Christian life principle #1

Christian life Principle #1

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. And The should be praying for those who persecute them.

If you consider yourself a believer in Christ Jesus do you show this kind of Love to those around you?

Please think about it. 

Committing your life to God

Committing your life to God.

The apostle Paul wrote,

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:1-2.

As Christians. As believers in Christ Jesus we are not to conform to the ways of this world. 

Instead our live should become a “living sacrifice”. Our commitment to God should be a complete commitment God. . Our lives should reflect the love of God in word and in deed. 

Christianity is not just a religion. It is a way of life. When you let Christ into your life. Your life begins to change. It may be a slow change at first. But the more we study the scriptures the more our life will change for the better.

The more we study the scriptures the more we can discern the will of God.

Question, have you presented your body as a living sacrifice to God?

Have you committed your whole life to God?

Please think about it.

On Nothing

 On nothing

In the book of Job we read,

"He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; 

He suspends the earth over nothing." 

                                         Job 26:7.

        Thousands of years before the above photo was taken by Apollo 8 on 24 December 1968 as it orbited the moon. Job described what they saw. The earth suspended on nothing.

The Psalmist writes,

"The heavens declare the glory of God; t

he skies proclaim the work of his hands." 

                                                               Psalm 19:1.

I believe that God created the heavens and the earth. Whether he did it in six twenty-four hour days or used the big bang and let it develop over millennia is unimportant. After all God is almighty and could have done it whatever way He wished.

What is important to me is that if we look into not just the heavens, but everything from the largest Galaxy to the smallest subatomic particle. We see that they all work together to make the not just the world we live in but the universe we live in, perfect for life as we know it.

I cannot believe this is by chance. There has to be a Creator behind the creation we live in.

I firmly believe that science done correctly will one day prove beyond a doubt that there is irrefutable evidence of God.

Dr. Arno Penzias 1978 Nobel Prize winner in Physics, writes,

"Astronomy leads us to a unique event, a universe which was created out of nothing, one with a very delicate balance needed to provide exactly the conditions required to permit life and one which has an underlying (one might say ‘supernatural') plan." Dr Arno Penzias.

William Philips writes,

“I believe in God more because of science than in spite of it"William Philips Nobel prize winning Physicist.

That being said. The question becomes do you believe in God?

Please think about it.

How do you pray

How do you pray?

Jesus said,

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.  

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.  

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.  

Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Matthew 6:5-8.

Prayer is an act of faith. And by what Jesus said here it is nothing we should be calling attention to. We should be praying for the most part in private.

Additionally our prayers need not be “wordy”. We should try to be concise when we pray. We need not say a lot. We should not be constantly repeating ourselves over and over again.

Above all however our prayers should be spoken in faith. Knowing that God will in His way and in His time answer them.

So how do you pray?

Please think about it.

Can you call on Him?

 Can you call on Him?

The Psalmist writes,

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4.

We all go through trials. Both mental and physical. Some trials even end in death.

Still if we are in a personal relationship with Christ Jesus we have Him to turn to. We know that no matter how hard the trial may be God is with us. Comforting and giving us strength to get through it.

In Psalm 139 we read,

“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.

Question; Is God an integral part of your life? Can you call on God in your time of need?

Please think about it.

Believe in God

  Believe in God

"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 judgement, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil."Ecclesiastes 12:13,14 

Jesus said,

"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.  

But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him." Luke 12:4,5.

There is a simple truth here. You can either believe in God or not. If those who do not believe in God are correct then what is quoted above means nothing. On the other hand if it is true then we have a lot to fear.

I however do not believe God is a God of wrath. Quite the contrary God is a God of love, Jesus 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 in sending Christ to this world with the express purpose of saving not just mankind in general but individuals, shows how much in human terms He was willing to go to reconcile each person to himself. 

In entering the world as Jesus. God experienced first hand what it was to be a man. Everything from the mundane such as feeling the rain on his face, sitting with friends, and attending a wedding. To the horrific, a merciless beating and crucifixion. 

Thus when an individual stands before the judgement seat of God no one can say He dose not understand what it is to be human. 

And anyone who reads the Bible cannot say they have not been warned because from cover to cover the Bible points the way to eternal life with God. Jesus summing things up when he said,

 “Whoever believes in him is not condemned,

 but whoever does not believe 

stands condemned already 

because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son". 

                                                                                                     John 3:18.

Please think about it.

Are you condemning them

Are you condemning them
Jesus said,
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:17.
As Christians we live in a world that contains many things that we disagree with. This is no different than in the time of Jesus.
Jesus and his disciples lived in a multi cultural society that was the Roman empire. There were horrifically immoral things happening at the time. Yet interestingly enough the Jesus and his disciples never passed judgement on them.
I think that perhaps this is one of the reason God sent Jesus at this time. God in his wisdom knew what kind of society we would be living in thus He gave us an example of how to live with those around us. Even those with whom we vehemently disagree with.
The apostle Paul stood in Athens speaking to those gathered in Areopagus, and never condemned their idol worship or their lifestyles. He simply presented the gospel of Salvation.
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.
We need to heed these words of Jesus carefully. The way I see it is the world will judge us according to how we judge them.
If they see us as bigots or insensitive or judgmental toward them. They will treat us the same way.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist makes a good point when he states,
“We ought to get out of the judging business. We should leave it up to God to determine who belongs in one arena or another when it comes to eternity. What we are obligated to do is to tell people about Jesus, and that's what I do.” Tony Campolo.
One of the first passages of scripture I ever memorized was 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.
The sole reason for Jesus coming into this world was to save the world not to condemn it. We as Christians, as believers in Christ Jesus will not win souls for Christ if we judge them.
Thus my question,

Are you treating others in the same way you want to be treated? 

OR 

Is your actions pushing people away from Christ?

Are you potentially condemning people to a Christless eternity?
Please think about it.

Remember this

Remember this

“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 I was a young Christian an older woman who loved the Lord deeply gave me a word of advice. Remember Matthew 7:12 and you will do the rest.
She meant you will obey Matthew 7:1,2 that states,
     “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 words of the apostle Paul
“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
The words of Jesus,
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 22:37-40
“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, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  Matthew 5:43-46
You will show the kind of Love the apostle Paul describes,

“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

You will also remember 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.

All of this is meant in the words of Jesus 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

Doing what the above verses say is the backbone of our faith. It all revolves around love.
Simply put you would not want anyone to judge you, harm you or even protest against you.
You would want them to love you. And as a Christian you should want to love those around you. It is the only sure way of pointing someone to heaven.
Think about it.