Choosing to Love

  Choosing to Love

The apostle Paul writing to the Corinthians defines Christian love as,

"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.

If you consider yourself a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus. Is this the kind of Love you show to those around you?

Please think about it.

Love the greatest commandment

  Love the greatest commandment.

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 neighbor as yourself.’  

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

We must also love our enemy. Jesus stating,

“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?  

And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?  Matthew 5:43-47.

So do you choose to follow the greatest commandment of Jesus?

Please think about it.

Refraining from Judgement

 Refrain from Judging 

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.

An important element of Christian life is never to judge anyone other than for our personal protection, (physical and spiritual). We as believers in Christ must refrain from Judging others especially those outside the church. 

Additionally we should never judge an individual with respect to where they will spend eternity. That is God's purview. 

We as mere mortals do not have all the facts. We do not know why a person is the way they are. Only God knows that. That’s why we must show love and not judge in anyway toward those around us.

That being said, I believe Christians can judge other Christians but only to see that they are teaching sound doctrine. The apostle Paul stating,

“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.

Sadly within the church today too many people calling themselves Christians are judging people they disagree with outside the church. 

The late American 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

At the same those within the church are failing to judge whether or not, those calling themselves Christian leaders are truly teaching the word of God correctly.

No soul will ever be won for Christ by judging those outside the church. Those people will simply turn away and not listen.

At the same time men and women professing to be Christians will also turn many away from Christ. While at the same time leading believers away with half truths and misinterpretations of the gospel message.

Thus we as believers in Christ Jesus have two choices. 

1/ To avoid judging those outside of the church except for our personal physical protection.

2/ ensure that the pastors, evangelist, and Christian teachers you listen to are presenting the word of God correctly

Please think about it.

Look at it this way

 Look at it this way

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.

Think of it this way

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 however good they may be on others.

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 God loves you,...

unconditionally.

Please think about it.

Jesus gives us a job

Jesus gives us a job

"The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 

Day after day they pour forth speech; 

night after night they display knowledge. 

There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard." 

                                                                                             Psalm 19:1-3.

I over the years have listened with interest to discussions among Christians about creation. Some believing in the six twenty-four hour day theory. While some believe the creation is billions of years old, the so called “old earth theory”.

For me this is an unimportant question. I believe, Genesis when it states,

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."

                                                                                        Genesis 1:1.

I believe the apostle John when he states,

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  

He was with God in the beginning. 

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  

In him was life, and that life was the light of men....

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. " John 1:1-4,14.

Exactly how God created the universe and everything in it doesn’t matter. The fact is he is God and could have done it either way.

For me as a Christian the most important thing is, is that there is a God who loves us and wants to fellowship with us. 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.

In Matthew Jesus give all who believe in him a job. He states,

“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.

This is what we should be doing. To do less is to potentially sent someone into a Christless eternity.

Please think about it.

From Psalms

  From the Psalms

The Psalmist writes,

“How can a young man keep his way pure? 

By living according to your word. 

I seek you with all my heart; 

do not let me stray from your commands. 

I have hidden your word in my heart 

that I might not sin against you. 

Praise be to you, O LORD; 

teach me your decrees. 

With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. 

I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. 

I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. 

I delight in your decrees; 

I will not neglect your word.” 

                                                      Psalm 119:9-16.

If you consider yourself a Christian. A believer in Christ Jesus. Why not make these words from Psalms a reality in your life today?

Please think about it.

A guiding light

  A guiding light

The psalmist writes.

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." 

                                                                                  Psalm 119:105

Thus my question to you dear reader is; Is it? Is the word of the Lord a guiding light to you in all your ways?

Sadly for many claiming to be Christians today Gods word is not their primary guiding light. They mix the word of God with other things, everything from philosophies, other faiths, and even the constitution of the country in which they live. This should not be so.

If we are true followers of Christ Jesus our guidance should come directly and unadulteratedly from the Bible. 

You cannot pick and choose what you believe in the bible and disregard the rest. St. Augustine said,

“If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.” St Augustine.

The bible is the inspired Word of God. The apostle Paul telling us,

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,  so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”2 Timothy 3:16,17.

So I ask you again; is the Bible your guiding light?

Please think about it.

Concerning the poor

   Concerning the poor

In the book of Acts we read,

“He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly" Acts:10:2.

Here in North America we live with freedoms that are the envy of the world. We also live in a very materialistic society. And materialism has infiltrated the church. 

There are many evangelist and pastors who have twisted the truths of scripture and made themselves millionaires by praying on the poor. Saying to people that if we truly love God we will be healthy and wealthy. If you give to their ministry giving what they call “seed faith”. 

   Telling you God will give you a ten or hundred fold return on the money you give, as if God is a cosmic banker.

They say if you aren’t getting wealthy or have bad health then you have sin in your life or lack faith.

Yet the reality is quiet the opposite. There are many who love God who are just making ends meet.   

In Lukes  Gosple we read 

"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, honour 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." Luke 18:18-22.

I would say from what is said here in Luke, it is those rich pastors and evangelist that should be giving everything up, giving all they have to the poor to follow Christ.

Now I know the Talmud is a Christian book but it reflects Christian values. One quote states, 

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.

This statement is true the apostle Paul writing to the Romans said,

"Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality." Romans 12:13. 

Can you imagine how much better the world would be if multimillionaires and billionaires gave half their wealth to help the poor.

The apostle John writes,

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1John 3:17,18.

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. James 2:14-17.

I firmly believe all who claim to be Christian, all who claim to be true followers of Christ Jesus need to be helping the poor in anyway they can. We need to do it because in this world we are the hands of Christ.

Please think about it.

A command from Paul

 A command from Paul

The apostle Paul wrote,

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Colossians 3:12-14.

Is the above a description of what you do? When people look at your life do they see compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love?

Do you forgive others any wrongs they have done to you in the way the Lord did you? Do you forgive others unconditionally which is the way God forgave you?

Take a little time to pray and ask God to show you if you are truly doing what the apostle Paul is telling believers in Jesus to do.

Please think about it.

Not against the law

  Not against the law

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.

 Here’s a simple question. Are you exhibiting these fruit in your life?

Please think about it.

In the book of acts

  In the book of Acts

"At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment.  

He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly." Acts 10:1,2

Here in North America we live with freedoms that are the envy of the world. Indeed the western countries of the world are very wealthy. Yet still we have people living on the street with no house home to call their own, struggling to put food on the table. And it’s not because they want too live like this. Many just can’t afford to rent or buy a house. It is so sad.

In the book of James we read,

"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.    If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." James 2:14-17

In Jewish culture there is a belief called Tzedakah it is something I believe James would have known about. It is something we as Christians need to not just think about, but practice. I got the following definition of Tzedakah from a Jewish website

"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....

Giving to the poor is an obligation in Judaism, a duty that cannot be forsaken even by those who are themselves in need. Some sages have said that tzedakah is the highest of all commandments, equal to all of them combined, and that a person who does not perform tzedakah is equivalent to an idol worshipper...”

This is something that alines with Christian belief.

So the question to you is do you give to helping the poor where you can, be it to a Church or reputable charity?

Please think about it.

And one postscript: 

“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

Is Jesus God Incarnate?

  Is Jesus God Incarnate?

In John’s gospel chapter 14 we read,

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

Marks gospel records,

Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?" 

They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." 

"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ.'" Mark 8:27-29. 

Speaking to Martha Jesus asked,

John's gospel records, 

"Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

"Yes Lord" she told Him, "I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world," John 11:25,26,27.

Again the apostle John in chapter 10:30-33, records,

"I and the Father are one." 

Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, 

"I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?" 

"We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God." John 10:30-33.

It was a serious offence at the time of Christ in Jewish society to make yourself equal to God. C. S. Lewis tell us.

"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

So who do you think Jesus is?

Please think about it.

Winning favour

 Winning favour

In the book of Proverbs we read,

"Let love and faithfulness never leave you;

 bind them around your neck, 

write them on the tablet of your heart. 

Then you will win favour and a good name

 in the sight of God and man."

                                                       Proverbs 3:3,4.

As believers in Christ Jesus we must remember that Love of God, and love for our fellow man, be they family, friend, or foe, should take first place in our heart.

Godly Love defined by the apostle Paul as,

“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

As for faith we read in 1 Corinthians,

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8,9.

The writer of Hebrews telling us,

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

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 11:1,6

The results of love and faithfulness will, the writer of proverbs tells us,

“...win favour and a good name 

in the sight of God and man.”

So if you consider yourself as a Christian. A true believer in Christ Jesus, is this something you are doing?

Please think about it.

Humble yourself

  Humble yourself

“To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable:  

“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  

The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.  

I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 

“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 

“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14.

I believe the Christian life is about being humble before God and before our fellow man.

The apostle Paul tells us,

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!" Philippians 2:5-8.

In the book of James we read,

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, 

and he will lift you up."

                                        James 4:10.

Humility will win more souls for Christ than arrogance and self-righteousness will every time.

Please think about it. 

Do

 Do

The Prophet Micah writes,

“He has shown you, O mortal, 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 is a duty of every believer in Christ Jesus. Every believer in God. 

                                    We are...

to act justly, 

to love mercy, 

to walk humbly with God.

These attributes are what God desires in a believer.

Thus my question to you. If you consider yourself a believer in Christ are these attributes visible in your life?

Please think about it.

In everything

 In everything 

The apostle Paul writes,

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.  

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone Colossians 4:5,6.

Sometimes I think Christians forget about wisdom, especially here in North America. They are too focussed on getting things their way. On protecting their rights.

They spend their time complaining that the duly elected secular government is giving rights to people they object too. Then when a group pushes back they complain even more loudly. This should not be so.

As Christians we should be asking for Gods wisdom in reaching the world around us. We should be engaging those we disagree with, in a positive none condemning way. We should remember the words of Jesus who gave us a bench mark to follow when dealing with others, 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.

When dealing with those outside our faith, we should be asking ourselves; would I like to be treated the way I treated that person?  

Thus my question is: Do you, in everything, you do, do to others what you would have them do to you?

Please think about it.

Paul's call

  Paul’s call

The apostle Paul wrote,

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Colossians 3:12-14.

Is the above a description of what you do? When people look at your life do they see compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love?

Do you forgive others any wrongs they have done to you in the way the Lord did you? Do you forgive others unconditionally which is the way God forgave you?

Take a little time to pray and ask God to show you if you are truly doing what the apostle Paul is telling believers in Jesus to do.

Please think about it.

Day and Night

 Day and night

The Psalmist writes,

“I say to the Lord,

You are my Lord; 

apart from you I have no good thing.

                                                      Psalm 16:2

If you consider yourself a Christian do you believe this? 

Do you truly believe this?

Can you say apart from God there is no good thing?

As Christians. As believers in Christ Jesus. God must be woven into the fabric of our being. 

We must as the Psalmist states,

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked 

or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, 

and on his law he meditates day and night.”

                                                                    Psalm 1:1,2 

So if you consider yourself a Christian. A follower of Christ Jesus. Do you meditate on the word of God day and night?

Please think about it.

Just as your Father

 Just as your Father

Jesus said,

"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." 

                                                              Luke 6:36.

Mercy according to the Oxford dictionary is "compassion or forgiveness shown towards an enemy or offender in one's power."

Throughout my years in church work I have heard from various individuals that I shouldn’t associate with “certain people” because they are sinners. Those individuals were WRONG. And were sinners themselves. They were sinners because they judged others. Jesus saying, 

Judge not, that you be not Judged   

"For with the judgement you pronounce you will be judged with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1,2 

Paul writing to the romans stating,

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

Matthews Gospel records,

“While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.  

When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners'?" 

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Mark 2:15-17.

Jesus is the ultimate doctor. Healing the soul. His call is,

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30.

Jesus associated with everyone irrespective of who they were or their status in society. And we are called to do as he did. 

If we don’t take to Gospel message to the world who will?

Billy Graham the late American evangelist said,

"It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God's job to judge

 and my job to love," 

                            Billy Graham.

It is our job as Christians. As believers in Christ Jesus to present the gospel to all people without judging them. Jesus 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.

The only way we can do this is showing love and mercy to those around us.

Please think about it. 

Gods judgement

  Gods Judgement

In the book of Acts it records the apostle Paul standing in the Areopagus in Athens among learned men and women, and testifying to them about God and Christ Jesus. Paul concluded with,

"In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  

For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." 

When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject."  

At that, Paul left the Council.  

A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others" Acts 17:30-34

God will one day judge the world justly. He will judge us I believe in accordance to what we know. That being said I also believe we at the very least know almost from birth what is right and wrong. As such we will be judged accordingly.

If someone has told us about the salvation that comes through Christ Jesus we will be judged on that knowledge. 

God will never I believe judge us on what we don’t know that at the very least will be unfair.

That being said. Are you ready to be judged by God?

Please think about it.