You and those around you

  You and those around you

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.

When I was young my parents told me to treat others the way wanted to be true. I didn’t know it at the time but it was just what 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.

If we remember this one verse our lives will be transformed and those around us will see Jesus in our lives.

Question: Do you treat others the way you want to be treated? Does that extend even you those you dislike?

Please think about it.

Christian principles for living #7

  Christian Principles for living #7 

Trust in the Lord

The writer of Proverbs tells us,

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart 

and lean not on your own understanding; 

in all your ways acknowledge him, 

and he will make your paths straight.”

                                               Proverbs 3:5,6.

If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus do you trust God completely? Is your faith squarely in Him. The writer of Hebrew tells us,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see.”  

                                                           Hebrews 11:1

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, 

because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists 

and 

that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” 

                                                                            Hebrews 11:6.

I have learned first hand that trusting in God really does work. 

Yes there have been times when I thought things would not work out. Still I committed the situation to God and left it there. Ultimately the situation did work out, although sometimes not in the way I thought it would work out.

The apostle Paul said,

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  Romans 8:28.

And Paul should know he went through a lot for his faith yet it all worked out in the end. Even though he was ultimately martyred for his faith he had the opportunity to share that faith throughout the Roman empire. He stood before everyone from rulers to slave and told them of his faith before leaving this earth for heaven.

So the question becomes, if you consider yourself a believer in Christ Jesus do you put your trust fully in Him?

Please think about it.

Do you trust?

 Do you trust?

In the book of Proverbs we read,

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5,6.

C. S. Lewis wrote,

"Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God." C. S. Lewis.

Personally I think this is easier said than done. That being said, I believe God wanted it that way. In the book of Hebrews we read,

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for

 and certain of what we do not see."  

                                                           Hebrews 11:1

People who have faith in someone or something are the strongest of followers. A true follower will quite literally go to the grave for what he or she believes in.

Thus it should be for followers of Christ Jesus. For followers of God.

If you claim to be a Christian, a true follower of Christ Jesus, are you willing to go to your grave for Him?

Please think carefully about it.

I will trust

  I will trust.

The Psalmist writes,

"But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever. Psalm 52:8.

As believers in God. As believers in Christ Jesus. Do you have an unfailing trust in God?

There are many people who go to church regularly that don’t have trust God. Many go to church because it’s the correct thing to do. Many go to meet and talk to friends. Many go because their parents and grandparents went to church.

These people are hard to distinguish in church because they know when and what to pray. They know the ritual. But they don’t know God. They simply believe intellectually that there is a God. They have no personal relationship with God.

Dear reader do you have a personal relationship with God? 

Are you certain that if you were to die today that you would go to heaven?

Why not take sometime right now to assess your relationship with God. Why not make a sincere commitment to follow God today?

Take time to read the New Testament and see for yourself what the early believers believed about Jesus.

Please think about it.

By Grace Through Faith

  By Grace through faith

The apostle Paul writes,

"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.

Christians believe we cannot work our way to heaven. We cannot live lives good enough to get to heaven.

The Prophet Isaiah noted,

“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” Isaiah 64:6.

No matter how good we may think we are we always fall short of Gods ideal for our life. We all sin. That’s why the apostle Paul tells us,

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

     Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6-8 

Jesus speaking of Himself said this,

"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. 

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son". John 3:16-18.

Scripture is clear. It is by the Grace of God we are saved. Through belief in Christ Jesus.

Do you believe this?

Please think about it.

People of Faith

  People of Faith

In the book of Hebrews we read,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.  This is what the ancients were commended for.” Hebrews 11:1,2.

Faith in 2023 seems to be in short supply. Few people seem to have faith in anything. 

We are bombarded by hundreds of things in the media one piece of information seemingly contradicting another piece of information.

I think its perhaps been this way throughout the centuries. It’s just that today we have a multimedia world that highlights contradictions quicker than ever before. 

It takes a lot of faith to believe anything these days.

That I think also applies to belief in God. It takes a lot of faith to believe in someone or something we cannot see, feel or touch. 

I think that is why God asks of faith. I think that is why in the book of Hebrews we read,

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6.

People who have faith in anything are the strongest of follower. People who believe in something with their whole heart and soul are willing to die for what they believe in.

Jesus speaking about himself 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.” John 3:16.

Do you believe this?  

Of wealth and God

  Of wealth and God

The Apostle Peter wrote,

"And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'" Acts 2:21

The Apostle Paul wrote,

"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.

Alfred North Whitehead wrote,

“Apart from God every activity is merely a passing whiff of insignificance.” Alfred North Whitehead.

Think about it. No matter how successful you are in life. No matter how much money and possessions you gain in this life. The moment you pass from this life they don’t mean a thing. 

The richest men that have ever lived may have had a magnificent funeral with an expensive casket costing thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars. Yet in the end they stand before God in the same way as the poorest person that ever lived does. 

The deciding factor as to where you will spend eternity comes down to whom you sincerely believe in while alive.

Jesus said,

"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate theone and love the other or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money" Matthew 6:24.

Now there is nothing wrong with being rich. It is the emphasis you put on your wealth that is the important thing. Do you rely on your wealth more than you do on God. Do you trust your wealth more than you do God?

Who do you believe in?

Please think about it.  

In what or in whom

  In what or in whom

In Proverbs

Those who trust in their riches will fall, 

but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.

                                                               Proverbs 11:28

The Psalmist writes,

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, 

but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." 

                                                                            Psalm 20:7.

Jesus said,

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also....

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money” Matthew 16:19-21,24.

So here is a simple question to anyone who calls themselves a Christian. A true believer in Christ Jesus.

In what or in whom do you put your trust?

Please think about it.

Simple faith

  Simple faith

The Psalmist declares,“You are my refuge and my shield; 

I have put my hope in your word.” 

                                             Psalm 119:114.

My faith is simple. I believe in God. In God I have put my hope. 

Where is your hope?

Please think about it.

Love is

  Love is

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....

                                                1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

In the Talmud we read,

Rabbi Akiba was asked by a Roman general, "Why does your God who loves the needy not provide for their support Himself?"  

He answered, "God the Father of both the rich and poor, wants the one to help the other so as to make the world a household of love."  The Talmud.

Question: If you claim to be a Christian, a true believer in Christ Jesus, are you showing the Love of God to those around you.

Is the love you show to those around you, the love the apostle Paul describes? 

Please think about it.

Beware of "the Formula"

  Beware of “the formula”

The apostle Peter said,

"And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'" Acts 2:21

Today in North America we have what amounts to a formula for getting into heaven. It consists of a simple prayer that states, 

“Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Saviour.”

The origins of this prayer are debated. Some claim it came out of the early protestant revival movement while others say it came from the late eighteenth century revival movement. While others place it in the early twentieth century. 

Irrespective of when it originated it does not originate from biblical times.

The late British/American evangelist Leonard Ravenhill said of the prayer,

“The sinners prayer has sent more people to hell than all the bars in America.” Leonard Ravenhill

And he’s probably right. The prayer had become so ingrained into North American Christianity that it gives a false sense of security.

We don’t see such a prayer in the Bible. What we see is what the apostle Peter states in the Book of Acts, “And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”

We see the apostle Paul writing,

"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.

This is what happened on the day Jesus was crucified. One of the men crucified with Jesus said,

"We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." 

Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.'" 

Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23:41-43.

There was no formula. Jesus did not ask the criminal to pray the prayer of salvation. It was simpler than that.

This criminal believed Jesus was who He said He was. And proclaimed it with his lips. Admitted his sin and simply asked Jesus to remember him when He came into His kingdom.

This is what God asks all of us today. 

He asks that we confess our sins to God.

He asks that we sincerely believe in our heart that Jesus is the Son of God. Saviour of mankind.

And He asks that we confess with out mouth Jesus is Lord.

Have you done this?

Do you truly believe Jesus is the Son of God. The Saviour of mankind. The Way to Heaven?

Please think about it.

Do not trust in princes

 Do not trust princes

“Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. 

When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; 

on that very day their plans come to nothing.” 

                                                                 Psalm 146:3,4.

Over the years I’ve seen many preachers and evangelist go off the rails, fall away from Christ. Some of these men and women attracted thousands even tens of thousands of followers. Sadly too many of those followers were following the preacher and not God. As result when the preacher fell they fell away from God.

As believers in Christ Jesus we need to put our faith firmly in God. Not a pastor or evangelist. 

Thus my question to you the reader; Is your faith firmly in God or in a pastor or evangelist?

Can you with the Psalmist say,

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, 

but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." 

                                                                     Psalm 20:7.

Please think about it.

In Whom

  In whom

The Psalmist writes,

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, 

but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." 

                                                                       Psalm 20:7.

Where is your trust? If you claim to be a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus, where is your trust?

As Christians we should be trusting in the Lord God Almighty. Sadly however many in North America where I live trust entirely in the things of this world. This should never be.

C. S. Lewis wrote,

"Never be afraid to trust an unknown future 

to a known God."

                         C. S. Lewis.

Thus my question to you; If you consider yourself a believer in Christ Jesus to what or whom do you trust your future to?

Please think about it.

Dedicated to God

  Dedicated to God.

In the book of Deuteronomy we read,

"Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.

You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk to them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up

You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:4-9.

How dedicated to God are you? 

Do you,

“...love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”?

  Is your faith so much a part of your life that even without saying anything people who see you know you are a believer in Christ Jesus?

Francis of Assisi wrote,

“Preach the Gospel at all times 

and when necessary use words.”

                                                Francis of Assisi.

Is this what you are doing?

Please think about it.

Are you?

 Are you?

Obadiah the prophet issues a warning,

“The day of the Lord is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your head.” Obadiah 1:15.

The apostle Paul after telling the Athenians about Jesus said,

“In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  

For he 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 17:30,31.

In the book of 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.” Ecclesiastes12:13,14.

I have no doubt that one day God will judge the world but at this moment in time everyone living on this earth has a choice to make.

Jesus speaking of himself 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.

The apostle Peter said,

“And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” Acts 2:21

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.

As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  

For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,  for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved

Romans 10:9-13.

Thus my question to you the reader; Do you believe what is written above and if so are you willing to put your trust in Jesus?

Please think about it.

F. A. I. T. H.?

 F. A. I. T. H.?

In the book of Mark we read 

“Then he (Jesus) called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Mark 8:34.

There was at one time a saying among Christians that went like this

F. A. I. T. H. 

Forsaking 

All             

I               

Take         

Him.        

If you consider yourself a Christian are you willing to give everything up to follow Jesus? That’s not to say Jesus will ask you to give up everything to follow him but He may.

Think about your life and all you have materially. Are you willing to give your material wealth to follow Christ?

Think, (especially if you live in the western democracies), think about your freedoms. Are you willing to give up your freedom to follow Christ? Are you willing to die for Christ?

These are big questions. Questions many Christians in the world have said yes to. 

Around the world today there are tens of thousands of Christians in prison, being attacked or socially excluded because they chose to follow Christ.

So I ask you if you live in North America or in the western democracies with all the freedoms we enjoy, would you be willing to give all of those freedoms up to follow Christ?

Please think about it.

Trust

Trust
The writer of Proverbs states,

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart 

and lean not on your own understanding; 

                                                    Proverbs 3:5.

Here is a biblical truth that many people cannot do. Trusting, having faith in God is perhaps the hardest thing to do. Yet we must do this. The writer of Hebrews states,

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, 

because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists

 and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

                                                                          Hebrews 11:6.

The writer of Hebrews defining faith as,

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see." 

                                                                    Hebrews 11:1.

Someone has said “A person with true faith in anything will not easily be turned away from what they believe in.”
This is the kind of faith God asks anyone who believes in Him.
Is this the kind of faith you have in God?
Please think about it.

Could you give up everything?

Could you give up everything?
Matthew’s gospel records this incident between Jesus and a man of wealth.
"Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" 
"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." 
"Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, " ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony,  honour your father and mother,' and ‘love your neighbour as yourself.''" 
"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?" 
Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth." Matthew 19:16-22.
The true test of anyone’s faith is if they are willing to give up everything for it. The man in who approached Jesus was not willing to give up his wealth. His trust was in his wealth.
Sadly many calling themselves Christians here in North America are not willing to give up everything they have to follow Christ. Some go as far as saying if you have enough faith in Christ you will become wealthy and your life will be easy. What garbage.
In many countries around the world, individuals who choose to follow Christ put their very life on the line. One statistic I read was that it was estimated one Christian dies every fifteen minutes for their faith. Millions more are in prison world wide for their faith. Others as someone put it “live in very dangerous neighbourhoods”.
I praise God that I live in Canada. A place where I can express what I believe without persecution. Where I can sit down with others of different faiths and lifestyles and share my faith in a none threatening way. The way I see Jesus and the apostles did in the Bible.
That being said I would ask anyone who claims to be a Christian living here in Canada or the United States are you willing to give up all you have and rely fully on God to provide for you?
Please think about it.
Post Script
If you are a Christian please pray for those Christians around the world who are in prison for their faith. Pray also for those who live under persecution for simply believing in Christ Jesus.

Your Hope

Your Hope
The Psalmist writes,

“I wait for the LORD,

 my soul waits, 

and in his word I put my hope.” 

                                    Psalm 130:5  

If you claim to be a Christian, where is your trust. Billy Graham the American evangelist wrote,
"Make sure of your commitment to Jesus Christ, and seek to follow Him every day. Don't be swayed by the false values and goals of this world, but put Christ and His will first in everything you do." Billy Graham.
In Proverbs we read,

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart 

and lean not on your own understanding; 

in all your ways acknowledge him, 

and he will make your paths straight."

                                                        Proverbs 3:5,6.

Here is a question for all who claim to be followers in Christ Jesus. Do you truly “trust in the LORD with all your heart”?
Please think about it.

Christian Principle for living #7 Trust in the Lord

Christian Principles for living #7 Trust in the Lord
The writer of Proverbs tells us,

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart 

and lean not on your own understanding; 

in all your ways acknowledge him, 

and he will make your paths straight.”

                                               Proverbs 3:5,6.

If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus do you trust God completely? Is your faith squarely in Him. The writer of Hebrew tells us,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see.”  

                                                           Hebrews 11:1

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, 

because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists 

and 

that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” 

                                                                            Hebrews 11:6.

I have learned first hand that trusting in God really does work.
Yes there have been times when I thought things would not work out. Still I committed the situation to God and left it there. Ultimately the situation did work out, although sometimes not in the way I thought it would work out.
The apostle Paul said,
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  Romans 8:28.
And Paul should know he went through a lot for his faith yet it all worked out in the end. Even though he was ultimately martyred for his faith he had the opportunity to share that faith throughout the Roman empire. He stood before everyone from rulers to slave and told them of his faith before leaving this earth for heaven.
So the question becomes, if you consider yourself a believer in Christ Jesus do you put your trust fully in Him?
Please think about it.