Are you doing your best?

 Are you doing your best?

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.

Your best. That is all God requires of you. Especially when it comes to handling the word of God. We are asked to do our best.

When it comes to the scriptures we need to study them for ourselves. At the same time we need to read commentaries and listen to teachers that both agree and disagree with what we believe.

I say we should listen to those we disagree with because if someone disagrees with our interpretation of the scriptures we should be asking the question. “why?” 

Why do they believe as they do? Are they right in what they believe or am I right? 

Through all of this we should be praying and asking Gods to direct us to what is right.

It is only after we have done all we feel we can do to interpret scripture correctly should we teach it.

If you are presenting the Gospel message to anyone are you doing your best to present it correctly?

Please think about it.

The Key

 The Key

Jesus said,

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing" John15:5.

Here is the key to church growth. Remaining in Jesus. Following the teachings of Christ. Sadly the church here in North America is not doing this and the fact that church growth is generally declining proves this.

Someone once told me the church in America and Canada have a problem... Freedom.

    They fail to use that freedom wisely. Instead of preaching in word and in deed the true inspired word of the gospel message they choose to mix it with other things. Love of money, and politics, being principle among them.

The apostle Paul for so this when he wrote,

"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,  without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,  treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—  having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them." 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

Thus I believe it is time for the church to follow the words of God as recorded in 2 Chronicles. When He said,

"if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles, 7:14.

If we don’t the church will continue to decline here in North America and indeed within the free nations of the world.

Please think about it.

Christian Principles #4 Living at Peace

Christian Principles #4 living at Peace
Live at Peace with those around you.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”  Romans 12:18.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“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.
The Apostle Peter tells believers in Christ Jesus,
“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.
Believers in Christ Jesus are called to live a good and peaceful life. A life of holiness.
As believers in Christ we need to take a look at the actions of Jesus and the apostles. They never spoke out against anyone outside their faith. They never protested for any reason. They did as far as was possible live at peace with those around them. They lived a life of love.
In doing so they opened up doors to talk with other groups throughout the known world. As a result in just over a century, Christianity had spread throughout the known world.
These men and women by living a peaceful loving life stood in the Areopagus in Athens and spoke to the learned men and women there. They spoke with politicians, soldiers, tax collectors, and people of every strata of society from slaves to rulers.
This is what we in the twenty-first century church need to do. Are you?
Please think about it.

True Worshippers

True Worshippers
Jesus said,
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.  
God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23-24.
Are you a true worshipper? Do you truly worship God in spirit and in truth? These are questions only you can answer.
God in the book of Exodus states,
“You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3.
In the book of Joshua we read,
“Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.   Joshua 24:14.
If we consider ourselves true followers of Christ Jesus, we must examine our lives and ask ourselves in no uncertain terms if we are truly worshipping God in spirit and in truth.
We must ask ourselves the question am I putting anything or anyone ahead of God? We must ask, Am I mixing my faith with anything else, politics, philosophy, anything?
So my questions to you the reader are,
Do you put anything ahead of God?
Are you mixing your belief in God with anything?
Are you truly worshipping God in spirit and in truth?
Please think about it.

What think ye of Christ?

What think ye of Christ?
The first church I ever attended had a banner over the pulpit that read “What think ye of Christ?”. On the day Jesus died Luke recorded this conversation between the two criminals that were being crucified with him and Jesus.
“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?  
We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’” 
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”Luke 23:39-43
Here in microcosm is the choice each individual who hears about Jesus has. You can either accept who He is The Son of the Living God, Saviour of Mankind. OR you can dismiss him as a fraud. Someone who along with his followers has perpetuated one of the greatest lies in the history of the world.
The choice is yours.
Please think about it.

Do you?

Do you?
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.
The writer of Deuteronomy stated,
“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  
Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”  Deuteronomy 6:5-7.
If you claim to be a follower of Christ Jesus do you love?
If you are indeed a true follower of Christ Jesus you must love. The apostle Paul defines what Christian love truly is when he writes,

“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.

Paul prior to defining love tells us,
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3.
Thus the question becomes. If you claim to be a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus to you truly love?
Please think about it.

Faith and You

Faith and you
Blaise Pascal wrote,
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
The writer of Hebrews states,

“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.

An individual has a lifetime to decide whether they believe in God or not. They have a lifetime to determine if what Jesus and his disciples believed and taught is right.
Sadly a lot of people for a myriad of reasons don’t care about what comes after this life. They see only what is in this physical world. The hear and now.  Faith God, it seems is beyond their comprehension.
Still I believe everyone at some point in their life needs to ask themselves a series of questions.
Dose life have any meaning?
What happens after this life?
Is this life all there is?
When we die do we simply pass into oblivion?
Does God exist?
Is there a Heaven and Hell?
I as a Christian believe there is life beyond the grave. I believe God exists. I believe what we do in this life will determine where we will spend eternity.
I believe that our faith in God and the salvation he offers through Jesus Christ is available to all who would call on His name. I believe Jesus is God incarnate, God in the flesh.
I believe what the apostle John a man who knew Jesus personally wrote about Jesus,
“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.....  
He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.  
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. 
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, 10-14
The choice however is up to you the reader. Do you believe in God? Do you believe Jesus is the Saviour of mankind?
Please think about it.

Who is Jesus?

Who is Jesus?
John’s Gospel records this conversation between Martha and Jesus,
“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.
Thus the question becomes do you believe Martha?
Martha new Jesus personally as did the apostle John. If Jesus was not the Messiah, the Christ why would Martha lie? If John did not agree Jesus was the Christ, why would he record in his gospel Martha’s conversation with Jesus.
The bottom line is all the gospel writers believed Jesus to be the Messiah, the Christ. Saviour of mankind.
If this is not true then the New Testament is frankly one of the biggest lies perpetuated on mankind, because today three billion plus people believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Saviour of mankind.
That being said the answer to the question who is Jesus, is up to you. For each individual must decide who they think Jesus is.
So dear reader Who is Jesus?
Please think about it.

Do you Love?

Do you Love?
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
Jesus also 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.
The apostle Paul defined 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 claim to be a follower of Christ Jesus do you truly love? Do you love unconditionally?
Can you pray this prayer written by Francis of Assisi and mean it,

“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love,

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.” 

                                                       Francis of Assisi

Please think about it.

Christian belief in a Nutshell

Christian belief in a Nutshell
The Gospel of John records Jesus speaking of himself as saying, 
“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.
This is the message of Jesus Christ in a nutshell. In very clear terms it makes three statements.
1. God loved the world so much He sent his one and only son into it, so that whoever believed in Him would have eternal life.
2. He makes it clear that Jesus did not come into the world to condemn the world in any way. He came to save all who would believe in Him.
3. He gives a warning. Making it clear that whoever believes in Jesus in not condemned. But whoever does not believe in him is condemned.
This is a core belief of all who believe in Jesus Christ.
All who hear about the Saving Grace of Jesus Christ must decide for themselves if what the apostle John wrote here in his gospel is true or not.
If it is untrue then no one has anything to fear.
If on the other hand it is true then there are eternal ramifications. 
Please think about it.

Salvation for all

Salvation for all
The book of acts records Paul entering with some companions Pisidian Antioch. There
“..... On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down. After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue rulers sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak.” Acts 13: 14,15.
Acts 13:16-37 tells of Paul accepting the invitation gave them a brief history lesson in which he showed that Jesus was the promised Messiah who would take away the sins of the world. He concludes his remarks saying,
“Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.”Acts 13:38.
The book of Acts then notes,
“As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath.  
When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God. 
On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.  
When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying. 
Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.  
For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’’” 
When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. The word of the Lord spread through the whole region.”Acts 13:42-49.
While acts 13:50 notes that Paul and Barnabas were exiled from the region, it didn’t stop the gospel message.
The fact is the gospel message is impossible to stop. It is a message directly from God. A message of forgiveness of sins, of hope, and Life everlasting with God the father, to all those who believe in the name of Jesus Christ.
The question today in the twenty-first century  however becomes the same question Jesus himself asked Martha. As recorded in John’s gospel,
“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.
   What do you believe?
Please think about it.

Jesus will come

Jesus will Come
The apostle Peter states,
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.  
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.  
Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 2 Peter 3:10-15
The apostle Peter wrote,
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” 2Peter 3:9.
That being said God will one day return to judge the world.
In this portion of scripture 2 Peter 3:10-15, Peter notes that the Lord will come like a thief. A thief enters your home quietly. In moments he can take all your material possessions.
So it will be with Christ. He will come quietly, suddenly taking all that is material in this world He created and destroying it.
Peter tells us,
“Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.” 
The destruction of the world is not the end of things however Peter notes God will not simply destroy the world he states,
“But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.”
God will create a new heaven and a new earth for all those who believe in him. A “home of righteousness”
Peter telling all people to,
“...make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.”  
Then Peter points back to 2Peter 3:9 saying
“Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.”
Look at it this way we as Christians have waited centuries for Christ’s return. That however does not mean He will not return.
What Peter is saying here is, the longer Christ waits to return the more people can receive salvation. Remember the words of Jesus who told why He came to earth. Speaking of Himself 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.
That being said, Billy Graham the American Evangelist said,

“The Bible says today is the accepted time,

 today is the day of salvation... 

But there will come a time when it will be too late for you.” 

                                                                             Billy Graham.

As Christians we should be out in our neighbourhoods telling people about the Love of God and the Salvation offered through His one and Only Son Jesus Christ.
As St. Augustine said,

“Pray as though everything depended on God. 

Work as though everything depended on you.” 

                                                    Saint Augustine.

Please think about it.

Post 1716

Post 1716
The other day it was pointed out to me that over the four plus years I’ve been writing my various blogs I’ve written 1715 of them. Put in perspective if they were weekly sermons it would have been 32 years of them.
My soul purpose in writing them is to tell anyone who will take the time to read them about my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
I do not expect everyone who reads them to agree with what I say. All I ask is that they at least take time to consider what I have expressed.
The way I see it Jesus is the most important person that ever lived. Napoleon the late emperor of France said of Jesus,
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.”
“I search in vain history to find similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel.  Neither history nor humanity, nor ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary.” Napoleon Bonaparte.
Jesus is extraordinary because he is the Son of God. He is God incarnate. The Apostles Creed while not written by an apostle of Jesus expresses the core beliefs of all who would call themselves Christians it sates,
1.I believe in God the Father the almighty maker of heaven and earth
2. I believe in Jesus Christ God’s on and only Son, our Lord and Saviour.
3. I believe Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary
4. I believe Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate; That He was Crucified, died, was buried. That he descended in hell.
5. I believe He rose again on the third day from the dead.
6. I believe that he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
7. I believe Jesus will one day Judge the living and the dead.
8. I believe in the Holy Ghost
9. I believe in the Church which is the communion of the saints,
10. I believe in the forgiveness of sin.
11. I believe in the resurrection of the body.
12. I believe in life everlasting.
The apostel John writes,
“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.
As strange and bizarre as it may seem to people, I and an estimated three billion Christian in the world today believe Jesus is God incarnate, God in the flesh. The Saviour of the world. Who will one day judge each and every individual.
The apostle John quotes Jesus speaking of him self, saying,
“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
The choice therefor is yours the reader. Is Jesus the Son of God, Saviour of mankind, or is he not. Please take time to read the New Testament and see what the early believers in Christ believed for yourself.
For I believe what C. S. Lewis once said about Jesus,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” C. S. Lewis.
Please think about it.

Some What ifs?

Some What ifs?
Here are a few what ifs I place for you the reader to consider.
1. What if the apostle John is right 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.
What if Jesus truly is God incarnate?
2. What if the apostle John is right when he states,
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:12,13.
What if believing in Jesus gives you the right to be called the children of God?
3. What if the words of Jesus are true when he 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.
What if Jesus truly is the way to Heaven?
And here’s one other thing to consider. It’s not from the New Testament but from a Christian commentator called C. S. Lewis. Lewis said,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” C. S. Lewis.
What if Christianity is true?
Please think about it. 

Elizabeth bears witness

Elizabeth bears witness
Luke’s Gospel records Mary as going to her cousin Elizabeth’s home shortly after the annunciation by the angel Gabriel that she would bare Jesus.
Elizabeth was also pregnant with John the Baptist although unlike Mary Elizabeth’s pregnancy came by natural means.
Luke records,
“At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.  
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  
In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!  
But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  
As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.  
Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!” 
Luke 1:39-45
Here is another remarkable event noted by Luke. Elizabeth realized Mary was carrying the Saviour of mankind she notes,
“When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  
In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!  
But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Luke 1:41-43
My argument for non-believers in Christ Jesus has always been why would someone like Luke, who said he wanted to make an accurate account of the life of Jesus included this event if it wasn’t true. To do such a thing would be to harm the fledgling Christian movement.
I believe sometimes you simply have to accept by faith that these things actually happened. Which is what God wants. The writer of Hebrews stating,

“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 defined as,  

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see.”  

                                               Hebrews 11:1.

Please think about it.

Submit to Authority

Submit to Authority
The apostle Peter writes,
“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.  
For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.   Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.  
Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.” 1 Peter 2:13-17
The Apostle Paul writes,
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.  
Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”  Romans 13:1,2.
Submission to authority.
In many parts of the world believers in Christ have no problem submitting to authority especially repressive governments. Governments that reject the gospel message.
Individual believers in Christ do their best to follow the laws of the country in which they live. While they may have to worship in secret they do their best to follow the law of the land.
Here in Canada and more so in the United States I see Christians quiet often do not always submit to the government and the laws it passes. They use the freedom granted by the secular democratically elected government to protest against laws they disagree with and people they disagree with.
That is not what Jesus and the Apostles would have done. Yes they did speak out against wrong being done in the Church. Jesus a Jew even spoke out against wrong practices done by the religious leaders within his faith. But it was only those in his faith.
The apostle Paul states,
“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.
God will ultimately judge all the leaders of the world as He will judge all people of the world. Meanwhile we are called to submit to authority.
The apostle Peter telling us,
"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 2:11,12.
Please think about it

God Knows who you are

God Knows who you are
the Psalmist writes,
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:13-16
For many years I had the above quote from Psalm 139 in the front of my Bible. It reminds me that God knows my very being. It tells me if you will that God knows my DNA. He knows why I am the way that I am.
It also reminds me that because God knows me that intimately only He has the right to judge me. No one else.
For me one thing that upsets me is when someone calling themselves Christians judge others especially when it come to where they will spend eternity.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist said,
“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.
Jesus makes it clear when he 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.
It is something we as believers should be following.
The apostle Paul tells believers in Christ,
“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.
We as believers in Christ must remember this. We are allowed to Judge those inside the church but only with respect to making sure they are teaching sound doctrine.
We still have no right even within our churches to say where a person will spend eternity. That is entirely up to God.
Our principle purpose on this earth as believers in Christ Jesus is to present the good news of Jesus to every person who will listen to us.
We cannot do that if we are judging them.
Please think about it.

A Warning

A Warning
James the half brother of Jesus wrote,
“Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you.  
Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.  
Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.  
Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.  
You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.  
You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.” James5:1-6.
Here is a warning to the rich and those in power, politicians etc. God will one day judge you. You may get away with oppressing the poor and doing wrong in this life. However God will one day judge you.
Jesus said,
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  
I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ 
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.  
For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,  
I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 
“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Matthew 25:34-46.
I believe those who have wealth and power have an obligation to help the poor and oppressed. I believe no matter who we are rich or not so rich we have an obligation to help anyone we can.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist 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 Campolo is correct. We should be caring for the sick, feeding the hungry and standing up for the oppressed. Not only that we should be telling our politicians and those in power to do this also. For this is not only the Christian thing to do, but the humane thing to do.
The writer of Ecclesiastes warns,
“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.”Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.
Question: When you personally stand before God what will he say to you?
Please think about it.

We Preach Foolishness

We preach foolishness?
Jesus is to say the least a controversial character in some circles. Yet I believe he is the most important person in human history. Napoleon said of Jesus,
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.”
“I search in vain history to find similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel.  Neither history nor humanity, nor ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary.”
                               Napoleon Bonaparte.
To be a true Christian however does require a great deal of faith. The apostle Paul points out,
“Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?  
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.  
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.” 1 Corinthians 1:20-25. 
Christianity makes the claim that Jesus is God incarnate, God in the flesh. That he paid the price for the sins of mankind and sits at the right hand of God. The writer of Hebrews telling us,
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.  
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Hebrews 1:1-3.  
Jesus himself when asked,
“The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 
Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.  
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.  
I and the Father are one.” John 10:24-30.
I have had many people over the years ask me why would God enter his creation? To which I respond because he loves us. John’s Gospel recording Jesus as saying,
“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.
We worship a Holy God and I think most people especially people of faith believe we do not live up to God’s ideal.
Many people believe that when you stand before God if your good outweighs the bad you did in this life you will get into heaven.
Christians on the other hand believe you can know that you are going to heaven here on this earth. That by confessing your sins directly to God and accepting Jesus into your life you will get to heaven.
That is why Jesus came to this earth to provide a way for us to go to heaven.
To man’s way of thinking this may seem odd, but then God dose not do things the way man does things. As the apostle Paul states we Christians,
“we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles...”.
The choice however to believe Jesus is the Son of God the Saviour of Mankind is however always up to you. All I would ask of you the reader is to pray and read at least the New Testament asking God to show you the truth.
Please think about it.

Are You?

Are you?
Jesus told His followers
“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.
If you claim to be a Christian are you truly the light of the world? Are you presenting the word of God to all who will listen in word and in deed.
Francis of Assisi wrote,
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
If you claim to be a Christian your life should be different than the world around you. People should see your way of life, your lifestyle and be attracted to it.
Billy Graham the American Evangelist stated,
“Those outside the church expect followers of Christ to live differently, yet today many in church are chasing after the world - not to win them, but to be like them.”Billy Graham.
Is your life different from the world around you?
All too often through the years I’ve heard the phrase “Why should I become a Christian. I know some Christians, and I live better than that.”
Sadly in many cases it’s true. Those claiming to be Christians are acting worse than those in the world around them.
As Christians we can’t take our place in the world lightly. Jesus said to his apostles and through them us,
“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.
Christ’s call to his followers is to Love God, our neighbour and even our enemy. We are called to tell everyone about God’s saving grace that comes through Christ Jesus.
The apostle Peter says,
“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 are you doing this?
Please think about it.