If you are a Christian

If you are a Christian
Jesus talking to His disciples and through them to us, 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.

Put this way in the year 2019  this means,

If you are

demonstrating against anyone. 

You are telling them 

they can demonstrate against you.

If you are 

speaking out and trying to restrict the rights of others 

given to them by the lawfully elected government.

You are telling others 

they can try to restrict your rights.

If you are 

imposing your morals however good they may be on others.

You are telling them 

they can impose their morals on you, even if they are not as good as yours.

If you are 

trying to impose your faith on others rather than presenting your faith.

You are telling others 

they can impose their faith on you.

If you are

judging others.

You are telling others 

they can judge you in the same way.

If you 

are telling the world you are a Christian

You should be telling the world 

I love you as Jesus loves you,...

unconditionally.

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.

Earlier in the gospel of Matthew Jesus is recorded as saying,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ 
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
Matthew 5:43-45.

The apostle Paul writing to the Corinthians defines 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

The apostle Paul telling us,

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, 

live at peace with everyone.”

                                         Romans 12:18

If you are a Christian and remember this it’s hard for you to go wrong. And may as a result win many souls for Christ.
Please think about it.

On Giving

On Giving,

The 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.
There are approximately 2000 scriptures commanding us to look after the poor.
As Christians we are called to help the poor in what ever way we can even if it’s only giving a glass of water.
Christians are one of the largest contributors to helping the needy. However there is much we can learn from our Jewish friends. Who for centuries have been among the largest contributors to helping the poor irrespective of their faith.
 Within Judaism there is a concept called  Tzedakah. It is a concept both Jesus and James would have understood.
The following is as good an explanation of Tzedakah. It comes from a Jewish website,
“Tzedakah is the Hebrew word for acts that we call charity in English: giving assistance and money to the poor and needy or to other worthy causes. However the nature of tzedakah is very different from the idea of charity. The word “charity suggests benevolence and generosity, a magnanimous act by the wealthy and the powerful for the benefit of he poor and needy.
The word “tzedakah” is derived form the Hebrew root Tzadei-dalet-Qof, meaning righteousness, justice or fairness. In Judaism giving to the poor is not viewed as a generous, magnanimous act, it is simply and act of righteousness, performance of a duty giving the poor their due.
The Obligation of Tzedakah
Giving to the poor is an obligation in Judaism, a duty that cannot be forsaken even by those who are themselves in need. Some sages have said that tzedakah is the highest of all commandments, equal to all of them combined, and that a person who does not perform tzedaka is equivalent to an idol worshipper. This is probably hyperbole, but it illustrates the importance ot tzedakah in Jewish thought....
According to Jewish law, we are required to give one-tenth of our income to the poor. This generally interpreted as one-tenth of our net income after payment of taxes. Taxes themselves do not fulfill our obligation to give tzedakah even though a significant proportion of tax revenues in America and many other countries are used to provide for the poor and needy. Those who are dependent on public assistance or living on the edge of subsistence may give less but must still give to the extent they are able; however, no person should give so much that he would become a public burden.
The obligation to perform tzedakah can be fulfilled by giving money to the poor, to health care institutions, to Synagogues or educational institutions. It can also be fulfilled by supporting your children beyond the age when you are legally required to, or supporting your parents in their old age. The obligation includes giving both to Jews and gentiles...  We have an obligation to avoid becoming in need of Tzedakah. A person should take any work available, even if he thinks it is beneath his dignity to avoid become a public charge.
However, if a person is truly in need and has no way of obtaining money on his own he should not feel embarrassed to accept tzedakah. No person should feel to proud to take money from others. In fact it is considered a transgression to refuse tzedakah. One source says that to make yourself suffer by refusing to accept tzedakah is equivalent to shedding your own blood.
Levels of Tzedakah
Certain kinds of tzedakah are considered more meritorious than others. The Talmud describes these different levels of tzedakah, and Rambam organized them into a list. The levels of charity from the least meritorious to the most meritorious, are: 

Giving begrudgingly

Giving less than you should, bu giving cheerfully,

Giving after being asked

Giving before being asked

Giving when you do not know the recipient’s identity, but the recipient knows yours

Giving when you know and the recipient’s identity, but the recipient doesn’t know yours.

Giving when neither party knows the other’s identity.

Enabling the recipient to become self-reliant.

Some sages have said that tzedakah is the highest of all commandments, equal to all of them combined, and that a person who does not perform tzedaka is equivalent to an idol worshipper”
As Christians the above is something we should consider. It is perfectly in line with Christian belief. It asks us to show unconditional love to those who are less fortunate, and to give of our wealth. Two things we as individuals hold dear to our hearts.
In engaging in the act of tzedaka we are showing God where our heart truly is, for Jesus said,

“For where your treasure is, 

there your heart will be also.”

                                      Matthew 6:21

Please Think about it.

A thought for the New Year

A thought for the New Year

On February 14, 1990, NASA at a distance of 6 billion kilometres (3,7 billion miles) had the Voyager 1 space probe take a picture of the Solar system. It showed earth as a pail blue dot smaller than the head of a pin.
Looking at it we see just how small earth is in the universe. Within the vastness of the universe it seems insignificant. Yet it is everything to those of us who live on it.
That being said what amazes me is that the God who created the universe and everything in it did not think that pail blue dot insignificant at all. For he chose to bless mankind by stepping onto that dot in the form of His One and Only Son Jesus Christ and offering to all who would receive eternal life.
The gospel of John tells us,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  
He was with God in the beginning. 
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  
In him was life, and that life was the light of men....  
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  
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. 
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. 
We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1-4, 11-14.
As fantastic as this seems it is true. As they say truth is quite often stranger than fiction.
What the apostle John writes here is the basis of Christian teaching and belief. God in the form of his One and Only Son Jesus Christ entered the world He created in order to call all men to himself. Offering them eternal life in Heaven.
I simply present it here for you to accept or reject. The choice is yours.
Please think about it. 

My Shepherd

My Shepherd
The Psalmist wrote,

“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.

Question. As we head into the new year 2019 is the Lord God truly the Shepherd of your life? Are you willing to trust God with your life this coming year?
Please think about it.

New Years Praise

New years Praise
The psalmist writes,

Praise the LORD. 

Praise God in his sanctuary;

 praise him in his mighty heavens. 

Praise him for his acts of power; 

praise him for his surpassing greatness. 

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. 

                              Psalm 150.

Today is the final day of the year. A time for some to look back on what has happened both good and bad.
For me personally I look at it as a time to praise God. Not everything that happened in the previous year was positive and not everything was negative. Still I can thank God for what has happened in the past year.
I can thank God for getting me through the bad time. For delivering me from various things.
At the same time I can praise God for the good things that have come into my life.
For His unfailing Love towards me. For giving me peace and the assurance that He is there for me all the time.
Thus my question to you is, Can you give thanks for all that has happened to you in the previous year?
Please think about it.

Shout

Shout
The psalmist writes,

"Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 

Worship the LORD with gladness; 

come before him with joyful songs. 

Know that the LORD is God.

 It is he who made us, and we are his; 

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; 

give thanks to him and praise his name. 

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; 

his faithfulness continues through all generations. "

                                                                                                   Psalm 100.
If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus. A believer in God why not take time today to praise God?
Please do more than just think about it.

Faith

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

I believe having faith in anything is perhaps on of the hardest things an individual has to do. That is why I believe God asks us to have faith in Him.
God could have come with his angels in bodily form and shown his might calling on all the people of earth to worship Him.
Had he done it that way I firmly believe most if not all people would have worshipped Him. That however would not have produced true followers. Most would have worshipped God out of fear for what He could do to them.
On the other hand not showing Himself in bodily form requires and act of faith on the part of the individual. And people of faith are the strongest most dedicated followers no matter what they believe in.
Those who truly follow anything, be it God or any other cause will suffer and even die for what they believe in.
Having faith in God however costs us nothing and offers great gain. Blaise Pascal put it this way,
“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.
Thus the question becomes where will you place your wager.
Please think about it. 

You will find Him

You will find Him
In the book of Deuteronomy we find this quote,

“But if from there you seek the LORD your God, 

you will find him              

if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.”  

                                                                     Deuteronomy 4:29.

You have to be looking for God? C. S. Lewis states,
“He shows much more of Himself to some people than to others-not because He has favourites, but because it is impossible for Him to show Himself to a man whose whole mind and character are in the wrong condition.” C. S. Lewis.
Lewis is right. Many who don’t believe in God are not really looking for Him. Many Atheist say I can’t see Him, touch Him, therefore he doesn’t exist. There minds are made up and nothing can convince them otherwise.
I admit I cannot prove God exists scientifically but I can see God’s handiwork in all creation.
The Psalmist tells us,

“The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 

Day after day they pour forth speech; 

night after night they display knowledge. 

There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.” 

                                                                          Psalm 19:1-3.

When I look at the world around me and indeed the universe as a whole I see a perfect creation. A place where everything from the smallest subatomic particle to the largest galaxy is arranged in such a way as to allow life to exist as we know it.
I cannot believe this came into being purely by chance. That being said it takes faith to believe God exists.
God requires us to have faith in Him. The writer of Hebrews states,

“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.

God however does not ask for blind faith. God shows himself through the universe he created. All we have to do is truly be looking for God.
As the writer of Deuteronomy states,

“But if from there you seek the LORD your God, 

you will find him              

if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.”  

                                                                     Deuteronomy 4:29.

Please think about it.

The Christian Message

The Christian message
Yesterday was Christmas day. The day we Christians celebrate our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ’s birth.
Two thousand years ago give or take a few years, the Apostle Paul was invited by the Stoic and Epicurean philosophers of Athens to speak to them about Christ. The message he gave is as relevant for today’s audience as it was back then. It is the reason we Christians celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ this Christmas season.
The book of acts states,
“While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.  
So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.  
A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.  
Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?  
You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.”  
(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) 
“Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.  
For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. 
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.  
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.  
‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill.  
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” 
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”  
At that, Paul left the Council. A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.” Acts 17:16-34
Thus the question becomes what do you think about Jesus?
Please think about it.

Thank you God

Thank you God
Luke’s gospel records,
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  
This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:8-14.
Luke also records this reaction of a man called Simeon, described as righteous and devout. Luke states,
“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.  
Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,  
Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. 
For my eyes have seen your salvation,  which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”Luke 2:25-32.
Today is Christmas day. I and my family will gather together and exchange gifts. But the gifts while nice, and having family around is nice, it is our belief in Christ Jesus that is important to us.
We believe Jesus is the Son of God. The saviour of mankind. That he came to earth to point mankind to heaven. That Jesus died for our sins. As believers in Christ Jesus we believe what C. S. Lewis said,
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”  C.S. Lewis.
We believe what the apostle Paul wrote when he said,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.
We believe to quote C. S. Lewis again,
“He (Jesus) 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.
For this we will praise God and thank Him for His amazing grace and our salvation that comes through Christ Jesus.
Can you say the same?
Please think about it.

A Special Birth

A Special Birth
Luke’s gospel records,
“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)  
And everyone went to his own town to register. 
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  
He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,  and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:1-7.
John’s Gospel states,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  
He was with God in the beginning. 
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  
In him was life, and that life was the light of men....
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1-4,14.
Both Luke and John are speaking of the same event. The birth of Jesus.
The core belief of Christianity is that Jesus is God incarnate. We Christians believe that God in the form of His one and only Son Jesus Christ came into the world he created.
The question I get quite often from those who are not Christian is why would God enter His creation?
The way I see it is this. He came into the world to show each individual how much he loved them. How far he would go in human terms to show His love for each individual. The apostle Paul wrote,
“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 5:6-8.
The apostle Paul even admits this is at the very least unusual by human standards saying,
“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.” 1Corinthians 1:18.
The key here is God does not necessarily do things the way man thinks he should. After all God could have showed His power and might by coming with thousands of angels. In effect saying “her I am come worship me”. That however would not make true followers. If God did such a thing people might well worship Him because they feared what He could do to them. Not because they truly believed and trusted in Him. God wants true believers in Him. Those who believe in Him by faith.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“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.
True believers in any cause will endure anything for it. They will go to their grave for that cause. Thus it is with true believers in God.
There is also one more thing I believe why God entered the world.
In coming into the world to live as a man. God through Jesus found out first hand what it was like to be a human being.  He knew what it was like to have loving parents. To have friends. To go to weddings. He experienced first hand the mundane things such as the sun on his face, rain and the smell of dust.
Jesus also knew what it was to have enemies, to be beaten unmercifully and put to death in an horrific way.
In other words he experienced first hand the human condition. Thus when we as individuals stand before him on judgement day we can never say, “you have always been almighty therefor you cannot truly know what it is to be human with human frailties.” We cannot say that because Jesus does understand.
Having said all that the choice this Christmas season is entirely up to you. Do you believe Jesus is God incarnate, Saviour of mankind or not.
Please think about it.

Faith in God

Faith in God
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.” Abba Hillel Silver.
The Psalmist put it bluntly saying,

“The fool says in his heart, 

“There is no God.” 

                            Psalm 14:1.

I am a believer in God simply because it make more sense than the alternative. God through the Bible lays down a moral code for mankind to live by. Which in its simplest form is the ten commandments.
When God and His moral code is forgotten society falls into darkness and people suffer. We only have to look at Nazi Germany during world war two. Hitler and is henchmen lived by their own code. As a result it is estimated that over eleven million men, women, and children died in the death camps alone. While another estimated sixty million plus men, women and children died in the worst war in human history.
Mankind throughout history has a horrible record when it comes to following God’s commandments. Time and time again man has forgotten God’s commandments resulting in the death and suffering of thousands if not millions of individuals.
The psalmist writes,

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;

 all who follow his precepts have good understanding.

 To him belongs eternal praise.” 

                                                 Psalm 111:10

To my way of thinking if one does not recognize God then they can do anything they wish. Hitler is an extreme example of this. He had no fear of God thus he created the worst holocaust in human history.
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.”Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.
The way I see it you can choose to believe the words of Ecclesiastes 12:13,14 or not. If I am wrong you have nothing to fear if I am right at the very least you have a lot to think about.
Please think about it.