Mercy Triumphs over Judgement

 Mercy triumphs over judgement

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.

As Christians we need to speak and act as someone who is going to be judged. Just because we have accepted Christ by faith doesn’t mean we can go on sinning or we have the right to judge someone.

The apostle Paul writes,

“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” Romans 6:1,2.

Jesus said,

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." Luke 6:37.

As Christians, as believers in Christ Jesus, we will never win a soul to Christ if we go on sinning or judging people.

Ultimately we need to remember to treat people the way we want to be treated, Jesus saying,

"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.

Please think about it. 

He was in the Beginning

 He was in the beginning

In the gospel of John we read,

“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.

The above scriptures say is all. Christians believe that Jesus is God.

 “That through him all things were made; and without him nothing was made that has been made...”

I know to non-Christians this seems foolish. Even the apostle Paul noted,

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18.

The way I look at it if Jesus wasn’t God Incarnate why would the writers of the New Testament say he was?

Which raises the question do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, the Saviour of all who would believe in him?

Before you answer take time to read the New Testament praying and asking God to show you the truths that are held within it.

Please think about it.

Belonging to The Lord

  Belonging to The Lord

The apostle Paul writes,

"For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone.  

If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” Romans 14:7,8.

This is a very clear statement. If you truly love Christ and accepted Him as your Saviour. Then whether you live or die you belong to the Lord.

Question: Are you sure you belong to the Lord?

Please think about it.

Blessed are those who have not seen

 Blessed are those who have not seen

The Apostle Paul wrote,

"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.  

After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.  

Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles," 1Corinthians 15:3-7.

This is an important scripture. It tells us that...

Christ died for our sins.

That Christ was buried,

That Christ was raised from the dead on the third day.

That Christ appeared to the apostle Peter and the other apostles.

That Christ appeared to five hundred others.

What is also important here is that Paul noted that at the time of his writing most were still living. So there was first hand reports of Jesus rising from the dead and walking the earth.

Now these people believed because they seen it. But we today are asked to believe their accounts by faith.

Jesus speaking to Thomas said,

"Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:29.

So dear reader do you believe Jesus is the Son of God, the Saviour of all who will believe in Him.

Please think about it.

Egg, devil, or God

 Egg, devil, or God

Jesus said,

"All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:37-40

This is an incredible statement. Jesus essentially states that he and God are equal. 

In another incident John records this incident between him and a crowd. John 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.

Jesus knew the penalty of blasphemy yet he still kept to his claim that he was God. 

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

So make your choice.

Please think about it.

Have you not heard

  Have you not heard

Isaiah the prophet wrote,

"Have you not known? Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God?

The Creator of the ends of the earth....”

                                               Isaiah 40:28a.

Here is a clear statement from Isaiah. God is everlasting, the Creator of the ends of the earth. 

The Bible does not debate whether or not God exists. In the book of Genesis it simply states,

"In the beginning 

God created the heavens and the earth." 

                                                     Genesis 1:1.

As for me I believe science done right will at the very least show God exists.

Werner Heisenberg said,

“The first gulp from the glass of natural science will make you an atheist, but at the bottom of the glass God is waiting for you" Werner Heisenberg father of Quantum Mechanics Nobel prize in physics.

The question is do you believe God exists?

Please think about it.

A Rainbow

 A rainbow

“I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign 

of the covenant between me and the earth.”

                                                                                  Genesis 9:13

I live not far from Niagara falls where a rainbow and quite often two can be seen at the same time. 

It has been pointed out to me that out of the maelstrom and fury of the water crashing against the rocks a thing of peaceful beauty is created.

Now most people in the world will never see Niagara falls. But everyone has gone through a storm. All of us I’m sure have seen the rainbow that forms after as the sunlight shines through the clouds.

When I see the rainbow I think of the beauty and peace that God gives us after we have gone through the storms of life. I think of Psalm 23 that reads,

The LORD is my shepherd, 

I shall not be in want. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures, 

he leads me beside quiet waters, 

he restores my soul. 

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

 I will fear no evil, 

for you are with me; 

your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 

You anoint my head with oil; 

my cup overflows. 

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, 

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

                                                                        Psalm 23

  What do you think of when you see a rainbow?

Please think about it.

Love one another

 Love one another

Jesus said,

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34,35.

I like this portion of scripture. Jesus here tells us that people will know we are His disciples by our love.

In the book of James we read,

"If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbour as yourself," you are doing right.  

But if you show favouritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.  

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it." James 2:8-10.

We must serve each other in love. It is a commandment from Christ himself. 

We should not be showing favouritism. There is no difference between rich and poor Jew and Gentile in Gods eyes. All of us are equal before God.

Furthermore the love we have for our brethren in Christ should not be hidden.

Question: If you consider yourself a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus. Do you love the body of believers around you?

Please think about it.

The fullness of the deity in bodily form

  The fullness of the Deity in bodily form

In the book of Colossians we read,

“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity

 lives in bodily form.”

                                       Colossians 2:9

This is what all Christians believe. 

The apostles creed while not written by an apostle of Christ sums up what true Christians believe it states,

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.

Thus the question becomes if you claim to be a Christian a true follower of Christ Jesus, do you believe this?

Please think about it.

Salvation in no one else

 Salvation in no one else

“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people!  

If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.  

He is " ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.'  Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:8-12.

Here the apostle Peter standing before the religious leaders makes it clear that,

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12.

Those rulers that Peter stood in front of had the power to at the very least sent them to jail, even have them flogged or worse. Peter and John who also stood with Peter that day knew what these leaders could do to them yet they boldly proclaimed “salvation is found in no one else”.

What about you dear reader do you believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven?

After all Jesus is recorded as saying,

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

Please think about it.

A Message from the apostle Paul

  A message from the Apostle Paul

I firmly believe that from time to time we need to let scripture speak for itself. This occasion is one of them. What follows are Pauls words (sermon) to the Athenians. Words that are as relevant today as they were when he spoke them.

The book of acts records,

"So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.  

A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.  

Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?  

You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean."  

(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) 

Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.  

For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. 

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.  

And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.  

From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  

God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.  

‘For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.' 

"Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man's design and skill.  

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 17:17-34.

The question I have for you dear reader is, In which group do you fall? Those who sneered at him? The ones who wanted to hear more? Or the ones who accepted what he had to say?

Please think about it.

He was tempted in every way

 He was tempted in every way

In the book of Hebrews we read,

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.  

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.” Hebrews 4:14,15.  

Here is the unique thing about Jesus. Jesus was God incarnate, God in the flesh. He lived on this earth as a man. Jesus experienced everything a man could experience. He was tempted just like we are. Yet he didn’t sin.

As a result we can never stand before God on judgement day and say “You don’t know what it was to be human, because you have always been divine”.

Jesus lived life as a human and therefore knows what it is to be human. 

In his lifetime Jesus and his parents became political refugees having to run to Egypt in order to save his life. Jesus attended various events such as marriages. He knows what it is to have good friends. He also knows what it is like to have enemies. To be falsely accused of a crime he didn’t commit. He also experienced the harsh reality of a Roman whip and crucifixion.

And think about it he even experience the mundane things in life like dusty feet, rain against his face. The warmth of the sun.

In short Jesus experienced all that it was to be human from the best mankind could offer to the worst mankind could do to an individual.

Which is why he can judge us fairly.

Please think about it.

So in everything

 So in everything

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.

The way I see things is that if a Christian truly believes that we are to do to others what we would want others to do to us then we have to tell the world around us about Jesus.

The most important thing in the life of a Christian is knowing Christ as his or her personal saviour. That is why Christians must follow the words of Jesus who said,

“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.

Jesus never told us to impose our faith on someone. He simply said make disciples of all nations. 

You cannot make true disciples if you are trying to impose or force your faith on them. Those who hear about the saving grace of Christ Jesus must choose to for themselves if the message is true or not. They must make that step of faith and believe in Him.

The writer of Hebrews states,

“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.

Truly believing in God is an act of faith on the part of the individual. Without that faith it is impossible to please God.

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

Please think about it.

The Shepherds Testimony

  The Shepherds Testimony 

In the gospel of Luke we read,

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  

Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  

This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." 

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." 

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,    "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." 

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,  and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told." Luke 2:8-20.

Here Luke who in chapter 1:1-4 states that he has, “carefully investigated everything” tells of the angels appearing to the Shepherds. 

      To my way of thinking this has to be true simply because Luke is recording a supernatural event. An event that if not true would put his credibility at risk. And by extension Christian belief.

 The key point here is that the angels tell the shepherds that a Saviour is born. “Who is Christ the Lord” and the shepherds believe them going to Bethlehem to see for themselves. Additionally they tell those around them about this Saviour.

For us in the twenty-first century the message of the angels and shepherds comes down to whether we believe them or not.

Was Luke in relating this story telling the truth or creating a fictional story that has fooled the world for millennium.

The choice dear reader is yours.

Please think about it.

A Prayer

  A Prayer

In the book of Hebrews we read,

"...let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.  

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:22,23.

This is my prayer for all those who truly love God and His one and only Son Christ Jesus.

Take time today and everyday to draw near to God.

Please think about it.

Are you talking about Jesus?

  Are you talking about Jesus?

The Psalmist writes,

"Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns." The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity. 

"Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; 

"let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth." Psalm 96:10-13.

If you claim to be a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus are you doing what the Psalmist is telling us to do?

Are you saying to those around you “the LORD reigns” and that He will one day judge all people with equity?

The writer of Ecclesiastes states,

"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.

As believers in Christ Jesus it is important that we tell the world about the saving grace that come from God through Christ Jesus. That they need to call on the name of Jesus. 

The apostle Paul writes,

"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 if you claim to be a Christian are you telling those around you about Jesus?

Please think about it.

What are you declaring?

 What are you declaring

The Psalmist writes,

"Sing to the LORD a new song; 

sing to the LORD, all the earth. 

Sing to the LORD, praise his name; 

proclaim his salvation day after day. 

Declare his glory among the nations, 

his marvellous deeds among all peoples." 

                                                         Psalm 96:1-3.

If you consider yourself a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus, are you praising God and declaring His name among the nations. Are you telling of God’s marvellous deeds to the people around you? Are you declaring God's name to those around you?

Please think about it.

Your Help

 Your help

The Psalmist states,

"On my bed I remember you; 

I think of you through the watches of the night. 

Because you are my help, 

I sing in the shadow of your wings. 

My soul clings to you; 

your right hand upholds me." 

                                                 Psalm 63:6-8.

The Psalmist here shows his devotion to God. From what we read God permeates through his life. He thinks of God in the night. He knows where his help comes from. 

In Psalm 121 the Psalmist states,

“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. 

As believers in Christ Jesus we know our help comes from the LORD.

Do you?

Where does your help come from?

Please think about it.

The Confession

  The Confession

Luke’s Gospel records,

"Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  

It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.  

Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,  

Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 

"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. 

For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." Luke 2:25-32.

Simeon here makes it clear that Jesus is the Saviour and he doesn’t keep quiet about it. He takes the baby Jesus into his arms and states,

"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. 

For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel”

Luke’s gospel goes on to record,

"There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying.  

Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. Luke2:36-38.

Both Anna and Simeon were devoted believers. Both believed this baby Jesus to be the Saviour, The Messiah. 

Today is December 25th the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus. The question thus becomes do you believe Jesus is the Son of God, The Saviour of all who would believe in Him? 

Please think about it.

The Birth

 The Birth

In Luke’s gospel we read,

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)  

And everyone went to his own town to register. 

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  

He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:1-7.

The apostle John’s gospel put it this way,

"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.

John here refers to Jesus as “the Word”. He also makes it clear that “the Word” was in the beginning with God and made the universe and everything in it.

He also makes it clear that “the Word” became flesh. God became incarnate. 

This Child of Mary’s is God in the flesh. As far as I know there is no other religion in the world that claims their founder to be God incarnate.

If you think about it. It is an incredible thing to believe God entered the world that He created. To experience all that it is to be a human being.

Jesus during his life would experience first hand what it was like to feel rain against His face. To experience the love of friends and family. 

Jesus would also know what it is like to be put on trial for a crime He did not commit. To be beaten and put to death in a most hideous way.

Jesus experienced all that it was to be human. Which is why I believe we can never tell Him on the day of judgement that He doesn’t understand what it is to be human. Because He does. 

The question I have for you today however is; Do you believe that Jesus is the creator of the World. God in the flesh. The Saviour of all who would believe in Him?

Please think about it.