For Right not Wrong

For Right not Wrong
Here is something aimed directly at Christians. The apostle Peter wrote,
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.  
But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.  
If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.  
If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.  
However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.  1 Peter 4:12-16.
At the risk of sounding controversial I need to make it clear here that what Peter is saying is, if we are going to suffer let us suffer for our faith. Let us suffer for our beliefs. Not for breaking a secular law that does not affect the way we can worship and conduct our faith.
As I said in one blog sometimes simply being a Christian can have us thrown in prison, beaten even killed. Some governments in the world for whatever reasons do not tolerate Christians.  They jail, even execute them for their faith.
This happened in Roman times. Many Christians were murdered because of what they believed. They among other things, would not bow down and worship the Roman emperor as a god. In some cases they simply died because Christianity was not an official religion of the Roman empire.
Here in North America there are those who say they are suffering for their faith but are not. They are under the misconception that America at least is a Christian nation. America is not nor is any nation in the world Christian.
Throughout the years I’ve seen Christians standing protesting in front of abortion clinics. I’ve see those calling themselves Christians standing protesting against same sex marriages.
When they are arrested they claim they are being persecuted and arrested for their faith. They are not. They are breaking a secular civil law granted by an elected government. A law that does not restrict their right to worship, evangelize and conduct their faith as they wish.
As wrong as Christians may think abortion, and other things are, these things are they are still legal under the law of the country. They are as legal as the barbaric practices that went on in the amphitheatres and coliseums around the Roman empire that seen slaves, gladiator and even Christians put to death for sport. The list of what the Romans allowed in the time of Jesus and the apostles, that they would have disagreed with would fill a very large book. Yet Christians did not protest. Instead they knew the answer to the problem. The spreading of the gospel.
It worked! The glory that was the Roman empire is long gone along with its barbaric practices. Christians and Judaic morals and teachings have permeated the very fabric of western society as we know it today. All done without raising a placard in protest.
Jesus gave us the perfect plan to change the world around us. When he addressed his apostles,
“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.
If we claim to be Christians and if we must suffer let it be because we are taking the unadulterated gospel message to the world around us and not for braking some secular law.
That is what the apostles did. It is what we should do.
Please think about it.

For God

For God
The Apostle Peter writes,
“The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.  
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.  
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.  
If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4: 7-11
Here is a simple message to all who believe in Jesus Christ. He makes the statement “the end of all things is near”
Peter and the early church believed Christ’s return was immanent. They, I’m sure, had no concept of the monumental task that was at hand with respect to taking the gospel to the whole world. Still this worked in their favour. They gave spreading of the gospel precedent. They proclaimed the good news of Jesus as if he was returning the next day. The result being, within a century or less the salvation message of Christ had reach all the Roman empire and beyond.
This is a lesson we as Christians in the twenty-first century should take to heart. We need to give precedent to presenting the Salvation message of Jesus to the world and not get side tracked with other issues.
   Peter also calls on Christians to love other Christians deeply and to be hospitable. In doing these things we honour God.
He then states,
“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.  
If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.”
These were all things done in the early church. They lived their faith in full view of everyone, and people noticed. The book of Acts records,
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  
Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.  
All the believers were together and had everything in common.  
Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.  
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,  praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47.
Even non-Christians noted what they did Pilney
Pliny the Younger governor of Bithynia in Asia Minor wrote to the Emperor Trajan (98 to 117 AD), wrote,
"They were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of food--but food of an ordinary and innocent kind...”Piliny the younger.
Billy Graham the American evangelist said,
“The men who followed Him (Christ), were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same.” Billy Graham.
We as twenty-first century Christians need to remember this. We need to live our lives in full view of all. We need to live lives wholly acceptable to Jesus. We need to follow what the writer of Hebrews said,

“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.

If you claim to be Christian are you doing this?
Please think about it.

With Gentleness

With Gentleness.
The Apostle Peter writes,
“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,  keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” 1 Peter 3:15,16.
Is Christ truly Lord of your heart? If he is then are you prepared to answer anyone who asks you the reason you believe as you do?
If you do tell people about Jesus do you do so with gentleness and respect?
These are key things when presenting the gospel to anyone.
I live in Canada one of the most multicultural countries in the world. Within walking distance of my home are not only churches but a synagogue, a mosque, and other places of worship.
It is possible to have conversations with people from all faith, even atheist. The key to having conversations about Jesus and telling others what we as Christians believe however is respect. We must respect the differences we have with other people.
We as Christians in a secular democracy must even stand up for the rights of those who believe differently from us. In doing so we make friends. And good friends can talk about anything without fear.
True Christians love, Jesus when asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40.
The apostle Paul defined love as,

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, 

it does not boast, it is not proud.  

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, 

it is not easily angered, 

it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil 

but rejoices with the truth.  

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

Love never fails....

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love.”  

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.

As believers in Christ, as followers of Jesus we must remember this. In doing so we can and will win souls for Christ.
As Christians we must always remember the words of Jesus who said,

“So in everything,

 do to others what you would have them do to you, 

for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” 

Matthew 7:12.

Are you doing this?
Please think about it.

Live in Harmony

Live in Harmony
The Apostle Peter wrote,
“Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.  
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.  
For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. 
He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 1 Peter 3:8-12
Here is excellent advice for all Christians. “...live in harmony with one another, be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing”
If you claim to be a follower of Jesus are you doing this. Time and time again throughout the New Testament the writers tell us to live at peace with all men. To live holy lives. The early church did this.
Piliny the younger, a none-Christian, writing to the emperor Trajan (Roman Emperor 98 to 117 AD.) about believers in Christ wrote,
"They were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to do any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of food--but food of an ordinary and innocent kind...”Piliny the younger.
The early church, the early believers in Jesus put into practice the word of Jesus and the apostles. As a result they reached the world for Christ.
Billy Graham the American evangelist said, 
“The men who followed Him (Christ), were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same.” Billy Graham.
If you claim to be a follower of Jesus is your heart “right side up”?
The writer of Hebrews tells us,

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men 

and to be holy; 

without holiness no one will see the Lord.” 

Hebrews 12:14

As believers in Jesus we are the lense through which those in the world around us will see Jesus, will see God.
What is your life telling those around you about God?
Please think about it.

In a Marriage

In a Marriage
The apostle Peter states,
“Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives,  when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.  
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.  
Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.  
For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. 
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.” 1 Peter 3:1-7.
Here is a potential controversial statement in the twenty-first century, “wives should be submissive to their husbands.”
However we should note that within Christianity women be they married or single are equal to men in every way.
Just because a woman or for that matter anyone submits to someone does not take away their equality or make them any less of a person.
Everything Peter is saying here can and I believe does apply to both spouses.
What Peter is saying is that a woman should not try to attract or keep a man by her outward adornment. Nor should a man.
We here in North America live in a very if you will “vain” age. Just turn on any television station and you are bombarded with cosmetic and clothing advertisements promising to make you look more beautiful and younger.
What Peter says is,
“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.  
Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”
Our beauty should not come from what we look like on the outside but from our inward character. Many men and women have been let down over the years indeed the centuries when they’ve met a man or woman who looks beautiful only to find out they are not the person they thought they were.
That being said, I think it’s true to say some, perhaps most, couples when they first meet look at the persons outward appearance. But if that’s all you base your relationship on that relationship will fail. It is what is on the inside of any person that counts.
I’ve been married now for close to forty years and I know many people who have been married equally as long many longer. All will tell you their spouse is their best friend. They are, if you will, soul mates. Their love comes from within not what they see on the outside.
While many Christian wives I know will tell you they tend to submit to their husbands on most occasions. They will in no uncertain words tell you they are every bit his equal and are able to direct him and at times steer him away from bad decisions.
My first pastors wife half in jest told me “the man is the head of the house, but the woman is the neck and the neck turns the head.” 
What she meant was a successful marriage is a partnership of equals in which the couple works in unison. The neck is no less important than the head.
This is what Peter is talking about. Peter notes,
“...if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives,  when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.”
My last pastors wife is an example of this. She came to know the Lord first. She proceeded to live her life for God in front of him. She went to church even took their children. She was consistent in her faith. She did not force her faith on him. She simple lived her faith in front of him. This led to him to not only accept Christ as his Saviour but go on to become a pastor.  
This is something even husbands of non-believing wives can do also.
Peter’s other statement in this passage is aimed directly at husbands but again can apply to the wife also. He states,
“Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”
Peter is obviously a man of his day. He calls the wife “a weaker partner”. This is a statement I can remember my grandparents using. Even my parents used this term occasionally, and they were each others equal and as liberal and progressive as anyone I’ve met from their generation. It’s as I said a cultural thing.
As I have said, we who live in North America and the western world today would say rightly, women are as strong and in everyway mans equal.
Thus Peters sentiment here that husbands treat their wives with respect applies to both spouses. The implication being if the husband, or for that matter the wife, does not do so it can hinder his prayer life.
As Christians within a marriage we are equal. Both spouses must respect each other. Our beauty should not be from how we adorn ourselves on the outside but come from deep inside our soul. For when it does a marriage will last a lifetime and a Christian marriage will point people to Christ.
Please think about it.

Submit?

Submit?
The Apostle Peter wrote,
“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.  
For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.   Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.  1 Peter 2:13-17.
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“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.  
Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” Romans 13:1,2.
Here is a couple of statements that are aimed squarely at Christians. It is telling us to submit to the governing authorities. This at a time when Christianity was being persecuted. Paul and most of the other apostles would be put to death by the governing authorities. However if we look carefully at why they were persecuted it was not because they rebelled against those authority. It was because of their faith, because of what they believed.
In following God’s law we may at times break mans laws especially if those laws are made by a dictatorship or other groups who fail to recognize God’s authority.
The early Christians refused to engage in emperor worship within the Roman empire. As a result many met their death. Never the less they obeyed God’s law.
Sometimes being a believer in Christ is in itself making a political statement to some governments. North Korea is perhaps the best example in our time. For whatever reasons the government of North Korea fears Christianity and thus persecutes it as do some other governments around the world.
Under such regimes no matter what a believer in Christ did. Even if they obeyed the laws of the land perfectly they would be persecuted, executed or put in jail all for their faith.
It was the same under Adolf Hitler. Christians did obey the laws set down by the German government of the day.
However Hitler and the Nazi party broke God’s laws making it impossible for many Christians to simply stand by and let him get away with genocide, the murdering of millions of Jews and others. Thus many helped hide Jews and others, some even being sent to concentration camps and dying for doing so.
As a Christians I believe as Paul and Peter are saying we are to obey the laws of the land. However when that law violates God’s law we must act. We must obey our conscience and God over man’s Law.
God gave man a basic set of Laws that are universal known as the Ten Commandments. They state,

You shall have no other gods before Me.

You shall make no idols.

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

Keep the Sabbath day holy.

Honour your father and your mother.

You shall not murder.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.

You shall not covet.

These laws are a bear minimum that Christians must follow. If governments violate these laws then Christians have no choice but to follow God’s laws for ultimately God will judge all.
The writer of 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 judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes12:13,14.
Please think about it.

You Are

You are
Here is a portion of Scripture I have quoted many times in my blogs over the years. It is something all Christians need to realize and take to heart. The apostle Peter writes,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 
Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:9-12
Peter makes clear believer in Christ are “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful love.”
We are a royal priesthood. However that sadly is not what some groups see Christians as. Sadly as I heard one person say “some calling themselves Christians, act more like street thugs determined to get their way no matter what.”
When I looked at it from the point of view of a woman having to walk through the lines of protestors at an abortion clinic, or from the standpoint of those in the LBGTQ community, who see those claiming to be Christians protesting against them, wanting to take away their rights. I can see where the person is coming from.
As Christians we should not be protesting against anything that does not take away our rights or the rights of others.
Peter said,
“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 
If statistics are right Christians are the most persecuted faith on the planet. It is estimated a Christian dies for his faith every three to seven minutes somewhere in the world.
We as Christians are “aliens and strangers in the world...” we have no right to protest or judge those outside our faith. The apostle Paul wrote,

“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 have no right to judge. We are God’s messengers in this world. The job given to believes in Christ is simple Jesus said,
“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.
Jesus also said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.
I know as a follower of Christ, I with all I know about Jesus and God. I would want others to tell me about all God has to offer if I didn’t already know.
I would not want people to judge me, to force their faith or way of life on me. I would not want them demonstrating against me if I am doing something lawful.
I would want to have free and open dialogue with them something that cannot be done while holding placards in a protest.
As Christians we must remember the words of the writer of Hebrews who said,

“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.

Living Stones

Living Stones
The apostle Peter writes to believers in Christ,
“As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him—  you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  
For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  
Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,“The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,’”  and, “A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” 1 Peter 2:4-8.
There are two basic points here. First believers in Christ are called “living stones” “being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood...”
Believers in Christ don’t simply go to a Church building. It is not the building that is the church it is the believers themselves that are the church.
Secondly Christ is the corner stone of the Church. However Peter notes that to many who do not believe in Jesus, Jesus is “The stone that the builders rejected.”  “A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall”
For a believer in Christ Jesus is God incarnate, the Son of God, the creator of the world and everything in it.
To those who do not believe in Christ he is none of these. At best he is a good man.
The writer of Hebrews makes it clear what Christians believe saying,
“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.
I as a Christian believe there is no middle ground with Jesus he is everything we Christians believe him to be or he is not. C. S. Lewis said of Jesus,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.
If you are reading this and are not a follower of Christ I would invite you to read the New Testament at least for yourself then make an informed decision as to who Christ is.
There is a down load called “You Version” it’s a free download and has various English bible versions. Take a look at it. Read, get the facts directly from the source. Then decide for yourself who Jesus is.
Please think about it.

Our Salvation Cost

Our Salvation Cost
The Apostle Peter writes,
“Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.  
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers,  but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.  
He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.  
Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. 
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.  
For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.  1 Peter 1:17-23.
If you are a true believer in Christ do you realize how costly your salvation is. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote about our salvation he called the grace that brought about our salvation “Costly Grace”. He wrote,
“Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: 'Ye were bought at a price', and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship
We as believers in Christ as believers in God can never loose track of the fact that our salvation came at a great price. We can never take it for granted. We should never water it down or mix our faith with anything else be it with philosophy, politics or anything in this world. It is far too precious to do that with.
As believers in Christ were brought at a great price. One God was willing to pay. As a result we must never let God down.
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.
We must remember that God gave His one and only Son to save the world not to condemn the world.
To that end we must present the Gospel of Christ, the gospel of Salvation to anyone who will listen. We must do so because our God thought us important enough to send his One and Only Son.
Please think about it.

Be Holy

Be Holy
Peter the apostle wrote,
“Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.  
As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.  
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;  for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy. 1 Peter 1:13-16.
Here is a simple principle all Christians need to understand. As believers in Christ we are called to be holy.
The writer of Hebrews tells us,

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men 

and to be holy; 

without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

Hebrews 12:14.

Peter tells us how we can be holy. He states,
“...prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.  
As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires...”
To be holy is to love God and your fellow man unconditionally. It is doing to others what you would want them to do to you.
It is following the words of Jesus who said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12
Jesus who when asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40
It is doing what Jesus called us to do when he said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,...” Matthew 5:43,44
It is living a life that points people by our words and deeds to God.
If you claim to be a follower of Christ, are you living such a life?
Please think about it.

A New Birth. A Living Hope!

A New Birth. A Living Hope!
The apostle Peter writes to believers in Christ,
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you,  who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.  
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:3-9.
Peter gives praise to God for His great mercy. For the “new birth” and “Living Hope” God gives us through Jesus Christ. An inheritance that can never “perish, spoil or fade, kept in heaven”.
He notes that while we may have to suffer grief from time to time it is worth it.
Trials of any kind can do one of two things to our faith destroy it or strengthen it. Trials show just how strong and true our faith is.
Peter also commends his readers who have not seen or met Jesus in the flesh. He states,
“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
This is what God wants. 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 our faith in Christ our faith in God that saves us. 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

The apostle Paul writing to the Galatians said,

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live,

 but Christ lives in me. 

The life I live in the body, 

I live by faith in the Son of God, 

who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 2:20.

The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy saying,

“Here is a trustworthy saying:

If we died with him, we will also live with him; 

if we endure, we will also reign with him.

If we disown him, he will also disown us; 

if we are faithless, he will remain faithful,

for he cannot disown himself. 

2 Timothy 11-13.

Please think about it.

To be Christian

To be Christian
Here’s some advice from James the half brother of Jesus to Christians. He writes,
“Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.  
You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.  
Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! 
Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.  
As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” James 5:7-11.
The early Church like the church today was expecting Christ to return soon. I don’t think they had any idea of the true scope of the job ahead of the church in taking the gospel to every one in the world.
God could have chose to show Himself miraculously to everyone in the world instantly but he did not do so. Instead He asked the early church and He asks the church today to present a message of faith.
The writer of Hebrews states,

“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.

Asking people to believe what they cannot see can be very hard for many people. Additionally while the majority of people to whom they were taking the gospel believed in an after life and God in some way, the majority of people the gospel would be presented to had no knowledge of the Jewish scriptures.
Thus a monumental task lay ahead of that early church. A task that is still continuing to this day. A task that would see much hardship as well as success. That’s why James writes,
“Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.  
You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.  
Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! 
Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.  
As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” James 5:7-11.
The church needed to be patient. To stand firm in what it believes. To be unified and not grumble about each other. To endure suffering. To look back at the old Testament prophets and Job who went through a great deal yet emerged victorious and received the reward of eternal life with God.
Looking at the Church in the twenty-first century it’s easy to say where is God? Why as He not returned?
It’s easy to say he doesn’t exist. Using the excuse that it has been so long since Christ walked the earth that therefor the scriptures must be mistaken.
The Scriptures are not mistaken. The old and New Testament are true and Jesus will one day return to this earth to judge both the living and the dead.
The call to Christians to keep the faith no matter what the circumstances you are in. To work as if Christ will return tomorrow. To plan as if that return is still many years in the future.
Jesus when he left this earth left the disciple and all believers in Him a job to do. Jesus said,
“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.
If you claim to be a follower of  Jesus are you doing this?
Please think about it.