God will Judge

God will judge
Luke records this teaching of Jesus.
“Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.  
There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.  
What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs. 
“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.  
But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.” Luke 12:1-5.
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.
God will eventually judge all mankind, those woh believe in Him, and those who do not. I firmly believe we will be judged honestly and fairly in accordance with what we know of God.
God will not hold a tribes man deep in a jungle who has never heard of Jesus accountable to the standard he expects of someone who has read the Bible and claims to be a Christian.
I believe the more you know about the Bible and the teachings of Jesus the more you will be accountable for.
The Apostle Paul explains it this way.
“For God does not show favoritism.
All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.  
For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.  
(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.)  
This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares. Romans 2:11-16.
Thus the question I would ask you the reader. Are you prepared to stand before God and be judged by Him?
Please think about it.

If you are

If you are
The book of James states,
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,  
because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” James 2:12,13.
If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus do you speak and act as someone who will be judged? Are you merciful to those around you?
Jesus 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 of Our Lord 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 neighbour 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

The Writer of Hebrews telling 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

Please especially if you consider yourself a Christian think carefully about it.

Through the Lense

Through the Lense
Jesus said,
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16.
If you claim to be a follower of Christ Jesus, a Christian, does your light shine before men? If so, what does your light show the world about Jesus.
The world is watching. If you claim to be a follower of Christ then what you say and do will be the standard by which people see Jesus.
It is therefor imperative that we remember the words of the apostle Peter who wrote,
“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.
Please think about it.

Shout to The LORD

Shout to The LORD
The Psalmist wrote,

“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

Do you shout for joy to the Lord? Do you worship the Lord with gladness? Do you sing joyful songs?
There are church congregations and Christians that I’ve been around that make it seem like coming to church is a dreary experience. They lack life. This should not be. The Psalmist tells us,

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

Worship the LORD with gladness; 

come before him with joyful songs. 

Psalm 150 tells us.

“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.

Thus the question becomes, if you claim to be a Christian how do you worship The Lord?
Please think about it.

The Oldest Sermon

The Oldest Sermon
The book of acts tells us about an incident that happened to the apostle Paul in Athens and the sermon he presented. I put it here in it’s entirety for you to think about.
The book of acts states,
“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 17:17-34.
The book of acts notes there were several reactions to Paul’s sermon.
Some sneered.
Some wanted to hear more about Christ.
A few became followers of Christ.
Thus the question becomes, in what group are you?
Please think about it.

Your Shepherd

Your Shepherd
The Psalmist writes,

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: If you consider yourself a believer in Christ Jesus is the Lord truly the shepherd of your life?
The English evangelist Leonard Ravenhill commenting of faith said,

“F. A. I.T. H. As children in England we used to say:

 Forsaking 

All            

I                

Take           

Him.         

                                       Leonard Ravenhill.             

If you claim to be a true follower of Christ Jesus do you truly put all your faith in Him?
Is Jesus truly the Shepherd of your life?
Do you truly follow the teachings of Jesus OR are they mixed with the teachings of man?
Please think about it.

Delight in the Law of the Lord

Delight in the Law of The Lord
The Psalmist writes,

“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked 

or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, 

and on his law he meditates day and night.” 

                                                          Psalm 1:1,2.

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.
If you consider yourself a true follower of Christ Jesus, do you delight in the law of the Lord? Do you abstain from “sinful desires”?
Do you live a good life?
Francis of Assis wrote,

“The deeds you do may be the only sermon

 some persons will hear today” 

                                                    Francis of Assisi.

What will your deeds,... “your Sermon”, tell those around you about you. About Christ.
Please think about it.

Where is your Faith

Where is your Faith?
The Psalmist writes,

“Be still, and know that I am God; 

I will be exalted among the nations, 

I will be exalted in the earth.” 

                                             Psalm 46:10.

I as a believer in Christ Jesus believe one day every individual will meet God. That one day God will appear and judge mankind. I believe the words of Jesus who 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 way I see it at this moment God is giving you the reader, and everyone who hears the Gospel message the chance to go to heaven.
I believe that getting to heaven is very much an act of faith. The apostle Paul writing,

“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

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 writer of Hebrews defining faith this way,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for

 and certain of what we do not see.”  

                                                          Hebrews 11:1.

I believe God wanted us to believe in Him by faith, not because it was easy but because it is hard.
It is difficult for most people to believe in someone they cannot see, feel or hear. But God knows those who truly have faith in someone will keep that faith until their dying day.
So the question is, Where is your faith?
Please think about it.

You and God

You and God
The Psalmist writes,

“The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” 

                                                              Psalm 14:1

The apostle Paul writes,
“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.
Blaise Pascal wrote,
“It is incomprehensible that God should exist, and it is incomprehensible that he should not exist.” Blaise Pascal.
Pascal also noted,
“In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't.” Blaise Pascal.
So where do you stand? Do you believe in God or not?
I for one believe in God. I believe the Psalmist got it right when he said,

“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.

I look at the ordered universe we live in. Everything from the smallest subatomic particle to the largest galaxy is in perfect harmony allowing life as we know it to exist. This to me, tells me there is a divine creator at work. I cannot believe our universe just assembled itself purely by chance.
Still I respect the view of those who would disagree with me.
That being said, I would ask the question to anyone who doesn’t believe there is a God, are you beyond a shadow of a doubt certain God does not exist?
I ask because I believe that what you believe about God will determine where you will spend eternity. 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 choice however whether to believe in Jesus, whether to believe in God or not is entirely up to you the individual.
What I would ask if you do not believe in God, is with an open mind, you at least take some time to read at least the New Testament and see what it says.
Please think about it.

Just as there will be

Just as there will be
The apostle Peter wrote,
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  
Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.” 2Peter2:1,2.
Someone once said to me if you want to find “juicy scandal” just look in the church. Sadly I think they are right. I think also when someone does things wrong that claim to be Christians be they in the pulpit or in the pew it comes across something far worse than if a non-christian did it. After all do not Christians claim the moral high road?
Peter warns there will be individuals who are false teachers. Teachers who introduce heresies. Who deny the sovereignty of Jesus. Who bring “bring the way of truth into disrepute”.
Sadly this happens a lot and Christians of every strip do not do a good job of policing themselves.
The apostle Paul tells Christians,
“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.” 1Corinthians 5:12,13.
Now there is a wide range of interpretation when it comes to the scriptures and there is nothing wrong with that. That being said however we as believers in Christ Jesus must at times stand up against anyone who is bringing the teachings of Christ into disrepute.
Francis of Assis said,

“The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 

                                                                      Francis of Assisi

The world is watching Christians. Thus we must do all we can to live a life that reflects the love and teachings of Christ.
Please think about it. 

Do your Best

Do your Best
The Apostle Paul writes,
“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. 2Timothy 2:15.
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.
As believers in Christ Jesus we are called to present our beliefs, the teachings of Jesus correctly.
At the same time the apostle Peter reminds us we are,
1/ “a royal priesthood a holy nation belonging to God”
2/ That we are to declare the praises of God and Christ Jesus.
3/ That we are to abstain from sinful desires,
4/ That we are to live good lives among nonbelievers.
The reason for all of this according to Peter is,
“That though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1Peter 2:12b.
Question, if you consider yourself a believer in Christ Jesus are you doing this?
Please think about it.

Who is Jesus?

Who is Jesus?
John’s Gospel records this conversation between Martha and Jesus,
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
“Yes Lord” she told Him, “I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world,” John 11:25,26,27.
Thus the question becomes do you believe Martha?
Martha new Jesus personally as did the apostle John. If Jesus was not the Messiah, the Christ why would Martha lie? If John did not agree Jesus was the Christ, why would he record in his gospel Martha’s conversation with Jesus.
The bottom line is all the gospel writers believed Jesus to be the Messiah, the Christ. Saviour of mankind.
If this is not true then the New Testament is frankly one of the biggest lies perpetuated on mankind, because today three billion plus people believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Saviour of mankind.
That being said the answer to the question who is Jesus, is up to you. For each individual must decide who they think Jesus is.
So dear reader Who is Jesus?
Please think about it.