Of God and Man

“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
           Genesis 1:26,27

“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

Abba Hillel Silver wrote,
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society.  Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.”
We are God’s creations. It is God who has written on our hearts what is right and what is wrong.
To my knowledge no atheist group has ever come up with a universal set of morals. Yet there have been many who have caused great havoc on humanity. Some even in the name of religion.
Ecclesiastes states,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgement, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”
         Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.
The duty of man is fear God and keep his commandments because whether you believe him or not you will one day be called to judgement.
Think about it.

Blessed is the Man

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. 

Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgement, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 

For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish." 

                                                                                                                                       Psalm 1

Do you meditate on the word of the Lord? Do you delight in the law of the Lord? Do you see prosperity in your life?

I know of people that use this psalm to say that if we are following in the ways of the Lord we should be prospering materially. If we aren’t we aren’t saved. What garbage. Just because we are not prospering materially doesn’t mean we aren’t prospering or we aren’t saved.

Over the years I’ve met people who have had very little materially. Yet some by far are they are prospering the most.

Christians throughout the world are in jail, and in labour camps, yet as hard as their circumstances are they are prospering in the fact they are leading many to Christ. While at the same time drawing closer to the Lord. 

They are bearing their fruit in season.

Here in Canada where I live can be hard to make ends meet especially if you’re earning less than the poverty line which stands around $24,000, harder still if you’re only making half that. Yet I know people who have a nice home and enough food to eat. They thanks to Canada’s universal health care have good medical care and because of an adequate welfare system they have access to medications and dental care.

Most of the people I know that are in this situation are not there by choice. Most that are in the situation  are in it because of health reasons or because of being layed off from their jobs.

And these people are thankful for what they are receiving. They are thankful that God has placed them in Canada. Additionally they are doing what they can for the Lord. 

Some time ago a person asked me why does God allow Christians to be poor. After all isn’t he suppose to supply all their needs. 

I came across the perfect answer in the Talmud. It perfectly agrees with Christian teaching. It says,

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.”

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

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” 

                                                                                               John 13:34.

As Christians we are to show love to one another. To bless one another and the world around us.

Think about it.

Praise to God

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 
“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” 
“Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?” 
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.”
Romans 11:33-36
Here we see in a few short words Paul giving praise to God. Do you ever take time to praise God outside of Church.
Do you praise God even if it doesn’t seem like He gave you anything on any given day.
Paul went through a lot as he ministered God’s word around the world. Yet he could even find time to praise God in a prison cell. Could you have done so in such a situation?
Psalm 150 states,

“Praise the LORD. 

Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. 

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, 

praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, 

praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. 

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.

Praise the Lord.”

Sadly all to many Christians don’t take time to praise God. They listen to Christian music but they themselves don’t utter a word of praise to God.
We here in North America are blessed with wonderful freedoms yet how many of us actually praise and thank God for those freedoms?
Why not take five or ten or fifteen minutes each day to praise God.
Think about it.

Christ's Supremacy

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  
For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.  
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  
And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.  
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” 
                        Colossians 1:15-20 
Here beyond a shadow of a doubt Paul is saying Christ is supreme. That he is the first born of all creation. That he is the creator of heaven and earth. Things visible an invisible.
Paul goes one step further and give us our reason for being when he states, “all things were created by him and for him.”
Paul goes on to say that God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him and that through him all things were reconciled to God, be they in heaven or on the earth.
And all of this was done through the shed blood of Jesus on the cross.
If you think about it this is an amazing claim for Christians to make that Jesus is God. Yet it is absolutely true.
Over the years I heard groups say that Jesus was an angel. But here according to Paul he is the creator of the universe something an angel could never be.
Jesus is God, there is no other explanation possible.
Time and time again throughout the New Testament Jesus is referred to as God. Something at the time the New Testament was written would have provoked the wrath of Jews.
If everything in the New Testament was not true why would anyone write such a thing. It was literally risking their life.
 Even calling Jesus God among the gentiles would seem bazaar.
If it were not true such claims would be counter productive to the cause of Christianity.
Therefore logic states that it must be true. Jesus is indeed God the creator of the universe.
Think about it.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 
I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.  
For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge— because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.  
Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.  
He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 1:3-8

Here’s a Challenge to Christians. If Paul were alive today could he say the words of 1 Corinthians 1:3-8 to you?
Does the grace of God live in you? Can people say you have been enriched in every way, in all your speaking and in all your knowledge.
Is the testimony about Christ confirmed in you?
Are you eagerly awaiting the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ?
Are you confident that you will be strong and blameless when Christ returns.
Just how dedicated are you to Jesus?
Many who claim to be Christians simply attend church going through the motions in the service without really taking them to heart.
Jesus said,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” 
                                                                                              Matthew 7:21-23.
Do you really know God? Is Jesus really your Lord and Saviour?
Just because you were born into a Christian family or were baptized as a child does not automatically make you a Christian.
Becoming a Christians is an act of ones will when we are old enough to understand what we are doing.
It’s praying accepting that Jesus died for our sins and accepting Him into our lives.
Have you?
Think about it.

Well don my good and faithful servant

Read Matthew 25:14-30 
“His master replied, ’Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” 
                                                                                                           Matthew 25:21

When you meet our Lord and Saviour what will he say to you? Will he say “well done, good and faithful servant or will he be upset at you for not doing enough with what you have?
Will he commend you for your actions during your life here on earth or will he be upset.
The Talmud has an interesting way of putting things it states,
“When a man appears before the Throne of Judgement, the first question he is asked is not, “Have you believed in God?”  Or “Have you prayed and observed the ritual?  “He is asked: “have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow men?”
When I read Matthew 25:14-30 I sometimes wonder how many Christians will find themselves on the wrong side of God’s wrath.
Dear believer are you doing enough for Christ or are you burying your talents in the ground and not using them
Do you just take up space in a pew and listen to the pastors sermon every week. Perhaps you even manage to get out to a prayer meeting or bible study, but are you using your talents?
There is a great deal to do in any church, everything from being an usher, to greeting people, teaching Sunday School, ministering to the sick, even just doing a little cleaning. The list goes on and on.
So consider what you are doing for the Lord and see if you can do more.

Calling Sinners

“ I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” 

                                                                                                                              Luke 5:32
Jesus has not come to call the righteous but the sinners to repentance. Something I believe is lost on some believers.
In my more than forty years now as a Christian now have heard from many none-Christians that they feel that Christianity gives a negative message. That it in the words of one man “is a religion of exclusion not inclusion.” How sad.
Christianity if correctly practised is most certainly a faith of inclusion. It is only misguided men and women that make it seem like the opposite.
Jesus notes in Luke 5:32 that,

“Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  

I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” 

                                                                                                                             Luke 5:31,32
He didn’t come to call the righteous the, the believers. They didn’t need to be called. His purpose in coming was to point people to heaven.
That should be our purpose in life as believers.
We should be willing to sit down with non believers of any stripe and offer them the gift of salvation that only Christ can give.
We should never be screaming or even whispering from the pulpit or even our homes that people are filthy sinners.There should never be such things as 'special sins'
In doing so you are showing that you are the sinner because you are judging some one in violation of the command issued by Jesus in Matthew 7:1 not to judge anyone.
Calling a person a sinner is counter productive. Only the Holy Spirit can convict people of their sins.
The Talmud a Jewish book of wisdom notes,
“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?”
We as Christians need to take note, especially when it comes to dealing with non-believers.
We need to bear with them and present the gospel of Jesus to them even if it is only in our actions. In doing so we may just lead that person to a new life in Christ.
 Think about it.

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.

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,

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.

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.

Blessed are the Peacemakers

Blessed are the Peacemakers

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God”

                                                                                                                            Matthew 5:9
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

“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 

                                                                                                                     1 Corinthians 13:6,7
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.

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.