Christian principles #6

 Christian Principles #6

 Flee evil

The apostle Paul writing to Timothy states,

“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.

The Psalmist tells us,

“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. 

Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 

For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish” Psalm 1.

Do you flee evil?

As believers in Christ Jesus we should.

Sadly with all that is happening in the world around us it can be hard to flee evil. While we live in this world evil will always surround us. The key however is to draw close to God by studying the scriptures and praying for God’s guidance.

Question: Do you flee evil when you see it?

Please think about it. 

Without the fear of God

 Without the fear of God

The Psalmist writes,

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise." Psalm 111: 10.

Abba Hillel Silver wrote,

"Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society.  Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority." Abba Hillel Silver.

We only have to look at Nazi Germany during the 1930's and through world war two, to see what happens when men loose there fear of God. When men create their own morality.    Estimates range from 70 to 80 million or 3% of the worlds population at the time died.      Included in that were 17 million killed in the Holocaust. Men women and children murdered because of their ethnicity, religion, political beliefs, disability or sexual orientation.

As we look around the world today we see the same thing happening with millions of people persecuted and imprisoned for their religious beliefs and lifestyle. By people who do not fear God.

Justice however is not far away for those persecuted. 

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."Ecclesiastes 12:13,14. 

Those who persecute and murder others will one day pay for their crimes. If not in this world. Most certainly in the next.

In the mean time it is the job of Christians to go into the world and tell the world about Jesus Christ and the love, comfort and salvation, He offers to all who would believe in Him.

To point the world to the morality that can only come from belief in God.

Please think about it.

A Strong Bulwark

 A strong Bulwark

In Ecclesiastes we read,

"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." Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.

Abba Hillel Silver wrote,

"Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society.  Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority." Abba Hillel Silver.

Abba Hillel Silver is right. It is only when men realize that ultimately there is a God they must answer to that society becomes a better place.

If memory serves me correctly Abba Hillel Silver wrote those words during the dark days of World War Two when millions we dying in the concentration camps. Concentration camps set up by evil men who did not recognize God.

The same thing is happening today in some countries around the world. It is also happening in some of the so called democracies of the world where people are putting political leader ahead of God while turning a blind eye to the evil being done.

Ultimately God will judge everyone. It is therefore imperative that we who truly believe in the gospel of Christ Jesus present His saving grace and the love He shows to all people to all we come in contact with.

Please think about it. 

A recipe for a good life

  A recipe for a good life

The Psalmist writes,

“Come, my children, listen to me; 

I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 

Whoever of you loves life 

and desires to see many good days, 

keep your tongue from evil 

and your lips from speaking lies. 

Turn from evil and do good; 

seek peace and pursue it. 

                                           Psalm 34:11-14.

Is this you? 

Do you desire to see many good days? 

When people see your words and deeds do they see someone who fears The Lord. Who keeps your tongue from evil and speaking lies?

Do you do good and seek peace?

Please think about it.

Turn from evil and do good

  Turn from evil and do good

The Psalmist states,

"Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 

Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, 

keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. 

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." 

                                                                          Psalm 34:11-14.

Do the words written by the Psalmist above reflect your life? 

Please take time to pray and ask God to show you the truth about your life. 

And if you find anything wrong do as the Psalmist states,

“Turn form evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”

Please think about it.

The Absence of Love

The absence of Love
The apostle John wrote,

“Whoever does not love does not know God, 

because God is love.” 

                              1 John 4:8

Some people who don’t believe in God have made the statement that if God created everything He also created evil.
I believe God did in fact create everything including man to which he gave a freewill. He however did not create evil.
Albert Einstein is accredited with saying,

“Does cold exist?

In fact, cold does not exist.

 According to the laws of Physics, 

what we consider cold 

is in reality the absence of heat.

Does darkness exist?

Darkness does not exist either. 

Darkness is in reality the absence of light. 

 Light we can study, but not darkness.

Evil does not exist.

 It is just like darkness and cold. 

God did not create evil.

Evil is the result of what happens 

when man does not have God's love present in his heart. 

                                                                            Albert Einstein (1879-1959)  

Please think about it.

To Account

To Account
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.” Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.
Jesus told this parable,
“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.
These two passages of scripture one from the Old Testament and one from the new, are warnings to all people be they rich or poor. What is being said here is we will be held accountable for our actions. That I believe is doubly so if we claim to be followers of Christ Jesus.
James the half brother of Jesus wrote,
“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.
If we claim to be true believers in Christ Jesus then we are called to do all we can to help our fellow man.
I think even if you do not believe in Jesus, to help those in need is at the very least is the humane thing to do.
Thus my question for you the reader is, Do you do what you can to help your fellow man? I say this because 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.” Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.
Please think about it.

Seek Peace

Seek Peace
The Psalmist writes,

“Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 

Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, 

keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. 

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”

                                                                                        Psalm 34:11-14.

Someone told me the other day this is advice that everyone can benefit from. A standard by which we all must live. This is doubly so if we are in a position of authority. It is simple advice that says a lot.
Look at what it says,
1/“Keep your tongue from evil...”
2/“Your lips from speaking lies.”
3/“Turn from evil...”
4/“Seek peace and pursue it.”
Question: Is it advice you follow?
         Do the leaders both political and religious that you follow,
                         follow this advice?
Please think about it.

To the Church at Ephesus

The Church at Ephesus

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: 
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lamp stands:  
I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.  
You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.  
Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place.  
But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” 
                                                                                      Revelations 2:1-7
The church at Ephesus. Christ notes their perseverance. That they cannot tolerate wicked men. That they have tested those who claim to be apostles or believers and are not. They have also endured hardship for Christ.
Then he notes what they are doing wrong saying, “You have forsaken your first love.”  In other words they have wondered away from God.
His call to them is to return to their first love. To return to Christ and doing his work.
I get the impression that they were doing what some churches are doing today. They are on a judgmental crusade quite often without really knowing it.
I have heard many non-Christians point to ministers and churches in the media and say all some churches do is point out the evil in the world.
They heap condemnation on people. They are more worried about their rights and restricting the rights of others than showing the love of God.
I had one gay man tell me that he sees some preachers in the media as bigots who would refuse him the right to marry. And if it were possible they’d put him in jail.
He pointed out that one evangelist even said back in the nineties that God was going to strike all homosexuals dead. I checked sadly he was right.
How can churches and preachers doing such things reach not only the gay and LGBT community but others also by making statements like that.
They can’t.
This is what I believe Jesus is talking about here. The need for the church to turn back to their first love Jesus. The same Jesus who said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous...”
                                                                 Matthew5: 43-45.
If a person truly has the spirit of God in them they will show true love. They will not condemn of judge. That is a command from Jesus himself.
A person with the true spirit of God will exhibit the fruits of the Spirit which Paul defines as,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  
                                                                 Galatians 5:22,23.
It’s easy for not only preacher and churches but individual believers to, to wander away from what the true duty of a Christian is, especially in a society that gives us the right to free speech.
The church in Ephesus was doing some things correctly. They were questioning and standing up to those who called themselves apostles and were not.
They even hated the practices of the Nicolaitans who were compromising the teachings of Christ and the apostles.
Unfortunately at the same time they’d turned away from their first love, Christ.
Christ who said,
“ ‘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 22:37-40
That includes every man woman and child on this earth irrespective of who they are or their life style.
Think about it.