Where's your hope?

  Where’s your hope?

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.

If you are a believer in Christ Jesus is this true of you? Do you pray and ask God to teach you His truths? Is your hope truly in God? OR Is you trust in some pastor, preacher or evangelist?

Do you even take time to study the word of God for yourselves? Do you take time not just to read the scriptures but about biblical history the customs of the people in Christs time?

These are questions only you can answer.

Please think about it.

Do not Judge

Do not Judge
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.
If you claim to be a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus you must obey what he said here. We as Christians have no right to judge. Especially those outside the church.
The American evangelist Billy Graham said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God’s job to judge

 and my job to love,” 

                       Billy Graham

Baruch Sinoza wrote,
“It is imperative that freedom of judgment should be granted, so that men may live together in harmony, however diverse, or even openly contradictory their opinions maybe.  In proportion as the power of free judgment is withheld, we depart from the natural condition of mankind." Baruch Spinoza.
God has given everyone complete freedom to do as they wish. As Christians we may not agree with what others my do but we have no right to judge them. I’m sure Paul and the other Apostles did not agree with what they seen around the Roman world of their day. Yet they never spoke against it. They never judged anyone outside their faith.
The apostle Paul said,
“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
The apostle Paul also told believers,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”Romans 12:18.
Jesus, and the Apostles knew that the only way to reach a person for Christ is to live at peace with them.
If we as Christians judge anyone then we run the risk of pushing them away, potentially into a Christless eternity.
Please think about it.

How to Conquer

How to conquer
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
Earlier in the gospel of Matthew Jesus is recorded as saying,
“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.
This is how you conquer the world. With love. Not, with force.
Napoleon Bonaparte late emperor of France speaking of Jesus said,
“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” Napoleon Bonaparte.
I thing the concept of conquering the world by love is lost many times, even by those who profess to be believers in Christ Jesus. Especially it seems here in North America where I live.
Sadly I see too many claiming to be followers of Christ Jesus protesting against everything they disagree with. This is not showing love.
I’m sure Jesus and the apostles living in the Roman Empire seen many, many things they would disagree with. Pagan practices that would be abhorrent to their beliefs. Yet we never hear them criticizing Rome or any group outside their own faith.
If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus consider these scriptures,
The apostle Paul states,
“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 Paul states.
“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.”Titus 3:1,2.
The apostle Peter states,
“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.
Living a good life to me means living a life of Love. The apostle Paul stating,

“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.

For me demonstrating against anyone we disagree with or laws we disagree with is wrong especially in a democracy.
I like what the late American Evangelist Billy Graham said,

It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God’s job to judge 

and 

my job to love, 

                            Billy Graham.

Please think about it.

The Persecuted

The Persecuted
Through the book of Revelations Jesus speaks to seven churches. As I said in my previous blog. Scholars have noted that these churches can be taken in several ways. They can speak to individual churches throughout history and today and they can be personalized by individuals.
The Second church mentioned is Smyrna. That was located at a major port city just north of Ephesus. The Imperial Roman cult was presence in the city as was a large number of Jews. Both of whom may have persecuted early believers in Christ.
The book of revelations records,
“To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:
These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.
  I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.”Revelations 2:8-11
Here Jesus identifies Himself as “the First and the Last, “who died and came to life again.”
He notes that the church has gone to affliction and poverty.That they are slandered, yet they are rich
Today around the world there are churches and individuals who are as one person said “dangerous neighbourhoods”. Areas of the world where being a follower of Jesus Christ can get you put in jail, attacked or even murdered.
Jesus in addressing the church at Smyrna is addressing them. He calls on them not to be afraid. That while they may be put in prison and suffer persecution they will be given a crown of life.
For anyone going through persecution it can be hard. No one deserves to go persecution for their faith not matter who they are. That being said however as believers in Christ Jesus we have the assurance that in the end we will receive the victors crown and live eternally in Heaven with God.
If you are a Christian living in the west that is not undergoing persecution take time to remember the persecuted church. Men and Women who are suffering for their faith. Take time to pray and if you are in the western democracies especially write to your member of parliament, or prime minister. Ask them to bring up the plight of persecuted Christians. It can’t hurt but it may just do a lot of good.
Perhaps even bring up to your pastor and Church congregation the need to keep praying and doing what you can to help believers in Christ that are being persecuted.
Please think about it.