The upward call

  The upward call.

The apostle Paul writes,

     “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:14.

Here Paul sets an example for us all. He presses toward “the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

As believers in Christ Jesus it is important to “press into God’s word”, the Bible. We must endeavour to do all we can to learn about the God, and Christ Jesus.  

The apostle Paul writing to Timothy wrote,

"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. 2Timothy 2:15.

The only way we can handle the word of truth is by knowing what the scriptures say. That means not just reading the Bible but studying what it says.

Question, do you just read the Bible or do you study what it says?

Please think about it.

Teach me

 Teach me

The Psalmist writes,

“Teach me to do your will, 

for you are my God; 

may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” 

                                                                 Psalm 143:10.

Here is a simple truth. In order to know the will of God we need to study the word of God. We need to read the Bible every day. Additionally we need to take sometime each day to pray and ask God for direction in our lives.

Question; If you claim to be a Christians. A follower of Christ Jesus are you doing this?

Please think about it.

The Path

  The Path

The Psalmist writes,

“Show me your ways, O LORD, 

teach me your paths;

 guide me in your truth and teach me, 

for you are God my Saviour, 

and my hope is in you all day long.” 

                                                   Psalm 25:4,5.

Question; Do you ask God to show you His ways? Do you read the scriptures to learn the ways of God? Do you read biblical history books to see what life was like in the time of Jesus?

Here in North America we are blessed with having access to uncensored books and libraries. We can go to Christian book stores and find books on the life and times of Christ. We can find commentaries from various points of view on the scriptures. Yet most who call themselves Christians don’t bother to read such books.

Even when some read commentaries on scriptures themselves, they tend to only read commentaries that support their own views.

I think it is important when you can to read the scriptures daily at least. And to find commentaries and history books that put what is said in the scriptures into context. 

I believe by doing this you will learn the path God wants you to follow.

Please think about it.

Most Christians don't

  Most Christians don’t

The Psalmist writes,

“Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long.” Psalm 25:4,5.

Over the years I’ve met many Christians that I don’t believe study the Bible. They may read it but they don’t study it.

Many times I’ve asked the question to fellow Christians “why do you believe what you believe” only to get the reply “well such and such an evangelist, or pastor said it was that way”

This should not be so. We need to study the scriptures for ourselves to truly understand what they mean. To see if the evangelist, or pastor we are listening to is truly presenting the scriptures correctly.

The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy saying,

“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. 2Timothy 2:15.

We can only do this if we are studying the word of God for ourselves to see if what we believe and have been taught is indeed correct.

Please think about it.

A Need to Study

A Need to Study
The apostle Paul writes,
“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.” 2Timothy 3:1-5.
Paul’s warning to Timothy is especially true today. Today as never before there are many in the church who have a form of godliness but are not true believers in Christ. They are not following the scriptures correctly.
These are people within our church congregations and denominations. They are evangelist pastors and people in the pews. Men and women we need to be cautious of.
I believe the best Christian is an educated Christian. Someone who not only studies the Bible but also studies church history from the time of Creation to the present.
Believers in Christ should at the very least know what they believe and why they believe it. Sadly all too many Christians do not know why they believe what they believe. They simply go on the word of a pastor or evangelist.
The thing is, as good as pastors, evangelist and Christian teachers are they are fallible and from time to time even the best teacher and preachers make mistakes. That is why we need to study the scriptures.
The advice of the apostle Paul told Timothy applies to us all,
“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 study the Bible on your own? Do you take time to study the history surrounding the scriptures?
Please think about it.