Against such there is no law

  Against such there is no law

In the book of Galatians we read,

“The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 

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 5:19-23 

Here we see defined the sinful nature and the Fruit of the Spirit. It is given to us so that we as true Christians. As true followers of Christ Jesus can tell right from wrong. It is in effect a black and white template for us to judge what is right and wrong.

Here’s a checklist for those who claim to be true followers of Jesus,

The fruit of the Spirit is,

Love 

Joy

Peace, 

Patience,

Kindness,

Goodness, 

Faithfulness,

Gentleness,

Self-control.

And as the writer points out there is no law against showing these attributes.

Are you showing the attributes of the fruit of the Spirit?

Please think about it.

The way you love

  The way you love

Jesus said,

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34,35.

Love is one of the cornerstones of the Christian faith.

In the book of Ephesians we read,

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1,2. 

It is our duty as Christians. As believers in Christ Jesus to Love as Christ Loved. Unconditionally. Our love should have no bounds.

The apostle Paul defines Christian 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....

And now these three remain:

 faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."  

                                                                                   1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.

Is this the way you love?

Please think about it.

Do they see it?

  Do they see it?

In the book of Ephesians we read,

“I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”

                                                                                                      Ephesians 4:1.

If you consider yourself a Christian a true follower of Christ Jesus, do you live a life worthy of Him?

When people see your life do they see the fruit of the spirit?

The fruit of the spirit being listed in the book of Galatians as,

love, 

joy, 

peace, 

patience, 

kindness, 

goodness, 

faithfulness,  

gentleness...

self-control.... 

Galatians 5:22.

Do people see these fruits in your words and deeds?

Please think about it.

Treat others

  Treat others

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.

This is something I live by. We must be willing to treat others the way we would like to be treated. By doing so we can reach the world for Christ. If we fail to do so we risk turning people away from Christ.

Question. Do you treat people the way you like to be treated?

Please think about it.

The fruit of a Christian life

  The Fruit of a Christian life

In the book of Galatians we read,

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.

Look carefully at this list,

love, 

joy, 

peace, 

patience, 

kindness, 

goodness, 

faithfulness,  

gentleness

 and 

self-control

Are these the attributes that people see when they look at your life?

If you follow a pastor, evangelist, philosopher, or even a politician. Do these people exhibit these characteristics? If not you should not be following them. It’s that simple.

Those Characteristics listed above are those of a Christian man and woman. Something God wants all of us to exhibit.

Thus the question becomes; Do you exhibit these characteristics?

Think about it. 

What God asks of us

  What God asks of us

The Prophet Micah states,

“He (God) has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8.

If you consider yourself a Christian do you follow this command of God in all aspects of your life? Do the teachers, preachers, evangelist and politicians you support and listen to do what Micah is saying here?

Please think about it.

Christian fruit

 Christian fruit,

In the book of Galatians we read,

"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.

These are Christian attributes. They are what we as Christians should be showing to the world.

If we are doing so people will be attracted to us. Which give us an opportunity to see share our faith with them.

When people look at your life do they see these attributes?

Please think about it.

Clothe yourself

  Clothe yourself

The apostle Paul wrote,

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Colossians 3:12-14.

Is the above a description of what you do? When people look at your life do they see compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love?

Do you forgive others any wrongs they have done to you. In the way the Lord did you? Do you forgive others unconditionally which is the way God forgave you?

Take a little time to pray and ask God to show you if you are truly doing what the apostle Paul is telling believers in Jesus to do.

Please think about it.

Of Note

 Of Note

Jesus said,

“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, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’” Matthew 25:44-45.

Here’s a warning to Christians but in general to all who have the ability to help the poor. Jesus makes it clear helping the poor is part of serving God.

It has always been my belief that if you are a true Christian you cannot turn away from the needs of the poor.

Our faith in Christ Jesus compels us to help anyone we can.

Please think about it.

Lending to The Lord

 Lending to The Lord

In the book of Proverbs we read,

 “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.” Proverbs 19:17.

I think individuals have to be careful here. I’ve heard people say “well I’m giving to the poor so God will bless me two, four, ten times what I give. Nothing could be further from the truth.

When we give we should remember the words of Jesus who said,

"Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 

"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.  

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:1-4.

We must give secretly first of all. Not only that I firmly believe we must give with a good conscience not expecting any return on what we give. We must give because we want to, because we believe it is the right thing. With no expectation of reward.

So, why do you give?

Please think about it. 

A righteous man knows

  A righteous man knows

In the book of proverbs we read,

"A righteous man knows the rights of the poor; a wicked man does not understand such knowledge." Proverbs 29:7.

I don’t think you can be a true Christian if you don’t know the rights of the poor. 

All to often I’ve heard both from outside and inside the church people who call the poor lazy. This is not the case. There are a lot of reasons someone is poor. These range from mental health issues, to lack of education, drug addiction, to poor choices in life. The list of why a person is poor is seemingly endless. 

Never-the-less the poor have rights. Even someone who is not a Christian has to agree that everyone on the planet has basic human rights. The right to enough food. The right to fresh water. The right to a safe home. The right to good medical care.

I believe that people who deny these basic human rights will one day answer to God for their actions, especially those with political power who have the ability to provide these things.

I think it is therefor imperative that we as Christians. We as believers in Christ Jesus, do all we can to help the poor.

If you consider yourself a Christian are you doing what you can to help the poor?

When was the last time you seen a homeless person on the street and at least slipped them some of your spare change?

Please think about it.

The poor and you

  The poor and you

In the book of Leviticus we read,

“If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you.” Leviticus 25:35.

Simply put. God cares for the poor and wants to use us to help those who are “Poor and cannot maintain himself...”

In Deuteronomy we read, “There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.” Deuteronomy 15:11.

We are to support the poor if we are able. That’s not to say the poor should not do anything to help themselves. They should. That being said people are poor for a myriad of reasons. Mental health problems, lack of education, poor paying jobs, addiction problems the list goes on and on.

As individuals we may not be able to help a great deal but we can all give to food banks and agencies that support the poor.

Also helping the poor doesn't just end with the individual. As Christians we should be contacting our government leaders. Telling them to help the poor by raising the minimum wage, building affordable housing, offering educational opportunities. 

Please think about it.

Attributes of a Christian

  Attributes of a Christian

The apostle Paul tells what the fruit of the Spirit of Christ within someone is 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.

If you consider yourself a Christian. Someone who claims to have the Spirit of Christ. Then people should see these attributes in your life. 

When people see you life do they see,

                                                   love, 

                                                                   joy, 

                                                                   peace, 

                                                                   patience, 

                                                                   kindness, 

                                                                   goodness,

                                                                   faithfulness,  

                                                                   gentleness 

                                                                   self-control

Please think about it.

What is Christian love?

  What is Christian Love?

The apostle Paul gives what is the ultimate definition of Christian Love. He writes,

“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....

And now these three remain: 

faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love.”  

                                                         1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.

The above written by the apostle Paul is for me self explanatory. Thus my question to you the reader is; If you consider yourself a Christian is this the kind of love you show to the world around you?

Please think about it.

Jesus made it clear

  Jesus made it clear

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.

If we are true Christians our works will show it. I don’t think you can be a Christian and not show compassion for those who are in need or in trouble.

I believe if we truly are a Christian we are to do our best to help those less fortunate than ourselves.

Please think about it.

What The Lord requires

  What The Lord Requires?

The Prophet Micah writes,

"He has told you, O man, what is good;

and what does the LORD require of you

but to do justice and to love kindness

and to walk humbly with your God?" 

                                                                    Micah 6:8 (ESV)

So if you claim to be a Christians. A true follower of Christ Jesus are you following this admonition from the prophet Micah?

God makes it clear what is good. 

To do justice.

To love kindness.

To walk humbly with God.

Please think about it.

Your Attributes

  Your attributes 

The apostle Paul 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.

Question; If you claim to be a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus. Do people see the fruits of the spirit the apostle Paul notes above?

Please think about it.

Loves the only way

 Loves the only way 

Matthew gospel records, Jesus being 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 neighbour as yourself.'  

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." 

                                                                                                         Matthew 22:37-40.

The late Martin Luther King jr said,

“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.”

                                                                                             Martin Luther King, Jr.

So the question becomes Do you love as Jesus loved, family, friend and foe alike?

Please think about it.

Are you

  Are you?

The apostle Paul writes,

“Love must be sincere. 

Hate what is evil; 

cling to what is good.  

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. 

Honour one another above yourselves.” 

                                                          Romans 12:9,10.

Here is another must for Christians for those who believe in Christ Jesus. 

1/ Our love must be sincere at all times.

2/We must hate evil in all its forms. 

3/We must cling to what is good.

4/We must be devoted to one another in brotherly love.

5/We must honour others above ourselves.

Perhaps a sixth point would be to pray and ask God to show us what is good and what is evil, because it seems to me that Christians at times fail to see what is right and wrong.

Never has this been more important that in 2023. We have seen last year, in both North America and around the world evil rise. Not only that evil is rising under the guise of doing right. 

As I looked at the so called freedom convoy here in Canada and the make America great again in the United States. I see people who espouse to be Christian, fooled into thinking what these groups are doing is right.

But are they. 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.

Think about this. Do you honestly believe that those involved with the freedom convoy or make America great again would allow others to protest against them?

Do you honestly believe that those people who want to take away the right to same sex marriage, a right given them by a duly elected secular government would bow down and accept their rights being taken away.

When Jesus made the statement,

"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.

He didn’t say you had to always agree with the people around you. What He made clear was treat other people the way you wish to be treated.

So are you doing this?

Are these things active in your life?

1/ Sincere love at all times.

2/ hating evil in all its forms. 

3/Cling to what is good.

4/Devoted to one another in brotherly love.

5/Honouring others above ourselves.

Please think about it.

The definition of Christian Love

  The definition of Christian Love.

The apostle Paul writes,

"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....

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. 

 But the greatest of these is love."  

                                                                   1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.

These are the words of the Apostle Paul. They are the definition of Christian love. For someone to call themselves a Christian and not follow this definition of love, is at the very least a slap in the face to God.

If you claim to be a Christian a true follower of Christ Jesus are you showing this kind of love to God, your family, your neighbour, and even your enemy?

Please think about it.