

"Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also." John 15:20.

      When becoming a Christian one must remember that they will be treated in the same way the world treated Jesus

Please think about it. 

Enjoy Life

  Enjoy life

In the book of Ecclesiastes we read,

“Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.

Let your garments be always white. Let not oil be lacking on your head.

Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun because that is you portion in life and your toil at which you toil under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 9:7-9.

I’ve heard it said that the Christian life is “following a bunch of rules”. “A bunch of do’s and do not’s.” To which I say it is not. 

The Christian life comes with set of rules to live by that’s true. But those rules are like the rules for playing football. The rules are there so that you have good and fair game.

The rules Christians follow are layed down by God so that we know what He requires of us. That being said God wants us to enjoy life. The above Scripture tells us that.

"Go, eat your bread with joy, 

and drink your wine with a merry heart, 

for God has already approved what you do.”

                                                   Ecclesiastes 9:7.

So yes while we as believers in Christ Jesus have rules to follow. They are rules that help us live a good and happy life.

Please think about it.

The fruit of a Christian life

  The Fruit of a Christian life

In the book of Galatians we read,

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 5:22,23.

Look carefully at this list,

love, 

joy, 

peace, 

patience, 

kindness, 

goodness, 

faithfulness,  

gentleness

 and 

self-control

Are these the attributes that people see when they look at your life?

If you follow a pastor, evangelist, philosopher, or even a politician. Do these people exhibit these characteristics? If not you should not be following them. It’s that simple.

Those Characteristics listed above are those of a Christian man and woman. Something God wants all of us to exhibit.

Thus the question becomes; Do you exhibit these characteristics?

Think about it. 

Pursue what promotes peace

 Pursue what promotes peace

The apostle Paul writes,

"So then, let us pursue what promotes peace

 and what builds up one another "

                                                                  Romans 14:19

As believers we are called to pursue the way of peace. The apostle Peter writing,

The apostle Peter writes,

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  

Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 

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 2:9-12.

We as believers in Christ Jesus are called to live so good even the pagans will one day see our good deeds and glorify God.

Question...

When people see your life. Do they see a life pursuing peace?