Christian Qualities

 Christian Qualities
 Jesus said,

“Blessed       

are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 

for they will be filled. 

Blessed 

are the merciful, 

for they will be shown mercy. 

Blessed 

are the pure in heart,

for they will see God. 

Blessed 

are the peacemakers,

for they will be called sons of God. 

                                                                                       Matthew 5:6-9.

If you claim to be a Christian are the above qualities part of your life?
Do you hunger and thirst after righteousness?
Are you merciful to those around you, even your enemy?
Is your heart pure before God?
Are you truly a peacemaker or do you stir up discontent?
James the half brother of Christ said,
“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 must be all that Jesus mentioned in Matthew 5:6-9.
The only way we can be all of this is if we truly love. The apostle Paul defines true love this way,

“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....” 

                              1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

True love is the purest of emotions that is why I believe Jesus told us to love God, Love our neighbour and even our enemy.
If we truly love we will long for righteousness. We will show mercy. We will be peacemakers and we will be pure of heart.
The apostle Paul 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.

That is why 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.
As Christians we must always remember that it is only through loving those around us unconditionally that we can truly win souls for Christ.
Please think about it.

Sons of God

Sons of God

“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” 
                                                                                                     Galatians 3:26-28.
What a wonderful thing to be called Sons of God.
The gospel of John records,
“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.
When we believe in Jesus. When we accept Christ by faith and allow him to come into our heart and mind we become children of God. Christians should never forget this.
As believers in Christ we must remember that we are representing him at all times be it on the street in the work place or wherever we go.
People whether or not we realize it notice what we do and what we say. They see our actions they even know if we attend church or not and they judge us.
We must be cognisant of this.
Francis of Assisi said two things that cannot be stressed enough to the true Christian,
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
                                                                                Francis of Assisi
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 
                                                                                               Francis of Assisi.
Our life and our lifestyle should reflect Christ. We should be open and honest with all people.
We should also be real not “bible thumpers” hitting people, especially non-
Christians over the head with scripture.
We should not try to be as my friend puts it “holier than thou”.
We should live in the real world. A world that we will not always agree with or approve of. But we should not be quick to criticize it. 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.
Our job as Christian is to win as many souls for Christ as possible. In order to do that we must be able to talk to people on their level. Starting with something they understand.
The apostle Paul when invited to speak to the Athenians started by noting the temple to an unknown god. Then from that point of commonality presented the gospel of Christ. We should be doing likewise today.
Think about it.