Many will say

Many will say
“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.
Let me make things clear from the start I am speaking to Christians here. Particularly North American Christians which is were I live.
To them I ask will you be one of the many who hear the words,
“I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”?
Are you truly living a life for God. Do you truly love God, your neighbour and your enemy?
Are you reaching out to all segments of society.
If you claim to be Christian would you ever be invited to the home of a Gay or Lesbian family? Would an abortionist welcome you into their home.
How do people truly see you?
Do people know you for what you are against, or what you are for?
What does your life truly reflect?
The apostle Paul tells us,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”Romans 12:18.
The apostle Paul make it clear what the fruits of God’s spirit are when he writes,
“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.
Are these the traits people see in you?
The writer of Hebrews tells us,
“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.
Are you living a life of Holiness before all men?
A life of holiness to me is a life filled with unconditional love.
It doesn’t consist of demonstrating against other lawful groups. It isn’t seeking to restrict the rights of those we disagree with that are lawful within the secular democracy in which we live.
A holy life is living a life Christ would be proud of. Love for God, for ones neighbours, even ones enemies.
This is the kind of life Jesus and the apostles lived. It is the kind of life we as Christians must live in 2016.
Please think about it.

Advice to Christians

Advice to Christians
Mahatma Gandhi said,
“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him.”
Gandhi I believe saw too many people who were Christians in name only.
Here is some advice from scripture of what Christians are suppose to do.
The apostle Paul writing to the Romans during the reign of Nero one of the worst persecutors of Christians in history. He said,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”Romans 12:18.
Writing to Titus the apostle Paul said,
“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.
To the Galatians Paul wrote,
“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.
The writer of Hebrews tells Christians,
“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 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.
Our Lord 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.
Jesus also said,
“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, 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.” Matthew 5:43-45.
When it comes to how a Christian should act Jesus put it in a nut shell 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.
If we follow these simple pieces of advice we will be well equipped to do what Jesus called us to do when He 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.
There is a prayer by Francis of Assisi that I think Christians should take to hart in their day to day lives. Francis wrote,
Francis of Assisi while not an Apostle of Christ gave some excellent advice when he wrote,

“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love,

Where there is injury, pardon;

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.
Please think about it.

Your Fruits

Your Fruits
The apostle Paul wrote,
“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.
Dear Christian when you stand before God what will He say about your life?
If we are indeed following the teachings of Jesus and the apostles if we are following the leading of the Holy Spirit then what the apostle Paul wrote above should be evident in our lives.
Read the words of Paul again,
“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.
Is your life showing those fruits?
The writer of Proverbs states,
“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 
Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” 
                                                                                                             Proverbs 3:3,4.
The outcome of true love from God are the fruits of the Spirit.
These attributes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control show God is working in your life.
They also point people to Christ without you even saying a word.
When people see your life as a Christian they should want what you have. Even if they disagree with what you believe they should still admire the fruits of the Spirit exhibited in your life.
Every so often I believe Christians need to take stock of their lives. We need to go to God in prayer and ask Him to show us how we can be more like Him.
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.
Dear Christian are you living a Holy life before the people around you? Can they see the fruits of the Spirit in your life?
Please think carefully about it.