Remember the height

 Remember the height

The apostle Paul writes,

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10.

Quite often I think Christians forget this scripture. 

“We are God’s workmanship” 

“We are created in Christ Jesus to do good works.”

Tony Campolo the American evangelist said,

“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.” Tony Campolo.

I agree with him. Sadly especially here in Canada and the United States non-Christians know more about what Christians are against than the good works they do. To some portions of society Christians are little more than hypocritical bigots who wish to restrict their freedoms.

This should not be so. 

 Evangelical Christianity in North America has sadly become political. A religious shell of what it once was. As such while they may think they are doing good they are not. The good works God intended them to do are not done.

The church in North America needs to heed the warning Jesus gave to the church at Ephesus when he said,

“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.   Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” Revelations 2:4,5.

Please think about it.

Are you?

Are you?
The apostle Paul writes
“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.  
“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Colossians 4:5,6.
Anyone who claims to be a follower of Christ Jesus needs to be wise, especially when dealing with those outside our faith. What we say and do has potentially eternal consequences. What we say and do can bring people to Christ or push them away.
In proverbs we read,

"Reckless words pierce like a sword, 

but the tongue of the wise brings healing."

                                                             Proverbs 12:18.

As Christians we need to be cautious about what we say. Words quite often hurt more than any physical pain. Our words must bring healing to those around us.

When dealing with others be they from outside our faith or fellow believers in Christ Jesus, we should always remember 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.

Are you?
Please think about it.

A Checklist for Love

A Checklist for Love,
Matthew’s gospel records this,
“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,...” Matthew 5:43,44
For me the best definition of Love ever written about love was written by the apostle Paul. It is a checklist for true 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.

Is this your definition of Love? If so do you put this definition of Love into practice in word and in deed?
Please think about it.

The Royal Law

The Royal Law
James writes,
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.  
But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.  
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.  
For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. 
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,  because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” James 2:8-13.
Sadly I see and hear many Christians who judge and in whom mercy is not seen.
Jesus tells us,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”Matthew 7:1,2.
The apostle Paul writes,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
The way I see it we as Christians have no right to judge those outside the church. We can judge those inside the church to ensure that they are teaching sound doctrine but that is as far as it goes.
We as Christians have no right to judge others because we do not know what is in their hearts and minds. We do not know why they are the way they are. Only God know that.
Jesus told us to go into all the world and preach the gospel to all people. He did not tell us to judge anyone. Which sadly too many Christians do.
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.
We as Christians MUST! remember this.
A great light is held upon the Christian. The eternal resting place of those we come in contact with may rest upon our actions. We cannot take our actions and our faith lightly.
Francis of Assisi wrote,
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” Francis of Assisi.
The writer of Hebrews tell 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.
Please think about it.

Light Houses

Light houses
Dwight L. Moody wrote,
“We are told to let our light shine and if it does we wont need to tell anyone it does. Lighthouses don’t fire cannons to call attention to their shining.” Dwight L. Moody.
A pastor once told me if you have to tell someone you are a Christian you are not living your life right.
The apostle Peter wrote,
“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.
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.
As Christians we should be living a life that is different from the world. One the world will take notice of. One the world will want to emulate.
Francis of Assisi 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.
This should be the kind of life we, if we claim to be Christians should be living.
Please think about it.

A Parable for Christian

A Parable for Christians
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.  
At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores  and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.  
In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  
So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ 
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.  
And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ 
“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house,  
for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 
“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 
“ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 
“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”   Luke 16:19-31.
I’ve heard many Christians say this parable is for non-believers. To which I say not necessarily so. It was spoken to believers. To people who believed in God.
It basically reminds us of 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.
The bible is very much a book of relationships. Of man to God and man to his fellow man.
James writes,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?  
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.  
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” James 2:14-20.
The Book of Acts says this about the early church,
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  
Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.  
All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.  
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,  praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Acts 2:42-47.
The early church lived their faith in full view of everyone. They treated others as they wanted to be treated. As a result Acts records they enjoyed “favour with all people”.
The early Church practised Christianity correctly. They were not confrontational. They lived their faith. They obviously told others about what they believed because the church grew. This is how we in the twenty-first century should be.
Sadly here in North America the church is known for what it is against. Not what it is for. Some calling themselves evangelical Christians have become aggressive and confrontational.
They are known for mixing their politics and their faith. The early church had no time for that. They knew what their job was and that was to show the love of God to all people even their enemies. They practised what they preached.
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.
Are you doing that?
If you claim to be Christian please think about it.