A Treasure

A Treasure
Jesus told this parable,
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 
When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:44-46.
As Christians we believe that we have the most important thing in the history of the world to tell people about, Jesus Christ. A treasure of great value.
A treasure we feel it would be morally wrong to not tell people about.
That message is about Jesus and the salvation only he can bring.
Jesus said,

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. 

No one comes to the Father except through me.”  

John 14:6

Jesus speaking of himself said,

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, 

that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,

 but to save the world through him.” 

John 3:16,17.

The apostle Paul wrote,
“And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:5-8.
The apostle Paul reminds us,

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith

and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God

 not by works, so that no one can boast.”  

 Ephesians 2:8,9.

It is by the grace of God that we enter heaven through faith in God and saving Grace of Jesus Christ.
The writer of Hebrews tells us,

“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

Faith defined as,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see.” 

 Hebrews 11:1

If we Christians are wrong we have lost nothing. By living according to the teachings of Jesus. We have lived at the very least a good life.
Blaise Pascal said,

“Belief is a wise wager. 

Granted that faith cannot be proved, 

what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? 

If you gain, you gain all; 

if you lose, you lose nothing. 

Wager, then, without hesitation, 

that He exists.” 

Blaise Pascal.

Please think about it.

Some are not

Some are not
Jesus told this parable,
“Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.  
But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.  
When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. 
“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ 
“ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 
“ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them.  
Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’” Matthew 13:24-30.
Believe it or not there are men and women in the world today who claim to be Christian but are not. There are pastors, evangelist, teachers and others in the Media within denominations, and within individual church congregations who are not Christians.
Jesus said,

“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 7:22,23.

 Just because someone has a pulpit in the media or in a church be it large or small. Just because someone goes to church and is active in a church congregation of denomination does not mean they are Christians.
The Church has been around for a long time it has sadly picked up a lot of baggage. There are men and women claiming to be Christians who are deceiving many. Some are taking advantage of people both spiritually and financially.
The apostle Paul tells us,

“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires,

 they will gather around them a great number of teachers

 to say what their itching ears want to hear.  

They will turn their ears away from the truth

 and turn aside to myths.” 

2Timothy 4:3,4.

This is happening now in our day.
Equally however there are I believe far more honest, good and faithful servants of God within the twenty-first century church than there are bad people.
However the key to anyone who supports a ministry, preacher or evangelist is to constantly be on guard. To study the scriptures for yourself.
Make sure what is being preached to you is taken in context and not being twisted to forward an agenda of the one speaking.
God will one day judge those who claim to be Christians and are not. The key for now for Christians is to follow the advice of the apostle Paul who wrote,

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,

 a workman who does not need to be ashamed

 and who correctly handles the word of truth.”  

2 Timothy 2:15

It is advice I would also give to non-Christians. Reading the Bible and learning what it says cannot hurt. At the very least you will learn what Christians believe and be able to decide for yourself if you believe what is being said.
Please think about it.

Where do you stand?

Where do you stand?

Jesus told this parable,
“Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed.  

As he was scattering the seed, 

some fell along the path, 

and the birds came and ate it up.  

Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. 

It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.  

But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, 

and they withered because they had no root. 

Other seed fell among thorns, 

which grew up and choked the plants.  

Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—

a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.  

He who has ears, let him hear.” 

Matthew 13:3-9.

Jesus interprets the parable saying,

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:  

When anyone hears the message about the kingdom 

and does not understand it, 

the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. 

This is the seed sown along the path.  

The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places 

is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.  

But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. 

When trouble or persecution comes because of the word,

 he quickly falls away. 

The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns 

is the man who hears the word, 

but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, 

making it unfruitful.  

But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil 

is the man who hears the word and understands it. 

He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” 

Matthew 13: 18-23

Here is an illustration I have found to be true in my years as a Christian. The Gospel message about Jesus is being sown, spread throughout our society, our world.
1/ There are those who hear about it but have closed minds they are if you will like the hard packed surface of the road. The message of the gospel is presented but they don’t want to listen to it. They dismiss it without thought.
2/ Then there are those who listen to the message about Jesus and for a brief time believe. They may very quickly become involved in the Church but because they have never bothered to put down roots. To build a strong foundation for their faith. They eventually wander away from the faith.
3/ Then there are those who hear the word of God but their faith is lacking. They let the worries of life and temptations of the world take over their faith. taking them away from God.
4/ Finally there are those who willingly accept the gospel message. Those who are truly looking for spiritual meaning and peace in life.
These people take the word of God to heart. They study the scriptures. They learn all they can about Jesus and God.  They are true believers. Men and women of faith who no matter what happens their faith is not shaken.
My question to you is where do you stand with respect to Jesus, with respect to God?
Please think about it. 

Children of God

Children of God,
Matthew’s Gospel records,
“While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him.  
Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” 
He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”  
Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:46-50.
The apostle John speaking of Jesus and those who would believe in Jesus, in his Gospel states,

“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.

This is a key belief of Christians. We believe that by accepting by faith Jesus into our hearts and lives we become Children of God.
The Apostle Paul states,

“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus,  

for all of you who were baptized into Christ

 have clothed yourselves with Christ.  

There is neither 

Jew nor Greek, 

slave nor free, 

male nor female, 

for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” 

Galatians 3:26-28.

As a Christian I take this seriously. As believer in Christ, I and all who call themselves Christians must at all times bring glory to God.
The writer of Hebrews telling Christians,

“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.

Hallmarks of a Believer

Hallmarks of a Believer
Jesus said,
“The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.  
But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.  
For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:35-37.
Jesus here is talking about the Pharisees. The religious leaders of his day who were not teaching the scriptures correctly. Who were misusing them twisting them to say what they wanted. These men believed in God yet failed to do what was right according to the scriptures.
There is an interesting quote I like from the Talmud spoken to believers in God. It states,
“When a man appears before the Throne of Judgment, 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?” The Talmud
We will all one day stand before God irrespective of who we are.
Christians believe what the apostle Paul says,
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,  for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:9-13.
While this is a true statement. Christians are called to do much more. Our faith as Christians must spur us on to do good works. That is trait of a true Christian.  Jesus said,
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  
I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ 
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.  
For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,  
I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 
“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Matthew 25: 34-46
The apostle James the half brother of Jesus wrote,
“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.
It seems from these scriptures and others that one of the hallmarks of a true Christian, a true believer is someone who’s faith causes them to want to do good works.
Doses yours?
Please think about it.

Your Decision

Your decision
“He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.  
And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.  
Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. Matthew 12: 30-32.
Here is a controversial topic in Christian circles, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. It is according to Jesus the only sin that will not be forgiven. There are many thoughts as to what it is among Christian theologians and denominations.
One explanation that I can accept personally is “sin which will not be forgiven is the stubborn refusal to heed the Holy Spirit’s conviction about your sin and accept the forgiveness that Christ offers.”
The apostle Paul states,

“for all have sinned

 and fall short of the glory of God,...”

Romans 3:23,

Christians believe we all have sinned, the pope, evangelist, pastors, teachers, the person in the pew and the person on the street, everyone. It is the Holy Spirit’s Job to convict individuals of their sin.
Billy Graham the American evangelist states,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God’s job to judge 

and my job to love, 

Billy Graham.

The apostle John writes,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” 1John 1:9-10.
Sin is falling short of God’s ideals for our lives. It is failure to follow God’s laws. Something we all from time to time do. Sin separates us from God.
God in His wisdom knows this that is why he sent Jesus to die for our sins. The apostle Paul explains,
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!  
For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!  
Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation” Romans 5:6-11
Jesus paid the price for our sins. The sins of each individual. C. S. Lewis notes,

“He died not for men, but for each man. 

If each man had been the only man made, 

He would have done no less.” 

C.S. Lewis.

That is the amazing fact about Jesus. He paid the price for each of us as individuals. For each person who would believe in him.
Jesus speaking of himself said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. John 3:16-18.
The apostle Paul tells us,

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—

and this not from yourselves, 

it is the gift of God—  

not by works, so that no one can boast.”

 Ephesians 2:8,9.

It is by God’s grace we get to heaven. Accepting the saving grace of God is an act of faith on the part of the individual. The writer of Hebrews tells us,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see.” 

 Hebrews 11:1

“And without faith it is impossible to please God,

 because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists

 and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” 

Hebrews 11:6

It is up to you the individual to believe this or not.
I as a Christian believe that when the message of Christ is presented in spirit and truth to anyone the Holy Spirit is there to show the person what is right and wrong.
That being said when God created mankind he did not create robots he created individuals with complete freedom. Freedom do whatever they wished and believe what ever they wish.
Thus the decision is up to you the reader. Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God, the saviour of mankind?
Are you in faith willing to confess your sins directly to God? Are you willing to accept the saving grace God offers through Jesus and to accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour?
Please think about it.

On Jesus

On Jesus
Matthews gospel records,
“Going on from that place, he (Jesus) went into their synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, they (the Pharisees) 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.” 
Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Many followed him, and he healed all their sick, warning them not to tell who he was.  
This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: 
“Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. 
He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. 
A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory. 
In his name the nations will put their hope.” Matthew 12:9-21.
It seems here that the Pharisees seem to concluded Jesus was trying to overthrow the mosaic system. Although Jesus said,
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.  
I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.  Matthew 5:17,18.
God’s laws are universal and eternal. Jesus did not come to change them in any way.
The Pharisees however  interpreted the law very strictly as a result many times this conflicted with the spirit of the law.
For example here with the healing of the mans hand. The Pharisees viewed even the healing of someone on the Sabbath to be work. Thus it was not permitted.
They failed to see that the law against working on the Sabbath was not intended to prevent the doing of good works. Particularly when it comes to healing of someone and especially when God gets the glory.
This according to one commentator I read, is the point in the ministry of Jesus that opposition by the religious establishment starts to grow. Matthew Nothing,
“...But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.” 
Matthew tells us that aware of what the Pharisees were doing, Jesus rather than fight with them, withdrew to a safer place. Where he continued to minister and heal people.
Matthew points out that this is in keeping with the prophesy of Isaiah
“Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. 
He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. 
A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory. 
In his name the nations will put their hope.” (Isaiah 42:1-4)
Matthew points out that Isaiah the prophet predicted that the Messiah would be someone the nations of the world will put their hope in. In other words non-Jews, the gentile world.
This is happening around the world today. People in nations around the world, Christians, see Jesus as the Jewish Messiah the one who came through the linage of Abraham Isaac and Jacob to reconcile mankind to God.
The writer of Hebrews tells us,
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.  
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Hebrews 1:1-3.
If Jesus is not the Messiah and Christians have it wrong, which I do not think we do. Christians are doing no harm.
Christians in following the teachings of Jesus to love God, your neighbours, even your enemies are doing good.
In following the teachings of Jesus to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations teaching them to believe in the one true God. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is a good and noble thing. One I am sure will please God.
Please think about it. 

Same Message Different Way

Same message different way
Matthew’s Gospel records Jesus as saying,
“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.  
For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.  
And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.  
He who has ears, let him hear. 
“To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:“ ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’  
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’  
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.” ’ But wisdom is proved right by her actions.” Matthew 11:12-19.
Here Jesus states that John the Baptist is Elijah the prophet who was to announce the coming of the Messiah. Jesus being the Messiah. This is what Christians believe.
Jesus points out that the people of the time did not accept this. He points out that John and he had the same message presented in quite different ways and still, particularly the religious leaders did not accept this.
Jesus notes,
“For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’  
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.”
John the Baptist was calling people to repentance as was Jesus. John however was quite different than Jesus. Matthew says of John,
“In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”  
“This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ” 
  John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. John 3:1-4.
Jesus by contrast dressed normally. He moved from city to city calling people to repentance and proclaiming the Kingdom of God. Jesus sat down with anyone who would listen to him irrespective of their station in life.
It seems at the time, no matter which way the salvation message, the need to repent and turn to God, was presented it was rejected by the religious leaders apparently because it was not their way. Both Jesus and John were not part of the religious mainstream at the time.
The same thing happens today. When it comes to how you get to heaven and who Jesus is. It doesn’t matter how you present the salvation message people reject it.
The book of 2 Chronicles states,
“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”2 Chronicles  7:14.
The apostle John tells us,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” 1John 1:9-10.
The apostle Paul writing to the Romans tells us God went one step further to point us to heaven. Saying,
““You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.   Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!  
For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!  
Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation” Romans 5:6-11.
This is a message the religious leaders of the Christ’s day could not accept. It is a message I know many in the world today cannot accept. It however is what Christians believe.
Thus I leave it up to you the reader to decide.
The call of Jesus is to admit you are a sinner. That you fall short of God’s ideals for your life. That you make mistakes and do things that are not right from time to time. Big things or small things.
The call of Jesus is to confess those things to God accept God’s forgiveness and the Salvation and Eternal Life with God that Jesus offers.
Please think about it.

Not the Healthy

Not the Healthy,
“As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples.  
When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”  Matthew 9:9-13.
Here is a concept that quite often is lost on some in the church today and I think especially on many within the evangelical church today.
I’ve been in churches over the years where the soul purpose of the congregation seems to have been to have a good time singing hymns and songs and feeling good about themselves. They feel good that they can praise God and have praised God. Which is a good thing. However such congregations need to remember that the purpose of the church is not just to praise and worship God but to evangelize and make disciples.
In addition to this group I’ve also heard many calling themselves Christians speaking out against those they disagree with even to the point of trying to restrict the rights of other groups they deem not to be Christian. This should not be so.
Billy Graham the American evangelist said,
“It is the Holy Spirits job to convict of sin, God’s job to judge, my job to love.” Billy Graham.
The apostle Paul said,
“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.
Christians are to look after their own house if you will. Ensure that the word of God is being taught correctly. It is the Christians job to present the gospel to whoever will listen to us. To sit down and have dialogue with all people without judging them.
This is what Jesus was doing when he was sitting with the tax collectors. He who had the right to judge them did not.
Jesus told his detractors,
“But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice...”
As Christians we should be showing mercy toward those who do not believe as we do. Not speaking against them as the religious leaders did in this incident.
It is essential that we show love to all we come in contact with. Only in doing this can we truly reach people for Christ. Which is the primary duty of all Christians.
Please think about it.

Jesus Forgives Sin

Jesus forgives sin
“Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” 
At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” 
Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?  
Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?  
But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then he said to the paralytic, “Get up, take your mat and go home.”  
And the man got up and went home.  
When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men.” Matthew 9:2-8.
Here we have an incident in which Jesus heals and forgives sin. Sin is something the religious leaders of his day and today agree that only God can do.
The healing part could not be denied the man was healed and God received the Glory.
The forgiveness of sins however rubbed the religious leaders the wrong way. As I said, only God can forgive sins. Thus Jesus was saying in effect He is God.
This is something people who claim Jesus is not God incarnate can’t explain to me. Why would Jesus and his followers claim Jesus could forgive sin?
If the fledgling Church was to succeed why would Jesus and later his apostles be so bold as to say Jesus is God. The writer of Hebrews states,
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.  
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Hebrews 1:1-3.
Jesus provided purification for sins. This is a fundamental belief of all Christians. There is no middle ground. To be a Christian you must believe that Jesus is God incarnate, God in the flesh. That He can and does forgive sins.
The apostle John writes,
“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.  
I know for many this can be a stumbling block even the apostle Paul wrote,
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18.
The thing is God does not do things the way we mortals do things.
Let’s face it God could have come down from heaven with hundreds of angels and said, “see I am real. I want you to worship me.” and I’m sure the majority if not all mankind would worship Him some because they genuinely loved him others however out of fear of what he would or could do to them. 
God however does not want people to worship him and serve him out of fear. Instead He wants each individual to make up their own mind about him. He asks for faith. The writer of Hebrews telling us,
“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.
Faith defined by the writer of Hebrews as,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for

 and certain of what we do not see.”  

Hebrews 11:1.

God wants men and women of faith because God knows someone who has true faith in anything are the true followers willing to even die for their cause.
Please think about it.

Storms

Storms
“Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him.  
Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.  
The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” 
He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. 
The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” Matthew 8:23-27.
Here is one of those things I often ask those who don’t believe in Christ about and it goes for all miraculous things mentioned in the Bible. Why put the miraculous in the New Testament? If not true they would take away from the truth of the scriptures.
The answer is they are true. Sometimes truth can be harder to believe than fiction.
Here we have a story of Jesus sleeping when a storm come up. The disciples some of whom were fishermen were afraid, so it must have been severe. Jesus then wakes up and calms the storm.
This incident showed the power of Jesus.
The incident can also be a metaphor to the storms in our life. We all have them at one time or another. Such storms can cause us to have great fear as regards to the outcome.
As a Christian however I have found that no matter the storms that come in my life, and I have had numerous very serious storms, I can get through them with the peace of mind that Jesus is there with me. That God is with me.
Jesus truly is a port in a storm. The one who gives me strength to go through the problems of life.
He is also there for me in the good times.
I as a Christian can say with the Psalmist,

"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures, 

he leads me beside quiet waters, 

he restores my soul. 

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 

I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell

 in the house of the LORD forever." 

Psalm 23.

Can you?
Please think about it.

Following Jesus

Following Jesus
Matthew’s Gospel records,
“When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake.  
Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 
Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” 
Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 
But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” Matthew 8:18-22.
Let’s clear something up here. Jesus is not telling the man that said let me go bury my father. That he couldn’t bury his dead father.
 This is probably a reference to the man waiting for his elderly father to pass on. As Levitical law stated the man should not be out in public if his father had just died.
What Jesus points out that we shouldn’t wait to follow him.
He warns that the Son of Man has no place to lay his head. Saying essentially that the spreading of the good news of Salvation is an on going thing. In the terminology of today, a twenty-four/seven activity.
The Christian faith is very much a way of life. A lifestyle. As Francis of Assisi said,
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 
 Francis of Assisi.
The Christians are called to live their faith in word and in deed. The apostle Peter telling Christians,
“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 2:12.
From the moment we encounter Jesus we must decide what we are to do with Him. Reject him or believe in Him and do his work. There is no middle ground.
We cannot say wait until tomorrow. Billy Graham the American Evangelist stated,
“The Bible says today is the accepted time, today is the day of salvation... But there will come a time when it will be too late for you.” Billy Graham.
Please think about it.