What do others see?

  What do others see?

Jesus said,

“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.

As Christians we are told to let our light shine so that they may see our good deeds and praise God the Father.

Thus the question I would have for anyone who claims to be a Christian, a true follower of Christ Jesus is, When people see you do they see someone who reflects the light and love of God?

Please think carefully about it.

Your life and your lifestyle

 Your life and your lifestyle

The Psalmist writes,

“One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” Psalm 27:4.

If you claim to be a Christian do you truly seek to dwell in the house of the Lord forever?

What is more important to you, the things of this world or the things of God?

Take a good look at your life. What is your life and lifestyle telling others? 

When others see your life do they see that you put God first?

Please think about it.

What's done for Christ

  What's done for Christ

In the book of Ecclesiastes we read,

“I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” Ecclesiastes 1:14.

In the past year I have seen several people I know pass into eternity. These were godly people whom I am certain went to heaven. That being said.

I look at all they owned. Their possessions on this earth. All are no longer theirs. They have been dispersed among family, friends and even in some cases strangers. Even the words they have spoken and the deeds they have done will one day be forgotten by most if not all people.

That being said there is an old saying that states, 

“I have one life it will soon be passed,

 only what’s done for Christ will last.”

                                                                Author unknown 

Most people will never be well known. Most people will never present what they believe to large crowds. Nor will the words they write be read by millions. Most people will live there life in quiet obscurity.

That being said, those people can tell the people around them about God and the Salvation that comes through His One and Only Son Christ Jesus. Which is all God requires of all who love Him.

If you consider yourself a Christian. A true believer in Christ Jesus are you telling those around you that you about the saving grace that comes from Christ Jesus?

Please think about it.

Christians and basic human rights

  Christians and basic human rights

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.

Providing food, shelter, medical aid and even a job for the needy is simply providing basic human right. Providing what everyone on this earth should have access to.

Also in providing these basic human rights unconditionally, in the name of Jesus, to someone opens a door to tell them about the saving grace that comes from Christ Jesus.

If you were hungry, thirsty, a stranger, in need of clothing, sick or in prison I'm sure you would appreciate any help that comes your way.

It comes down to

"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.

The Christian and Deeds

 The Christian and Deeds

In the book of James we read,

"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?  

Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  

If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 

But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.  

You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 

You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?" James 2:14-20.

There are many Christians who will tell you, you are saved by faith. That is true. However James here make it clear our faith needs to be accompanied by works. Good deeds.    If we indeed have true faith in Jesus it well spur us on to good deeds. Simply believing in God should never be enough for the believer in Christ Jesus. We need to put our faith into action.

Francis of Assisi wrote,

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace;

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is discord, harmony;

Where there is error, truth;

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

Is your faith spurring you to do good works?

Please think about it.

In Word and deed

 In word and deed

    In the book of Deuteronomy we read,

"Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.

You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk to them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up

You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:4-9 

This to me is saying clearly that God should be the centre of our lives. That it is our obligation to God to teach our faith to our Children.

The Talmud states,

Whoever teaches his son teaches not alone his son

 but also his son's son, and so on to the end of generations. 

                                                                                   The Talmud 

We should not only be telling our Children about our faith but we should be living our faith before them.

Our Children do see our every move therefor we have a duty to them to live our faith in word and in deed.

The apostle Paul writes,

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17.

Do your words and deeds reflect that of our Lord and Saviour Jesus?

Please think about it. 

Call on the name of The Lord

 Call on the name of The Lord

The apostle Paul writes,

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 

and are justified freely by his grace 

through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”  

                                                                      Romans 3:23,24.

Paul goes on to write,

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.    Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!  

For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!  

Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation" Romans 5:6-11.

We all have sinned in one way or another. Sin is falling short of Gods ideal for our life. Sin separates us from God, and no matter how hard we work at trying to be good, our good works cannot reconcile us to God.

In the book of Ephesians we read,

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8,9.

Salvation is a gift freely offered by God to us through belief in Christ Jesus. The apostle Paul writing,

“...Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord

 will be saved.” 

                                     Romans 10:13.

Have you called on the name of the Lord?

Please think about it. 

What do you do?

  What do you do?

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.'" Matthew 25:34-40

While it is true that a person is saved by faith. That faith should inspire us to do good works. In the book of James we read,

“As the body without the spirit is dead, 

so faith without deeds is dead” 

                                              James 2:26.

Christianity is very much a faith of deeds. Works done in the name of Jesus. We as Christians are called to do what we can when we can to help others.

There’s a interesting quote from the Talmud that I think is applicable to Christians it states,

“Rabbi Akiba was asked by a Roman general, "Why does your God who loves the needy not provide for their support Himself?"  He answered, "God the Father of both the rich and poor, wants the one to help the other so as to make the world a household of love." The Talmud.

As Christians we are called to show Gods love to the world. To make the world a household of love.

What do you do for the poor and needy around you?

Please think about it.

Christian Principles to live by #2 deeds

 Christian Principles to live by #2 Deeds

James the half brother of Jesus states,

“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?  

Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  

If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 

But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.  

You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 

You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” James 2:14-20.

There are many Christians who will tell you, you are saved by faith. That is true. However James here make it clear our faith needs to be accompanied by works. Good deeds.    If we indeed have true faith in Jesus, it well spur us on to good deeds. Simply believing in God should never be enough for the believer in Christ Jesus. We need to put our faith into action.

Jesus made this clear when he 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.

If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus are you putting your faith into action?

Please think about it.

With Actions

  With actions

The apostle John writes,

"This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.... 

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1John 3:11,17,18.

As believers in Christ Jesus we have a duty to help those in need. We need to do what we can to help those we can help. Not helping is not an option. 

If you consider yourself a Christian. A true believer in Christ Jesus. Consider what you can do to help those in need. Even if it’s just donating your money or time to an organization or Church that is helping those in need. 

Please think about it.

What will God See?

  What will God see?

In the book of Proverbs we read,

"For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD,

 and he examines all his paths." 

                                                                      Proverbs 5:2.

I don’t believe the idea that God is a big old self-centred man with a big stick ready to hit us when we do wrong. We only have to read John 3:16,17 to know that. 

John 3:16,17 states,

"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.

At the same time God is watching us and will judge us fairly in according to what He sees.

So my question to you is. When you stand before God and He examines your life What will God see?

Please think about it.

Do Good and Share

  Do good and share

In the book of Hebrews we read,

“Do not forget to do good and to share with others,

 for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”

                                                 Hebrews 13:16.

This is what pleases God. To do good and share with others. So the simple question is, If you consider yourself a true follower of Christ Jesus. Do you do good and share what you have with others?

Please think about it.

Are you a Dorcas?

 Are you a Dorcas?

In the book of Acts we read,

"Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity." Acts 9:36.

Do you do good works without being prompted? 

Many within the church have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour then stopped. Being quite satisfied with being saved. 

God however doesn’t want us to be satisfied with just being saved. He wants us to reach out in love through good works to those around us. James writes,

"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.

    If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." James 2:14-17.

So is your faith alive or dead?

Our faith should spur us on to good deeds. We should want to help those who are in need of help. I firmly believe that we have an obligation to God to help people to the extent that we are able. Even if it’s just giving a few coins to a homeless person begging on the street.

So what good works and acts of charity have you done recently?

Please think about it.

Actions and Faith

 Actions and Faith

In the book of James we read,

“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?  Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  

If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  

          In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:14-17

James makes it very clear 

“faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

So my question to you is. Is your faith alive or dead?

Please think about it.

Doing God's work

  Doing God's work

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.'” Matthew 25:34-40.

Are you doing God’s work? 

I am part of a church that encourages people to volunteer. We have both a food bank and an outreach to those who are homeless living on the street.

For those who volunteer it is a very rewarding ministry. Not only are they feeding those in need but at the same time they are showing the Love of Christ by their actions.

Francis of Assisi wrote,

“Preach the Gospel at all times 

and when necessary use words.”

                                     Francis of Assisi.

So my question to you the reader is; Are you showing the Love of Christ by your actions?

Please think about it.

What will He say to you?

  What will He say to you?

Jesus said,

“Many will say to me  on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  

Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:22,23.

I look around North America where I live and particularly in the United States I see the so called Christian nationalist mixing their religious beliefs with their politics. Never a good thing. A wise man once wrote,

“Mixing religion of any kind with politics is like mixing gasoline and water. The gasoline is unusable and the water is undrinkable. And the whole mixture is explosive.” Anonymous.

A true Christian is an alien in this world. The apostle Peter writes,

"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.

Peter makes it clear Christians are alien to this world. And that we are to preform “good deeds and glorify God...”

The apostle Paul tells us,

“We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.”  2 Corinthians 5:20.

We are God’s representatives on earth. 

While we may be citizens of the country we were born in. The moment we accepted Christ into our lives we were held to a higher standard. God’s standard. Thus everything we do should be for the glory of God. To draw people to Christ.

Sadly there are many men and women who upon standing before Christ will here the words,

“I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”

They will here those words because they mixed there faith with their politics and other things.

Therefore if you consider yourself a Christian do what the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy,

"Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart" 2 Timothy 2:22

"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.

Please think about it.

Through our words and deeds

 Through our words and deeds

The apostle Paul,

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.  

We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.  2 Corinthians5:18-20

Are you an ambassador? 

The Oxford dictionary defines an ambassador as 

“diplomat sent by a state as its permanent representative in a foreign country. A representative or promoter of a specified activity.”

As Christians we are Christ’s ambassadors. We are here on earth to promote the Kingdom of God. That is the primary purpose of a Christian. It is through our words and deeds that people will see God.

As part of those duties for God we may be called to feed the poor, heal the sick, among other things. All of these activities should be done in the name of Christ Jesus. Making sure that God gets the glory for our actions.

Are you doing this?

Please think about it.

A waring to the rich

  A warning to the rich 

Jesus told this story,

"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.  

At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores  and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 

"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried.  

In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  

So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' 

"But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.  

And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.' 

"He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house,  

for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' 

"Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' 

" ‘No, father Abraham,' he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' 

"He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' " Luke 16:19-31

Now as I have said in previous blogs there is nothing wrong with being rich or for that matter powerful. The problem arises when one misuses their wealth or power. When they put the wrong emphasis on their money or power.

I’m sure the rich man in the story could have helped Lazarus but chose not to. As a result he suffered the consequences.

If this man truly loved God he would have helped Lazarus and those like him. For it our faith in God that spurs us on to good works.

So the question becomes. Be you materially wealthy or not do you do what you can to help the poor around you?

Please think about it.

Are you rich before God?

 Are you rich before God?

Jesus said,

"Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." 

And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.  He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' 

"Then he said, ‘This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.  

And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." ' 

"But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' 

"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." Luke 12:15-21.

Let me start here by saying there is nothing wrong with being rich. Its what emphasis you put on your riches that counts. Do your material possessions come before God? Do you use your wealth to further the kingdom of God and help others less fortunate?

Jesus said,

"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money" Matthew 6:24.

So the question becomes; If you claim to be a Christian which master are you serving?

Please think about it.

Are your ears open or closed?

  Are your ears open or closed?

"Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor 

will himself call out and not be answered.”  

                                                                   Proverbs 21:13.

In the book of Deuteronomy we read,

"If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community in any of your towns within the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted towards your needy neighbour… 

Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, ‘Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land." Deuteronomy 15:7, 11.

In the book of Leviticus we read,

" ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest.  

Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God." Leviticus 19: 9,10.

Jesus said,

"Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you." Matthew 5:42.

Time and time again throughout the Bible we are called to help the poor. This is an obligation of all Christians.

So do you do what you can to help others?

Please think about it.