A moral duty to the poor

 A moral duty to the poor

In the book of Leviticus we read.

“‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.’ ” Leviticus 23:22.

The American evangelist Tony Campolo said,

“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.” Tony Campolo.

I believe as Christians we have a moral obligation to help those in need and scripture backs this up. 

             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.

In the Jewish faith there is a concept known as Tzedakah. I got this explanation of tzedakah from Jewish web site it states,

"Tzedakah is the Hebrew word for acts that we call charity in English: giving assistance and money to the poor and needy or to other worthy causes. However the nature of tzedakah is very different from the idea of charity. The word "charity suggests benevolence and generosity, a magnanimous act by the wealthy and the powerful for the benefit of the poor and needy....

In Judaism giving to the poor is not viewed as a generous, magnanimous act, it is simply and act of righteousness, performance of a duty giving the poor their due.

We have no way of knowing why a person is poor and in need. And its not our place to judge the poor. 

It is however, our moral obligation to help the poor when we can.

Please think about it.

Speaking up for the poor

  Speaking up for the poor

In the book of proverbs we read,

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. 

Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." Proverbs 31:8,9.

Here is a clear directive from God to all who believe in Him. 

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,

 for the rights of all who are destitute. 

Speak up and judge fairly;

 defend the rights of the poor and needy.” 

                                                  Proverbs 31:8,9.

Here is something we all of us need to get into our brains. We are to help the needy in any way we can. Speaking up for those in need means confronting our political leaders. Telling them they need to implement programs that will offer a living wage, free access to good health care, food and affordable housing. In short giving the poor basic human rights.

Jesus stood up for the rights of the poor. In Luke 16:19-31 Jesus tells the story of the rich man who had everything this world had to offer but would not help a poor man. The result was the rich man ended up in hell while the poor man ended up in heaven. This should be a warning to all who are rich and to all who are not standing up for the rights of the needy.

Thus my questions to you; Are you speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves. For those in need?

Are the politicians and religious leaders you support standing up obeying what is said in Proverbs 31:8,9?

Please think about it.

Believing by faith.

  Believing by faith

The apostle Paul wrote,

“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.

This in a nutshell is what those who believe in Christ Jesus believe. This is what I believe.

It is a belief I simply present to those I meet and let them decide for themselves.

In the book of Hebrews we read,

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."  Hebrews 11:1

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6.

Faith, especially faith in someone we cannot see is a very difficult thing. That’s why I believe God asks us to believe by faith.

Thus my question is, Do you believe in God and have you accepted by faith the saving faith that comes through Christ Jesus?

Please think about it. 

Wager He exists

 Wager He exists

The Psalmist states,

"The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." 

                                                                  Psalm 14:1.

This is what the writer of Psalm 14 wrote and each individual who reads it must decide for themselves whether they agree or disagree with what he writes.

Before you decide however I want you to consider what Blaise Pascal wrote. He said,

“Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists.” Blaise Pascal.

Please think about it.

What ever is

  What ever is

The apostle Paul wrote,

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Philippians 4:8.

One commentary I read on this verse said, 

“the Philippians are to fill their minds with things that inspire worship of God and service to others.”

Many people in the world look at Christians and ask the question “why should I follow Christ?” Many look at the negative message given by those who call themselves Christian and are Christians in name only.

They don’t realize that not every one who calls themself a Christian are not Jesus said,

"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 7:22,23

I believe as Christians we need to show the world around us a reason to follow Jesus. A reason to put their trust in God.

We need to be doing what is noble, what is right, what is pure, what is lovely, what is admirable and what is excellent and praiseworthy about God.

If you claim to be a Christian are you doing this?

Please think about it.

Your wealth or God

 Your wealth or God?

Jesus told this story

"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.  

At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores  and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 

"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried.  

In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  

So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' 

"But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.  

And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.' 

"He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house,  

for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' 

"Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' 

" ‘No, father Abraham,' he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' 

"He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' " Luke 16:19-31

I am told there are around 2000 verses in the Bible telling us to care for the poor. That being said there is nothing wrong with being rich. It’s the emphasis a person puts on the wealth that they have.

The apostle Paul wrote,

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." 1 Timothy 6:10.

Thus we need to be certain what we worship, our wealth, or God.

Who or what do you worship, God or money?

Please think about it.

Do you truly believe?

 Do you truly believe

The Psalmist writes,

“One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” Psalm 27:4.

Is this your desire? Do you yearn to be in the house of God? Are you certain that you are going to heaven? You can be.

Jesus speaking of himself 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. 

The apostle Paul wrote,

"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.

So do you truly believe Jesus is Lord and that God raised him from the dead?

Please think about it.

Things to follow

 Things to follow

In the book of Thessalonians we read,

“Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. 

Be joyful always;  

pray continually;  

give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 

Do not put out the Spirit's fire;  

do not treat prophecies with contempt.  

Test everything. Hold on to the good.  

Avoid every kind of evil. 

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1Thessalonians5:15-23.

Here we are given words to live by. Admittedly at times it can be hard to do so. But with God’s help we can do it. The key I believe is in all things be willing to go to God directly.

The psalmist telling us,

"I lift up my eyes to the hills— 

where does my help come from? 

My help comes from the LORD, 

the Maker of heaven and earth." 

                                            Psalm 121:1,2.

Are you doing your best to put into action what is written here in 1Thessalonians?

Is God the Maker of heaven and earth your helper?

Please think about it. 

Who can get to heaven?

 Who can get to heaven?

The apostle Paul writing to the Romans wrote,

"For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.  

(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.)" Romans 2:13-15.

Anyone can get to heaven even if you have not heard of Christ.

God when he created man he placed on our hearts what is right and wrong. Paul alludes to this when he writes,

“Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.” Romans 2:14,15.

Simply put you will be accountable for what you know. If you on the other hand heard  what Jesus said when he spoke about himself,

“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. 

 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 3:16-18.

You will be held to that standard.

It is my prayer that anyone reading this blog will make the decision to follow Christ Jesus and receive the saving grace he offers.

Will you make that decision today?

Please think about it.

Showing Mercy

  Showing Mercy

In the book of James we read,

"Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,  because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!" James 2:12,13.

Here is something we all must take to heart. We will all be judged by God one day. Thus we need to take this portion of scripture to heart.

We need to “speak and act as those who are going to be judged”. We need to realize that “judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful”.

We must remember that “Mercy triumphs over Judgment.”

When God judges you will He see that you have judged others without mercy? OR will God see you have shown mercy to those around you?

Please think about it.

Created for good works

 Created for good works

In the book of Ephesians we read,

“For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10.

This is a simple enough text. We are Gods workmanship. Created in Christ Jesus for good works.

While I know the Talmud is Jewish and not a Christian book. There is an excellent quote that goes like this.

“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 requires of us

  What God requires of us

In the book of Micah we read,

"He has showed you, O man, what is good.

 And what does the LORD require of you? 

To act justly and to love mercy 

and to walk humbly with your God." 

                                                  Micah 6:8.

This portion of scripture is self explanatory. God requires each of us to...

Act justly

Love mercy

Walk humbly with God.

Are you doing this?

Please think about it.

Aliens and a royal priesthood

 Aliens and a royal priesthood

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.

Here is a clear statement as to what a Christian is. We are a royal priesthood, a holy people belonging to God, that we may declare the praises of God.

Peter also notes that we are aliens and strangers in this world. Going on to tell us to abstain from sinful desires.

Christians are in this world, for lack of a better word, stateless. We are in every corner of the world but there is no nation that is Christian.

Our job in this world is not to build nations but the spread the Gospel of Christ Jesus. Jesus himself 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.

Are you part of the royal priesthood?

Are you an alien to in this world?

Are you at least helping to make disciples?

Please think about it.

If there is one thing you remember

 If there is one thing you remember

If there is one thing you remember from all that I have written in this book it is this. 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

Put this way it means;

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 on others

however good they may be.

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 Jesus loves you,...

unconditionally.

Please think about it

Attributes of a true believer

 Attributes of a true believer

The apostle John writes,

"Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.  

He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.  

No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.  

This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are:  Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother." 1 John 3:7-10.

In 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.

This is how we can tell if someone truly is a follower of God. This is how we can tell a true Christian from a false one. It’s the test we can use to tell the truth.

A true follower of Christ is some one who shows,

love,

 joy, 

peace, 

patience, 

kindness, 

goodness, 

faithfulness,  

gentleness 

self-control. 

Are the people around you. The religious and political leaders around you exhibiting these attributes? Are you exhibiting these attributes?

Please think about it.

Choose for yourself

 Choose for yourself

In the book of Obadiah we read,

“For the day of the LORD is near upon all nations.

As you have done, it shall be done to you;

your deeds shall return on your own head” 

                                                                        Obadiah 1:15.

In Ecclesiastes we read,

"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 judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." Ecclesiastes12:13,14.

I firmly believe we must receive Jesus as our saviour while we live. The Bible does not say we can receive salvation after we die. 

Jesus speaking of himself 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.  

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 3:16-18.

In the book of Joshua we read,

"Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshipped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.  

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:14,15.

Please think about it.

There is one man

 There is one man

The apostle Paul wrote,

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.”  1 Timothy 2:1-6.

Paul makes it clear here that Jesus is the only mediator between God and man. It is through Jesus that we are saved. It is Jesus who died for our sins. 

Jesus himself said,

“Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

This is an incredible statement for anyone to make. Saying He is the only way to heaven.

I like what C. S. Lewis said about Jesus in Mere Christianity. Lewis wrote,

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to."   C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Please think about it.

Do you have eternal life?

  Do you have eternal life?

The apostle John writes,

“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  

He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” 1 John 5:11-12.

Here John makes a simple statement. If you believe in Christ Jesus you have eternal life. Jesus speaking of himself 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.

In the book of Romans we read,

"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

Do you believe in God and the saving grace that comes through Christ Jesus?

Please think about it. 

Handling the word of God

 Handling the word of God

The apostle Paul writes,

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15.

I feel we as Christians at times become so familiar with the scriptures that we take them for granted as a result we handle them without due care.

As believers in God. As believers in Christ Jesus. We must realize that the Bible is the inspired word of God. As such it must be handled with care. We must quote the scriptures in the context they are written.

We must never take scripture out of context in order to prove our point of view. We as the apostle Paul states,

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15.

Do you and the pastors and religious teachers you listen to handle the word of God correctly?

Please think about it.

About the miracles of Christ

  About the Miracles of Christ.

In the book of Luke we read,

“Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him.  

As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her.  

When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.” 

Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!”  

The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. 

They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.”  

This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.” Luke 7:11-17.

I am always amazed at the miracles Christ did. I’m amazed because it proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus is God incarnate.

I’ve heard that some don’t believe Jesus did miracles. My answer, “If he didn’t do them why would the writers of the Bible include them?”. Including untrue miracles would be lying and disprove the very thing they are trying to prove. For that matter why would any of Jesus’ claims be true if the miracles were false.

C. S. Lewis wrote,

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to." C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.

Please think about it.