Do Good

Do Good
The Psalmist writes,

“Trust in the LORD and do good; 

dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.” 

                                                          Psalm 37:3.

Here is something we as Christians should be doing. Trusting in God and doing good. This is what we should be remembered for.
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.
Here in North America many times Christians are remembered for what they are against or who they have attacked or for who’s rights they are trying to take away or for their political stance. This should not be so.
In terms of eternity it dose not matter what a government or anyone else says or does. God will one day bring everyone to account including Christians.
What does matter is that Christians, those believe in Christ Jesus trust in the Lord and do good. The apostle Paul writes,
"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."Romans 12:18.
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.
That being said I think it can be safely said that all Christians. All those who believe in Christ Jesus would want to live in peace. Would want others to do good toward them.
The reward for living in peace with those around you, is that we will enjoy safe pasture. A place where we can tell others of the Love of God and the salvation God offers through Christ Jesus. Which is exactly what Jesus expects of all those who believe in Him.
Please think about it.

Not of this world

Not of this world
Billy Graham the America Evangelist wrote,

My home is in Heaven. 

I'm just travelling through this world.

                                              Billy Graham.

This is something I believe all who claim to be believers in Christ Jesus must remember. The apostle Peter states,
“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.
Above all things I firmly believe that those who believe in Christ Jesus must live as good a life as is humanly possible.
We must always remember we are Christ’s representatives on this earth. That people will see Jesus through the lense of our life and our actions. Thus we must live good lives.
When it comes to living the Christian life I am always reminded of what is commonly known as the Prayer of St. Francis it states,

“Lord, make me an instrument of your 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;

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.

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.

Are you?
Please think about it.

Render to Caesar

Render to Caesar
“Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words.  
They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are.  
Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” 
But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me?  Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius,  and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?” 
“Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” 
When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.” Matthew 22:15-22.
Here the Pharisees and the Herodians were trying to trap Jesus into saying something against Rome. That would cause Jesus to be jailed or put to death. Instead Jesus turned it to his favour and gave Christians an example to live by.
They asked Jesus is it right to pay taxes to Caesar. For Jesus to say no would be against Roman law. To say no could have brought a charge of insurrection against Jesus.
To say yes would be to possibly loose favour with the people who followed him.
Instead Jesus turned things around on them. He noted the head on the coin. The head being Caesar’s and said, “Give (or render, give back to) Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s”
This is how we as Christians must be today. We are not citizens of this world our home is in heaven. However we live in this world and must follow the laws of the land in which we live.
It is only when the law of the land requires us to break God’s laws that we must disobey the law of the land and follow God’s law.
That being said, as long as the nation and government in who’s jurisdiction we live in does not casus us to violate God’s law, we must obey the laws of that nation.
The apostle Peter states,
“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.
Please think about it.