Saturday, 18 January 2014
Do not Judge
"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
It is easy to slip into judgement. All it takes is for someone to do something we find wrong and we heap the judgement out.
Jesus realized that Christians would be in a world surrounded by things that they were morally opposed to. That’s why he said not to judge.
Judgement can lead to anger and other things. It definitely turns people away from the one who is judging and away from God.
If we judge others they most definitely will judge us. And we will not win souls that way.
I see Christians in the media slamming people who do not agree with us.
The big one when it come to Christians judging people at this writing, seems to be to judge the homosexual community.
How sad.
The Bible clearly tell 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.
I could care less as to whether homosexuality is a sin or not.
In the same way I could care less as to whether the person next to me in church is a sinner. Sin is between the individual and God.
I remember some years ago a pastor putting a sign in front of his church saying “this church for sinners only. All welcome.” How appropriate.
I can, I think, without fear of being wrong say that everyone who attends church has sinned at least once during the week.
We therefore being sinners have no right to judge another person.
It is God who convicts men of sin. It is not our job.
Christians have but one job in this world Jesus put it this way,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28: 18-20
You cannot win souls to Christ by judging them.
We must approach all people be it inside church or outside the church walls with the same love and understanding and let God do any judging that needs to be done.
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:17
Think about it.
Friday, 17 January 2014
Christian Responsibility
A Christian has a deep responsibility to God and to the world around them. All to often however we forget that responsibility.
The Talmud gives us an example of Abraham
“An aged man, whom Abraham hospitality invited to his tent, refused to join him in prayer to the one spiritual God. Learning that he was a fire-worshipper. Abraham drove him from his door. That night God appeared to Abraham in a vision and said: ‘I have borne with that ignorant man for seventy years: could you not have patiently suffered him one night?”
Abraham in his zeal to honour God forgot for just a moment and failed to show patients to a non-believer.
Love is patient and part of the essence of being a Christian.
The writer of Proverbs states,
“A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.” Proverbs 15:18
Paul Writing to the Ephesians states, “ As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Ephesians 4:1,2.
As Christians patients is a necessity. We labour in a world that is to say the least very indifferent to us. A world that sometimes frustrates us with its apathy toward God. A world that is quick to judge us but slow to listen to what we have to say.
Christian brothers and sisters labour and witness for years sometimes with little tangible results. Still God calls us to be patient.
Peter in 2 Peter 3:9 states, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
The essence to being a Christian is to be patient. Proverbs states
“A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly.”
Proverbs 14:29
Proverbs 16:32 even states, “ Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.”
A patient person is quite often a person who listens takes stock of the situation and uses wisdom in the situation he or she has been put in.
All to often we act like a warrior and charge into things not thinking that in doing so we turn people away.
We come across as rude and intolerant to those around us especially none believers.
This I find is especially true when people do things that to us are wrong, or governments pass laws that we as Christians find morally offensive.
Part of the essence of being a Christian is not to be rude.
We must be willing to accept what is going on around us even if we disagree with it.
Reinhold Niebuhr wrote a famous poem the first verse of which is,
Asking God for the courage to change what we can. And above all the wisdom to know the difference.
All to many Christians have made the mistake of trying to change things they can’t change. And have lacked the courage to change things they can.
Think about it.
The Talmud gives us an example of Abraham
“An aged man, whom Abraham hospitality invited to his tent, refused to join him in prayer to the one spiritual God. Learning that he was a fire-worshipper. Abraham drove him from his door. That night God appeared to Abraham in a vision and said: ‘I have borne with that ignorant man for seventy years: could you not have patiently suffered him one night?”
Abraham in his zeal to honour God forgot for just a moment and failed to show patients to a non-believer.
Love is patient and part of the essence of being a Christian.
The writer of Proverbs states,
“A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.” Proverbs 15:18
Paul Writing to the Ephesians states, “ As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Ephesians 4:1,2.
As Christians patients is a necessity. We labour in a world that is to say the least very indifferent to us. A world that sometimes frustrates us with its apathy toward God. A world that is quick to judge us but slow to listen to what we have to say.
Christian brothers and sisters labour and witness for years sometimes with little tangible results. Still God calls us to be patient.
Peter in 2 Peter 3:9 states, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
The essence to being a Christian is to be patient. Proverbs states
“A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly.”
Proverbs 14:29
Proverbs 16:32 even states, “ Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.”
A patient person is quite often a person who listens takes stock of the situation and uses wisdom in the situation he or she has been put in.
All to often we act like a warrior and charge into things not thinking that in doing so we turn people away.
We come across as rude and intolerant to those around us especially none believers.
This I find is especially true when people do things that to us are wrong, or governments pass laws that we as Christians find morally offensive.
Part of the essence of being a Christian is not to be rude.
We must be willing to accept what is going on around us even if we disagree with it.
Reinhold Niebuhr wrote a famous poem the first verse of which is,
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
We as Christians need to take heed of the truths spoken in that poem. We need to be at peace with God and the world, accepting the things we cannot change.Asking God for the courage to change what we can. And above all the wisdom to know the difference.
All to many Christians have made the mistake of trying to change things they can’t change. And have lacked the courage to change things they can.
Think about it.
Thursday, 16 January 2014
Good Citizens
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God”
Romans 13:1.
As Christians we must remember that we are as it were, “landed emigrants”. We are citizens of Heaven yet live here on earth.
As such we must obey the law of the land in which we live except where it violates our beliefs.
We here in the west have all the rights of any citizen in a democracy. We can vote for whom we choose and express our opinion.
That freedom however does not extend to us screaming and making angry statements at the government simply because they pass a law we don’t like.
While we have freedom of speech. That freedom does not mean we can try and restrict the rights others have under the law. It doesn’t mean we have the rights to have a law repealed that benefits others simply because it offends our morals.
Like it or not secular civil governments are allowed to govern by God and they have the fee will to pass the laws they feel right for society.
We as Christians have no right to impose our morals on others through the law or other means any more than other groups have the right to do it to us.
The apostle Paul recognized that in order for the gospel to truly be spread around the world we had to obey the laws of the land.
He understood that we cannot legislate laws that would force people to come to know Christ.
Becoming a Christian is a personal choice and it is our job as Christians to present that choice to those around us in love.
Jesus when giving the great commission said, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."Matthew 28:19-20
We are told as Christians to go and make disciple of all nations. We are not told to force them. We are simply to present people with the gospel of Christ. From there it is their decision.
Reaching out to a dying world with the love of God is one of the important parts of being a Christian.
We are to continue with Christ’s mission, the mission statement being stated in John 3:16,17,
"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.”
Everything a Christian does should be done in love. It should be done with the intentions of pointing people to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
This is the essence of being a Christian.
Think about it.
Wednesday, 15 January 2014
Blessed are the Peacemakers
Blessed are the Peacemakers
A young girl by the name of Anne Frank hiding from the Nazi’s in occupied Europe during world war two wrote these words,
“Give of yourself, give as much as you can? And you can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness! If everyone were to do this and not be as mean with a kindly word, then there would be much more justice and love in the world. Give and you shall receive, much more than you would have ever thought possible. Give, give again and again, don’t lose courage, keep it up and go on giving! No one has ever become poor from giving!”
With all the hate that was swirling in the society around her, Anne Frank understood what love is.
She experienced it in the actions of those who hid her and her family at the peril of their lives should they get caught.
Anne’s sentiments were right. If we give, even if it is only kindness there would be more justice and love in the world.
Love is a peace maker. We as Christians are to be peace makers.
We live in a world that has strayed far from what God wants. It is our job as Christians to present God’s plan for peace between Him and mankind.
Jesus in Matthew 5:9 states, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God”
Peace is an important factor in our Christian walk.
Sadly Anne Frank’s life was cut short by evil hate filled men who sent her to the death camps. Her only crime, being Jewish.
We as Christians must never to hate. We must be willing to go as far as necessary to show the love of God.
Paul in 1 Corinthians 13 noting
Certainly those who hid the Frank family during the Nazi occupation understood this.
Thus we as Christians should take heart and go as far as necessary to show the love of God to anyone who will listen.
In doing so we will not only make the world a better place but will help point people to the salvation that can only come from Christ, and give glory to God himself.
Think about it.
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God”
Matthew 5:9A young girl by the name of Anne Frank hiding from the Nazi’s in occupied Europe during world war two wrote these words,
“Give of yourself, give as much as you can? And you can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness! If everyone were to do this and not be as mean with a kindly word, then there would be much more justice and love in the world. Give and you shall receive, much more than you would have ever thought possible. Give, give again and again, don’t lose courage, keep it up and go on giving! No one has ever become poor from giving!”
With all the hate that was swirling in the society around her, Anne Frank understood what love is.
She experienced it in the actions of those who hid her and her family at the peril of their lives should they get caught.
Anne’s sentiments were right. If we give, even if it is only kindness there would be more justice and love in the world.
Love is a peace maker. We as Christians are to be peace makers.
We live in a world that has strayed far from what God wants. It is our job as Christians to present God’s plan for peace between Him and mankind.
Jesus in Matthew 5:9 states, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God”
Peace is an important factor in our Christian walk.
Sadly Anne Frank’s life was cut short by evil hate filled men who sent her to the death camps. Her only crime, being Jewish.
We as Christians must never to hate. We must be willing to go as far as necessary to show the love of God.
Paul in 1 Corinthians 13 noting
“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
1 Corinthians 13:6,7Certainly those who hid the Frank family during the Nazi occupation understood this.
Thus we as Christians should take heart and go as far as necessary to show the love of God to anyone who will listen.
In doing so we will not only make the world a better place but will help point people to the salvation that can only come from Christ, and give glory to God himself.
Think about it.
Tuesday, 14 January 2014
Love is not easily Angered
Again Paul in writing to the Romans,
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:17,18
No one could ever accuse Paul or Christ of not knowing what the world is like. They lived in the Roman Empire, arguably one of the most multicultural cultures the world has ever known.
There was a vast array of cultures and customs, many of which to Jewish eyes of the day would seem barbaric. Yet neither Christ or the apostles or Paul ever spoke against them.
These men lived in harmony with the secular world around them.
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” states Paul in Romans 12:21.
Part of the essence of Christianity is overcoming evil with good. If we have the unconditional love of God at work in our lives we will over come evil.
We cannot scream threats against those who speak against us. We cannot even express even the slightest hint of hate toward our enemies, or those who disagree with us.
If we have Christ in our heart we must show love to even our worst enemy.
After all Love, is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs, Love does not delight in evil.
Think about it.
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:17,18
No one could ever accuse Paul or Christ of not knowing what the world is like. They lived in the Roman Empire, arguably one of the most multicultural cultures the world has ever known.
There was a vast array of cultures and customs, many of which to Jewish eyes of the day would seem barbaric. Yet neither Christ or the apostles or Paul ever spoke against them.
These men lived in harmony with the secular world around them.
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” states Paul in Romans 12:21.
Part of the essence of Christianity is overcoming evil with good. If we have the unconditional love of God at work in our lives we will over come evil.
We cannot scream threats against those who speak against us. We cannot even express even the slightest hint of hate toward our enemies, or those who disagree with us.
If we have Christ in our heart we must show love to even our worst enemy.
After all Love, is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs, Love does not delight in evil.
Think about it.
Monday, 13 January 2014
Be humble Be Gentle
“Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2
We need each other. There are time in all our lives that we stumble. When it is good to have a brother or sister in Christ to help us through the trouble. To hold us up in prayer and to if necessary council us in love.
Jesus in John 13:34,35 pointed his disciples to the most important factor in being Christian when he 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."
If we esteem one another in love there can be no rivalry.
Love does not envy.
Within the Christian life there is no room for envy. All are equal.
A true Christian isn’t looking to be better than his brother and sister in the Lord. Conversely a brother or sister in Christ should not look at other Christians and say my work for the Lord is not important therefore I don’t want to be a part of things.
The apostle Paul put’s it this way,
“ Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.”
1 Corinthians 12:14-20
We are one body, and are there to help each other. Paul writing to the Ephesians makes this clear when he states,
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
Ephesians4:2-6
A true believer attempts as far as possible as far as it depends on him to live in harmony and peace with fellow believers and the world around them.
Do you?
We need each other. There are time in all our lives that we stumble. When it is good to have a brother or sister in Christ to help us through the trouble. To hold us up in prayer and to if necessary council us in love.
Jesus in John 13:34,35 pointed his disciples to the most important factor in being Christian when he 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."
If we esteem one another in love there can be no rivalry.
Love does not envy.
Within the Christian life there is no room for envy. All are equal.
A true Christian isn’t looking to be better than his brother and sister in the Lord. Conversely a brother or sister in Christ should not look at other Christians and say my work for the Lord is not important therefore I don’t want to be a part of things.
The apostle Paul put’s it this way,
“ Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.”
1 Corinthians 12:14-20
We are one body, and are there to help each other. Paul writing to the Ephesians makes this clear when he states,
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
Ephesians4:2-6
A true believer attempts as far as possible as far as it depends on him to live in harmony and peace with fellow believers and the world around them.
Do you?
Sunday, 12 January 2014
Quintessence of being Chrsitan
Quintessence: “the essence of a thing in its purest and most concentrated form.”
"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
God Loved. To quote a rather flippant saying from my early days as a Christian, “the bible says it. I believe it. That settles it.”
It has been said that love is the predominant theme of the Bible. That God is love, therefore Love is the purest of emotions.
Perhaps the best definition of love comes from the apostle Paul when writing to the Church at Corinth. In 1 Corinthians 13 he writes,
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
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 13:1-8a,13
If we are truly Christians. If we believe the Bible is the inspired word of God then we must believe John 3:16, that God loved and that Love is everything Paul speaks of in 1 Corinthians thirteen.
Jesus when asked what the most of important law was said,
“Jesus said to him, ‘you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment and the second is like it you shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’” Matthew 22:37-40.
Jesus spoke a lot about love. He told us to love our enemies to pray for our persecutors and those who spitefully use us.
His ministry was a ministry of Love.
All to many Christians remember John 3: 16 but they fail to see its ramifications.
Take a close look at that verse,
• For God so loved the world
• he gave His only Son
• that whoever believes in Him shall not perish
• but have eternal life.
God Loved us,
Paul writing to the Romans tells us in Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
God took the first step. He demonstrated his love for us while we were still sinners.
And he says to us all we have to do to inherit eternal life is believe in him.
God wants a relationship with us. He wants us to give our life to him to become part of his family,
John 3:17 states clearly, “
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
That is a key element in a Christians life. God reached down to mankind and said here am I. Come to me and I will give you rest.
The exact verse reads,
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
If we are truly followers of Jesus, and take up Christ’s cause then we will have peace even in the darkest days of our life.
In accepting Christ into our lives we are making God our father. A father who is there for us at all times. Someone we can share our joys with as well as someone to hold our hand through the trying times of life.
Think about it.
"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
God Loved. To quote a rather flippant saying from my early days as a Christian, “the bible says it. I believe it. That settles it.”
It has been said that love is the predominant theme of the Bible. That God is love, therefore Love is the purest of emotions.
Perhaps the best definition of love comes from the apostle Paul when writing to the Church at Corinth. In 1 Corinthians 13 he writes,
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
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 13:1-8a,13
If we are truly Christians. If we believe the Bible is the inspired word of God then we must believe John 3:16, that God loved and that Love is everything Paul speaks of in 1 Corinthians thirteen.
Jesus when asked what the most of important law was said,
“Jesus said to him, ‘you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment and the second is like it you shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’” Matthew 22:37-40.
Jesus spoke a lot about love. He told us to love our enemies to pray for our persecutors and those who spitefully use us.
His ministry was a ministry of Love.
All to many Christians remember John 3: 16 but they fail to see its ramifications.
Take a close look at that verse,
• For God so loved the world
• he gave His only Son
• that whoever believes in Him shall not perish
• but have eternal life.
God Loved us,
Paul writing to the Romans tells us in Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
God took the first step. He demonstrated his love for us while we were still sinners.
And he says to us all we have to do to inherit eternal life is believe in him.
God wants a relationship with us. He wants us to give our life to him to become part of his family,
John 3:17 states clearly, “
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
That is a key element in a Christians life. God reached down to mankind and said here am I. Come to me and I will give you rest.
The exact verse reads,
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
If we are truly followers of Jesus, and take up Christ’s cause then we will have peace even in the darkest days of our life.
In accepting Christ into our lives we are making God our father. A father who is there for us at all times. Someone we can share our joys with as well as someone to hold our hand through the trying times of life.
Think about it.
Saturday, 11 January 2014
Children of God
Children of God
“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
“To all who received him, to those who believed in his name he gave the right to become children of God.”
What a promise. All we have to do is believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and we have the right to become children of God.
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” John states in 1 John 3:1.
Our heavenly Father loved us so much that he allows us to be called children of God. What a privilege. What an honour. We are, “children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
John also points out that, that is the reason the world does not know us or understand us at times because it does not know God.
We here in the west live in a world that is moving further and further from belief in any kind of God.
Consumerism and the philosophy of doing your own thing is the norm.
People are wrapped up in acquiring material things. They seek to find happiness in everything from sports, to the arts, to personal achievements. Non of which are bad in themselves.
These things however end with this life.
How many people today know who Sir Roger Gilbert Bannister was? How about Christiaan Neethling Barnard or John Logie Baird?
Bannister was the first person to run the mile in under four minutes, Barnard was a South African doctor who performed the first successful heart transplant and Baird was the inventor of the televison.
All great achievements yet for the most part the names of these men are lost to history.
Our names however are not lost to God. Especially if we have received him as our Lord and Saviour.
Read John’s words again,“To all who received him, to those who believed in his name he gave the right to become children of God.”
We as Christians are God’s own children and thus will be without a doubt, with Him in heaven.
What a glorious thought. To be in heaven having a personal relationship with the very creator of the universe.
It is something we as believers should be praising God for every day of our lives.
Why not take a few minutes now and just thank God for the salvation He has given you so freely.
“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
“To all who received him, to those who believed in his name he gave the right to become children of God.”
What a promise. All we have to do is believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and we have the right to become children of God.
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” John states in 1 John 3:1.
Our heavenly Father loved us so much that he allows us to be called children of God. What a privilege. What an honour. We are, “children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
John also points out that, that is the reason the world does not know us or understand us at times because it does not know God.
We here in the west live in a world that is moving further and further from belief in any kind of God.
Consumerism and the philosophy of doing your own thing is the norm.
People are wrapped up in acquiring material things. They seek to find happiness in everything from sports, to the arts, to personal achievements. Non of which are bad in themselves.
These things however end with this life.
How many people today know who Sir Roger Gilbert Bannister was? How about Christiaan Neethling Barnard or John Logie Baird?
Bannister was the first person to run the mile in under four minutes, Barnard was a South African doctor who performed the first successful heart transplant and Baird was the inventor of the televison.
All great achievements yet for the most part the names of these men are lost to history.
Our names however are not lost to God. Especially if we have received him as our Lord and Saviour.
Read John’s words again,“To all who received him, to those who believed in his name he gave the right to become children of God.”
We as Christians are God’s own children and thus will be without a doubt, with Him in heaven.
What a glorious thought. To be in heaven having a personal relationship with the very creator of the universe.
It is something we as believers should be praising God for every day of our lives.
Why not take a few minutes now and just thank God for the salvation He has given you so freely.
Friday, 10 January 2014
Our Earthly Tent, Our Heavenly Dwelling
“Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling,
because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.
For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.
We live by faith, not by sight.
We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.
For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
2 Corinthians 5:1-10
Paul here contrasts our “earthly tent” to our “heavenly dwelling”. He tells us that we as believers know that if this body of ours is destroyed then we have an eternal house in heaven.
He points out that while we live in this tent we groan but it will end and “what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.”
Paul notes that believers are given a “the Spirit (the Holy Spirit) as a deposit guaranteeing what is to come”.
The Holy Spirit witnesses, guarantees, to the spirit of the believer that there is greater things to come when we pass from our mortal life to life eternal.
He reminds us to live by faith not by sight and to work for Christ to please God in all that we do. That we may receive what is due us.
He also notes that both Christians and non-Christians will appear before the judgement seat of Christ “that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
Dear believer
Are you doing your best for the Lord or are you to wrapped up with the things of this world.
What is more important to you having the fancy house, the nice car, the best designer clothing or serving the Lord?
Perhaps it’s time to evaluate your life? Are things keeping you from doing more for God.
Are you working long hours to pay the mortgage on your house or to meet your car payments.
Can you perhaps down size. Get a smaller house with smaller mortgage and a good used car, or new one that you paid cash for?
There’s nothing wrong with having an expensive car and house. It’s when it take you away from the things of God that becomes the problem.
There’s an old saying that goes like this, “there is only one life, that will soon be past. Only what is done for Christ will last.”
Think about it.
Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling,
because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.
For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.
We live by faith, not by sight.
We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.
For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
2 Corinthians 5:1-10
Paul here contrasts our “earthly tent” to our “heavenly dwelling”. He tells us that we as believers know that if this body of ours is destroyed then we have an eternal house in heaven.
He points out that while we live in this tent we groan but it will end and “what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.”
Paul notes that believers are given a “the Spirit (the Holy Spirit) as a deposit guaranteeing what is to come”.
The Holy Spirit witnesses, guarantees, to the spirit of the believer that there is greater things to come when we pass from our mortal life to life eternal.
He reminds us to live by faith not by sight and to work for Christ to please God in all that we do. That we may receive what is due us.
He also notes that both Christians and non-Christians will appear before the judgement seat of Christ “that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
Dear believer
Are you doing your best for the Lord or are you to wrapped up with the things of this world.
What is more important to you having the fancy house, the nice car, the best designer clothing or serving the Lord?
Perhaps it’s time to evaluate your life? Are things keeping you from doing more for God.
Are you working long hours to pay the mortgage on your house or to meet your car payments.
Can you perhaps down size. Get a smaller house with smaller mortgage and a good used car, or new one that you paid cash for?
There’s nothing wrong with having an expensive car and house. It’s when it take you away from the things of God that becomes the problem.
There’s an old saying that goes like this, “there is only one life, that will soon be past. Only what is done for Christ will last.”
Think about it.
Thursday, 9 January 2014
Legalism
"At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them.
When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”
He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests.
Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent?
I tell you that one greater than the temple is here.
If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.
For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”
He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out?
How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other.
But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus."
Matthew 12:1-14
Here we have an example of legalism. Jesus and his disciples are walking through the grain field. They are hungry so they pick some grains of wheat, probably roll them in their hands to remove the chaff and eat them.
The Pharisees instantly interpret what they are doing as work. In the eyes of the Pharisees they were harvesting and processing the wheat. Work not to be done on the Sabbath.
Further down in the scripture Jesus heals a man with a shrivelled hand again something the Pharisees regarded as work.
The Pharisees were too worried about breaking laws to see that God had, had compassion on the man with the shrivelled and healed him.
They should have been celebrating instead they plotted to kill Jesus.
Legalism happens in the church today.
We can get so hung up on our rituals within the church that quite often we miss the blessing of God.
We tend to put God in a box expecting Him to do things exactly the way our church traditions and rules dictate.
One denomination I know of only permits ordained ministers to perform the communion service. Nowhere in scripture does it say that we need ordained ministers to do this.
Another says we need to go through a priest to confess our sins. Scripture doesn’t say we have to.
Scripture tell us,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9
We can confess our sins directly to God without a middle man.
Scripture tell us,
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”
John 1:12
If we are God’s children it then stands to reason that we can go directly to God and talk to him.
Sadly Christianity in general over the centuries has picked up a lot of baggage that was never intended. All denominations and individual congregations have their own baggage and we need to be aware of it.
We need every now and then to look around at what we are doing and how we are doing it and question is this the way the God intended things to be done.
Do you have things at your church or do you yourself do things that are more tradition and ritual than from the scripture?
Think about it.
When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”
He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests.
Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent?
I tell you that one greater than the temple is here.
If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.
For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”
He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out?
How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other.
But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus."
Matthew 12:1-14
Here we have an example of legalism. Jesus and his disciples are walking through the grain field. They are hungry so they pick some grains of wheat, probably roll them in their hands to remove the chaff and eat them.
The Pharisees instantly interpret what they are doing as work. In the eyes of the Pharisees they were harvesting and processing the wheat. Work not to be done on the Sabbath.
Further down in the scripture Jesus heals a man with a shrivelled hand again something the Pharisees regarded as work.
The Pharisees were too worried about breaking laws to see that God had, had compassion on the man with the shrivelled and healed him.
They should have been celebrating instead they plotted to kill Jesus.
Legalism happens in the church today.
We can get so hung up on our rituals within the church that quite often we miss the blessing of God.
We tend to put God in a box expecting Him to do things exactly the way our church traditions and rules dictate.
One denomination I know of only permits ordained ministers to perform the communion service. Nowhere in scripture does it say that we need ordained ministers to do this.
Another says we need to go through a priest to confess our sins. Scripture doesn’t say we have to.
Scripture tell us,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9
We can confess our sins directly to God without a middle man.
Scripture tell us,
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”
John 1:12
If we are God’s children it then stands to reason that we can go directly to God and talk to him.
Sadly Christianity in general over the centuries has picked up a lot of baggage that was never intended. All denominations and individual congregations have their own baggage and we need to be aware of it.
We need every now and then to look around at what we are doing and how we are doing it and question is this the way the God intended things to be done.
Do you have things at your church or do you yourself do things that are more tradition and ritual than from the scripture?
Think about it.
Wednesday, 8 January 2014
The Compassion of Jesus
“As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him.
Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
“Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.”
Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.”
Matthew 20:29-34
What I’m always amazed by in the scripture is the compassion of Jesus. He cared for the individual.
Case in point the above scripture. The crowd told the blind men to be quiet but Jesus saw their need and met it.
No matter how many crowded around him he took time for the individual. We see this in Matthew 9:18-22, when the woman with the issue of blood comes and touches his cloak. She did it quietly in faith.
Jesus realized what she did, turned and said, “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” (Matthew 9:22).
Jesus had tremendous compassion on the people around him. He set the example for us.
We should have compassion on those around us no matter who they are.
I remember seeing a poor man, a so called ‘street person’, in the down town portion of our city. He was hiding from the wind in between the double doors of a shopping complex.
It was a horribly cold day and the man didn’t have any gloves. I watched a well dressed man walk into the doors. He paused for a few seconds and tossed the man his gloves.
Then on his way out he handed the man a gift card from the coffee shop he’d just entered. I watched as eyes of recipient of the kindness light up, and he thanked the man.
I wondered to myself how many other people had just walked by that cold man that day and did nothing.
We as Christians need to learn to have compassion on all people. Matthew 7:1 makes it clear we have no right to judge anyone.
Our church congregations should be a place of love and acceptance, of compassion for all people.
Over the years sadly I’ve heard sermons from the pulpit speaking against everything from political parties, to people who have a social drink of wine, to rock and roll, to people with lifestyles that are different from the status quo in the church.
If we in the church speak out against such things we will never win these people to Christ.
Our churches must be as inclusive as was Jesus who was accused of sitting with sinners.
Our love for all people must shine. We must be known for our love and compassion for everyone whether we agree with them or not. For it is only by doing so that we will reach the world around us for Christ.
This is what it is to be Christian.
Think about it.
Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
“Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.”
Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.”
Matthew 20:29-34
What I’m always amazed by in the scripture is the compassion of Jesus. He cared for the individual.
Case in point the above scripture. The crowd told the blind men to be quiet but Jesus saw their need and met it.
No matter how many crowded around him he took time for the individual. We see this in Matthew 9:18-22, when the woman with the issue of blood comes and touches his cloak. She did it quietly in faith.
Jesus realized what she did, turned and said, “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” (Matthew 9:22).
Jesus had tremendous compassion on the people around him. He set the example for us.
We should have compassion on those around us no matter who they are.
I remember seeing a poor man, a so called ‘street person’, in the down town portion of our city. He was hiding from the wind in between the double doors of a shopping complex.
It was a horribly cold day and the man didn’t have any gloves. I watched a well dressed man walk into the doors. He paused for a few seconds and tossed the man his gloves.
Then on his way out he handed the man a gift card from the coffee shop he’d just entered. I watched as eyes of recipient of the kindness light up, and he thanked the man.
I wondered to myself how many other people had just walked by that cold man that day and did nothing.
We as Christians need to learn to have compassion on all people. Matthew 7:1 makes it clear we have no right to judge anyone.
Our church congregations should be a place of love and acceptance, of compassion for all people.
Over the years sadly I’ve heard sermons from the pulpit speaking against everything from political parties, to people who have a social drink of wine, to rock and roll, to people with lifestyles that are different from the status quo in the church.
If we in the church speak out against such things we will never win these people to Christ.
Our churches must be as inclusive as was Jesus who was accused of sitting with sinners.
Our love for all people must shine. We must be known for our love and compassion for everyone whether we agree with them or not. For it is only by doing so that we will reach the world around us for Christ.
This is what it is to be Christian.
Think about it.
Tuesday, 7 January 2014
Can you imagine
“Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.
“Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”
So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.
I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
John 11:38-44
Christians make if you think about it, what could be considered outrageous claims. The above is one example.
Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Quite the feat four days after Lazarus had died.
It’s interesting here that it is four days, because it was believed that the persons spirit hovered near the body for three days. By the forth day it would have been gone. Martha noting that by this point there would be a bad odour, or to put it as the king James version puts it, “by now he stinketh.” The body was starting to decompose.
Still Jesus raised him from the dead.
If you think about this logically to put such a claim in writing for the world to read is, if not true, counter productive to bringing people to believe in Jesus.
The gospel of John was written depending on who you listen to, between 50AD and 80AD. Certainly within living memory of the people mentioned in the incident.
Therefore when it was written more than likely there would have been people around who knew Lazarus. Who knew whether he died or not and was raised by Jesus.
Even looking at it from the context of the twenty-first century Christians most certainly believe this is true. Just one of many miracles Jesus did.
For the this event or for any miracle mentioned in the bible not to be true is certainly counter productive to the spreading of the gospel. And who in their right mind would make claims that are not true and expect people to follow what they believe?
Everything that is claimed in the Bible is true and Christians ask people everywhere to believe those claims.
It all comes down to faith.
The Bible presents people with the truth about Jesus and God and asks them to accept those facts.
To as Paul said to the jailer,...“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Acts 16:31.
The decision is yours.
I challenge you if you haven’t read the Bible to read it. Especially the New Testament.
Read it, but before you do say this brief prayer.
Dear Lord God
If you are real, if you exist, show yourself to me through the reading of the Bible.
Now after you have said that prayer I would ask only that you read the Bible with an open mind that God may show you that he truly does exist. And that he is a rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
Think about it.
If you have any questions you can Email me at nealbelieves@gmail.com
“Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”
So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.
I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
John 11:38-44
Christians make if you think about it, what could be considered outrageous claims. The above is one example.
Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Quite the feat four days after Lazarus had died.
It’s interesting here that it is four days, because it was believed that the persons spirit hovered near the body for three days. By the forth day it would have been gone. Martha noting that by this point there would be a bad odour, or to put it as the king James version puts it, “by now he stinketh.” The body was starting to decompose.
Still Jesus raised him from the dead.
If you think about this logically to put such a claim in writing for the world to read is, if not true, counter productive to bringing people to believe in Jesus.
The gospel of John was written depending on who you listen to, between 50AD and 80AD. Certainly within living memory of the people mentioned in the incident.
Therefore when it was written more than likely there would have been people around who knew Lazarus. Who knew whether he died or not and was raised by Jesus.
Even looking at it from the context of the twenty-first century Christians most certainly believe this is true. Just one of many miracles Jesus did.
For the this event or for any miracle mentioned in the bible not to be true is certainly counter productive to the spreading of the gospel. And who in their right mind would make claims that are not true and expect people to follow what they believe?
Everything that is claimed in the Bible is true and Christians ask people everywhere to believe those claims.
It all comes down to faith.
The Bible presents people with the truth about Jesus and God and asks them to accept those facts.
To as Paul said to the jailer,...“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Acts 16:31.
The decision is yours.
I challenge you if you haven’t read the Bible to read it. Especially the New Testament.
Read it, but before you do say this brief prayer.
Dear Lord God
If you are real, if you exist, show yourself to me through the reading of the Bible.
Now after you have said that prayer I would ask only that you read the Bible with an open mind that God may show you that he truly does exist. And that he is a rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
Think about it.
If you have any questions you can Email me at nealbelieves@gmail.com
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