Justice, Love, Kindness

  Justice, Love, and Kindness

The Prophet Micah said,

“He (God) has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8.

This is for many people hard to do. It’s very easy to see the wrong someone does. Many people who call themselves Christians are quick to point out the sin someone is committing.

This is not what God wants of all those who call themselves Christian. Of those who claim to be true followers of Christ Jesus.

Yes it’s true the apostle Paul said,

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

But you’re not going to win a soul to Christ if you don’t first show justice, love, and kindness to those around you.

When a person sees you love them and do not judge them. It is they will listen to you and the Holy Spirit can work in their lives.

The late 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.

If a person is honest with themselves they will know they are not perfect. They know more than anyone else the mistakes they make. They know they sin Not only that many people hang on and quite often brood over their mistakes.

As Christians it is our job to show Gods love to them and remind them of what the apostle John said,

"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.

If you consider yourself a true follower of Christ Jesus are you doing this?

Please think about it.

We need to

We need to
The apostle Paul wrote,
“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.  
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.  
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:19-25  
Here the apostle Paul shows how you can tell a true believer in Christ Jesus from one who is only giving lip service. He notes sinful acts 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.”  

Then he points to the fruit of the spirit.

love, joy, 

peace, 

patience, kindness, 

goodness, faithfulness,  

gentleness and self-control.

Which of these characteristics are evident in your life?
Which of these characteristics are evident in the religious or secular leaders you choose to follow?
As believers in Christ we need to pray and ask God to show us how we can experience more of the fruit of the spirit in our life.
At the same time we need to ask God to show us what Characteristics are being shown in the life of the leaders we follow be they religious leaders or political leaders.
We need to remember at all times the words of the apostle Peter who said,

"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.

Are you doing this?
Please think about it.

Be Careful

Be Careful
Jesus told his disciples
“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” Matthew 10:16.
We as Christians in the twenty-first century need to heed what Jesus said.
Jesus said be shrewd as snakes. A snake is cautious when it acts. It surveys the area around it before it makes a move.
A dove is one of the most innocent of animals. It poses no harm to anyone. It is the symbol of peace.
If we as Christians are to heed the advice of Jesus. We must be careful in how we conduct our life for Christ.
We must remember what Paul wrote to the Galatians,
“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.
As true Christians we must exhibit the fruits of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. People must see those traits in us.
The apostle Peter reminds us,
“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.
If you claim to be a Christian take time right now to pray and take stock of your life and lifestyle. Do you exhibit the fruits of the spirit? Do you abstain from sinful desires.
When you present the gospel of Christ do you do it in a non-threatening way? Do you do it in such a way as to open dialogue between you and the person you are speaking to?
Please think about it