Walking in the light

 Walking in the light

The apostle John writes,

"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.  

If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.  

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." 1 John 1:5-7.

Do you truly walk in the light? Do those preachers, evangelist, teachers and even politicians you follow truly walk in the light?

I know that we are not to judge Jesus saying,

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged." Matthew 7:1.

We also must remember this is a scripture many false teachers hide behind. But the apostle Paul tells us,

“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?” 1 Corinthians 5:12.

Thus we have the right to judge anyone who claims to be a Christian to see if they are truly walking in the light. And teaching the word of God correctly.

That being said we should not go on a witch hunt looking to prove a particular preacher, teacher, evangelist or politician is not walking in the light.

We should however be praying for anyone who claims to be a Christian. Remember no one is perfect and we all make mistakes and from time to time need to repent of our sins.

At the same time we need to be looking particularly at those in authority who claim to be Christians. We need to see for ourselves if they are walking in the light.

The apostle Paul gives these guidelines 

“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.” Galatians 5:19-21.

Paul going on to tell us,

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control....” Galatians 5:22, 23b.

Please think about it.

When all has been heard

  When all has been heard

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.

One day we will be standing before God. At that time every deed will come to light. Everything we have done wrong. All our sins will be there to be judged.

I think if we are honest with ourselves we will admit that we cannot live a life good enough to stand before God.

That being said, Jesus offers us away. The apostle John speaking of Jesus writes,

 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  

If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." 1John 1:9-10.

Thus the question becomes; have you confessed your sins directly to Jesus?

Please think about it.

An Instrument

  An Instrument

Jesus said,

“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.

As Christians we must remember these words of Jesus. Jesus came to save the world not condemn it. Jesus came to show the Love of God to all mankind. Thus as Christians, as servants of God we must remember we are to love unconditionally. 

For me our actions as believers in Christ Jesus is summed up in the words of Francis of Assisi who said,

“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.

If we as believers follow this advice from Francis of Assisi people will see our love not only for God, but for them. Making it possible for us to win souls for Christ.

Please think about it.

Your Thoughts and Your deeds

 Your Through and your deeds.

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.

This is a fundamental scripture for all who believe in Christ Jesus.

1/ We are the light of the world.

2/ We are a city on a hill.

3/ we are to let our light shine before men.

We are to let out light shine that they may see our good deeds and praise God.

So my question to you if you claim to be a Christian is what are your words and deeds telling others about God?

Please think about it.

You will find Him

You will find Him
In the book of Deuteronomy we read.
“But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.”  Deuteronomy 4:29.
When someone tells me they don’t believe in God, or God doesn’t exist. I ask the question; have you truly searched for God?
Most people I know who don’t believe in God have not truly read the Bible. Either that or they’ve made up their mind that, since they can’t see or touch God physically he doesn’t exist.
C. S. Lewis said,
"A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word 'darkness' on the walls of his cell." C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain.
Blaise Pascal said,
“Belief (in God) is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists.” Blaise Pascal
Pascal also wrote,
“In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't.” Blaise Pascal.
It is my hope that for you the reader there is enough light in your faith to see God.
That being said, what I would say to anyone who does not believe in God, is give God a chance to reach out to you. Read the Bible particularly the New Testament. Read it with an open mind. Praying asking God to show Himself to you.
It can’t hurt.
Please think about it.

Be Still

Be Still
The Psalmist writes,

“Be still, and know that I am God;

 I will be exalted among the nations, 

I will be exalted in the earth.” 

                                        Psalm 46:10. 

Someone said,

“Maybe the atheist cannot find God 

for the same reason a thief cannot find a policeman.” 

                                                                 Author Unknown

That may be true. Many people I know who do not believe in God have made up their mind and are not willing to change.
Believing in God takes faith and as Blaise Pascal wrote,

“In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe 

and enough shadows to blind those who don't.”

                                                           Blaise Pascal.

I think as well the reason many people today in our 24/7 society do not believe in God is that they are not looking for Him. They are distracted by the many things that our society has to offer. You just have to walk down the street in any city, go into a shop, walk in the park. Even sitting in a doctors office and you see people constantly on their electronic device.
We are so wired, so content with looking at what this world has to offer that we don’t see God. Yet as the Psalmist warns,

That God,“...will be exalted among the nations,” 

That God “will be exalted in the earth.” 

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.
The writer goes on to say,
“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.
The Apostle Paul speaking in Athens states,
"For he (God) has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” Acts 17:31.
Thus the decision is up to you. You can believe in God or you can choose not to. You can believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. The Saviour of Mankind or you can choose not to.
The apostle Paul writes,
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  Romans 10: 9,10.
The choice is yours.
Please think about it.

The Bible is not the Light of The World?

The Bible is not the light of the world?
Jesus said,
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.”Matthew 5:14.
The great evangelist Charles H. Spurgeon said,
“The Bible is not the light of the world, it is the light of the Church. But the world does not read the Bible, the world reads Christians! “You are the light of the world.””Charles H. Spurgeon.
Someone said to me the church is under attack. Which is true. It has been ever since its inception. On and off throughout the centuries the Christians who are The Church, have been persecuted simply for being believers in Christ Jesus.
That being said we, especially here in the west must make sure if we are being persecuted it is for the right thing. That being, showing the world the Love of Christ. Not because we took sides in politics, or heaped judgement on people or did a any of a hundred other things Christ would not have wanted us to do.
The apostle Peter makes it clear,
“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.
As a holy priesthood we must represent Christ in the purest way humanly possible. We must. We as individual believers in Christ, must as the apostle Peter said, “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.”
We must remember that we are the light of the world. That people will see Christ through our words and deeds.
Thus my question becomes to anyone reading this who claims to be a follower of Christ Jesus; Do you 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.?
Please think about it.  

The world reads Christians

The world reads Christians
Jesus said,

“You are the light of the world. 

A city on a hill cannot be hidden.”

                                         Matthew 5:14

Charles H. Spurgeon said,
“The Bible is not the light of the world, it is the light of the Church. But the world does not read the Bible, the world reads Christians! “You are the light of the world.” Charles H. Spurgeon.
Spurgeon is absolutely right. The world sees Jesus through the lense of those claiming to be Christians.
Francis of Assisi said,

“The deeds you do

may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 

                                                                      Francis of Assisi.

What is your sermon telling the world?
Does your words and deeds reflect the love of Christ to all people, even those you disagree with? Even toward your worst enemy?
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.
Earlier in Matthews gospel, he records Jesus as saying,
“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,...” Matthew 5:43,44.
Are you loving all people unconditionally?
If you claim to be a Christian, do people see the love of Christ in you.
If you claim to be a Christian why not take a few minutes right now to pray and ask God to show you if you are truly loving others unconditionally.
Please think about it.

You Are,. Are You

You are. Are You
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.
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.
If you claim to be a follower of Christ Jesus,

• Are you letting your light shine before men? 
• Are you living a life that is worthy of the calling of Christ? 
• Are you doing your best to abstain from sinful desires?

Please think about it.

Think about this

Think about this.
This message is written to believers by the Apostle John but it is the message Christians want the world to know,
“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.  
If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.  
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. 
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.  He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 1:5-2:2
Jesus did in deed pay the price for our sins. Paul writes,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:8.
Jesus offers us eternal life. It is a free gift to all who would believe. We do not have to work for it.
Paul states,
“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.
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:12-13.
We Christians believe that you can indeed become Children of God. By simply believing that Jesus is indeed the Son of God and by confessing our sins to Him.
The choice to believe this however is up to you the reader.
Please think about it.