Why?

Why?
Luke’s Gospel records,
“After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him,  
and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. 
Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.  
But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 
Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  
I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:27-32.
This passage of scripture tell us why Jesus came to earth. To call the sinners to repentance.
John’s Gospel records Jesus speaking of himself saying,
“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.
This is a message those calling themselves Christians need to remember. The purpose of Christ’s coming to earth was to save the world. Not condemn it.
Jesus told his disciples,
“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.
It is not the Christians job to judge the world. It is not the Christians job to say where anyone will spend eternity. It is the Christians job to make disciples of all nations.
In order to do this we must live out the message of Christ in word and in deed.
We must 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.

We must ask ourselves am I presenting the gospel message to others in a way that I would like it presented to me?
Please think about it.

God is There

God is there
The Psalmist writes,

"Where can I go from your Spirit?  

Where can I flee from Your presence?  

If I go up to the heavens, You are there; 

if I make my bed in the depth, You are there.  

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, 

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

 even there Your hand will guide me.  

Your right hand will hold me fast." 

                                              Psalm 139:7-10.

We cannot hide from God. No matter where we go God is there. We may deny that God exists but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t exist as C. S. Lewis said,
“A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.” C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain.
Ben Zion Bokser wrote,
“I have not seen the robin but I know he is there because I heard him singing through my window from the tree-top outside.
I have not seen God.  But I have looked at my child’s eyes, and have been overwhelmed by the miracle of unfolding life.
I have watched the trees bedeck themselves with new garbs of green in the spring, and have been stirred by the miracle of continual rebirth.
I have looked at the stars, and have been overcome by the miracle of the grandeur and majesty of the universe.
I know that God exists, because I have heard the song of His presence from all the tree-tops of creation.” Ben Zion Bokser.
I as a believer in Christ Jesus believe that God exists.
I see the evidence everyday when I wake up and look out at the fields and trees beside my house. I see God’s handiwork in the wild Rabbit my two year old grandson tries in vain to catch as it runs across our lawn.
I look at the stars at night and realize that from the greatest galaxy to the smallest subatomic particle everything is in perfect balance to allow life to exist as we know it here on earth.
All of this tells me there is a creator behind it all.
My question then becomes to you the reader do you believe in God? If not why not?
Please think about it.

The Reason

The Reason
The Gospel of John states,
“Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.  
But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:30,31.
John who knew Jesus personally make it clear why he wrote his gospel. It is written to you the reader
”that you may believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:31.
This is the reason all of the gospels were written. They were written by men who knew Jesus. They are true accounts of what they believed.
Throughout the generations these words have gone forth giving the reader a choice. To believe what was written by them or not.
What I would ask you the reader of this blog, is to read the New Testament. Read for yourself what those first century Church leaders believe. Then decide for yourself if you believe them or not.
Please think about it.

Those who have not seen

Those who have not seen
John’s gospel records,
“Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.  
So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.” 
A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”  
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 
Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 
Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:24-29.
Here we have the story of the man quite often referred to as doubting Thomas. He wanted proof that Jesus was alive following his death on the cross. He wasn’t taking the word of the other disciples. He wanted physical proof, so Jesus appeared to him.
What Jesus however said after furnishing proof to Thomas is important. John records,
“Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 
Believing in Jesus and all that he did is especially today in the twenty-first century an act of faith. The writer of Hebrews tells us,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for

 and certain of what we do not see.”  

                                          Hebrews 11:1

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, 

because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists 

and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” 

                                                               Hebrews 11:6

Having faith in anything is a difficult thing for many if not most people. Still it is what God requires of us. Yet when you think about it having faith in God costs us nothing.
Blaise Pascal wrote,
“Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists.” Blaise Pascal.
Please think about it.

Why take human form?

Why take on human form?

The apostle 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.

One of the things Christians get asked is “why would God take on human form?” I think the answer is simple. To remove all possible excuses an individual may have when he stands before God on judgement day.
Charles Spurgeon said,

“A Jesus who never wept 

could never wipe away my tears.” 

                                               Charles H. Spurgeon.

In becoming flesh in the form of Jesus, God can honestly say I know what it is to be human.
Yes God is almighty and all knowing. Never the less there is just the possibility that on judgement day individuals could use the argument that “because God is all knowing and all powerful He can’t truly understand what it is not to be all powerful. What it is to be human.”
In coming to earth in the form of a man and experiencing what life is from the standpoint of a human being, God can honestly say I know what it is to be human.
I understand what it is to experience the day to day things, the sun and rain on my face. To smell the dust in the air. The smell of wheat growing in a field. I know what it is like to be an infant who’s family had to flee their home and become political refugees in Egypt. I know what is like to grow up as an infant. I was a teenager. I studied the scriptures. Sat with learned men.
I experienced everything from the joy of being at a wedding to enjoying the company of friends and family. I performed good deeds and did the miraculous. I even spoke of how to get to heaven.
That being said, I also know what it was like to be persecuted, put on trial for a crime I didn’t commit. To be beaten inhumanely, and put to death on a cross for mere political expediency.
In becoming human God eliminated any possible excuse an individual can give for not believing in Him.
Please think about it.

Faith to Accept

Faith to Accept
In the book of Proverbs we read,

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

But the greatest of these is love.”  

                                                        1 Corinthians 13:13

The New Testament essentially is the story of God showing His love for each individual on the face of the earth.
The Apostle Paul defines Christian Love. God’s Love when he writes,

“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.

  C. S. Lewis points out,
“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.
God’s wish is to meet each person where they are at. He desires to have a personal relationship with each every individual.
As a Christian I believe what C. S. Lewis wrote,
“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
The apostle Paul confirms this statement saying,

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: 

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 

                                                            Romans 5:8.

All that is required of the individual is the faith to accept that love. The apostle Paul telling us,
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  Romans 10: 9,10.
Thus the choice is yours. Will you accept the Love and Salvation that is offered through Jesus Christ or not?
Please think about it.

Are you seeking?

Are you Seeking?
The Psalmist writes,

“I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,

 and in his word I put my hope. 

My soul waits for the Lord 

more than watchmen wait for the morning,

 more than watchmen wait for the morning.” 

                                                      Psalm 130:5,6.

Some time ago my pastor used the above scripture in his sermon. What he said is unimportant. The scripture struck a note with me for an entirely different reason.
I live in North America. I enjoy incredible freedoms. Sadly I see those freedoms used by men and women calling themselves pastors and evangelist to pervert the word of God. Then when someone challenges them they hide behind the freedom of speech laws or threaten a law suit. To silence their critics.
When I hear such things my heart cries out to the Lord. I cry as the Psalmist did,

“How long will the wicked, O LORD, 

how long will the wicked be jubilant?” 

                                                    Psalm 94:3.

Sadly the world tends to see the wrongs these pastors and evangelist commit and are turned off. They label all Christians with the same brush. That being said I believe anyone who is truly seeking God will find Him. I am reminded of what Jesus said,

“Ask and it will be given to you; 

seek and you will find; 

knock and the door will be opened to you.  

For everyone who asks receives; 

he who seeks finds; 

and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” 

                                                         Matthew 7:7,8.

For those who are reading this and are seeking God please remember the words of Jesus who said,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23.
I would ask anyone seeking the truth about God, that you pray and read the Bible for yourself. Read the New Testament, that tells you what the early Christians believed about Jesus. What they taught about with respect to living a Christians life.  Ask God to show you the truth about what true Christians, true followers of Christ Jesus believe.
Don’t be turned off by those who twist the word of the Bible for their own gain. Seek God in spirit and in truth and He will show Himself to you.
Please think about it. 

A Steward

A Steward
The apostle Paul wrote,

“Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ 

and stewards of the mysteries of God. 

Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”

                                                                  1Corinthians 4:1,2.

If you claim to be a Christian a follower of Christ Jesus are you a good steward. A good servant and “Steward of the mysteries of God”.
As I understand it a steward in the time of Christ looked after his masters things. He was expected to administer them correctly and honestly. To be faithful to his master. This is what the apostle Paul is telling the Corinthians and through them us.
To Timothy 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.
This is what we must do. We must pray and study the scriptures then present them in the purest way possible.
Thus the question becomes; if you consider yourself a true believer in Christ Jesus are you presenting the scriptures in the truest possible way?
Please think about it.

A Must for Christians

A must for Christians
The book of Exodus tells us that God said,

“You shall have no other gods before me.”

                                                           Exodus 20:3.

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
Jesus also 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
The Apostle Paul wrote,

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

 live at peace with everyone.”

                                               Romans 12:18

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 claim to be a Christian a believer in Christ Jesus are you doing what is said in the
above Scriptures?
Please think about it.

Words to live by

Words to live by.
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.
I was told by a very wise man when I was a new Christian. That if I was to memorize only one verse and put it into action into my life it should be Matthew 7:12
This verse in the epitome of Christian teaching.
It is Universal truth all people can put into practice in their lives no matter who they are.
What it means is simple. When you do anything to someone else. You need to pause and ask yourself. Would I want what I was doing to another person done to me. If the answer is no you shouldn’t be doing it.
Please think about it.

Give Account

Give account
The writer of Hebrews states,
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:12,13.
I believe the Bible has two purposes. One to show us the way to heaven and two to show us how God expects us to live.
Many in today’s culture do not want to hear how God expects us to live. They take  heed of only the portions of the Bible they want to listen to and disregard the rest.
St. Augustine said,
“If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.” St Augustine.
The choice however is always ours. God has given us a freewill to do as we wish. That being said,
The book of Ecclesiastes reminds us,
“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.

Why?

Why?
Jesus said,
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. 
When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.  
When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. Matthew 13:44-46.
I’ve been asked on numerous occasions “why do Christians want to tell you about their faith?” The answer is in the above portions of scripture.
We as Christians as believers in Christ Jesus have found the “hidden treasure”. We have found the “fine pearl of great value” and want others to share in that treasure.
Matthews gospel records,
“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.
We as believers in Christ Jesus are to make disciples. Moreover 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.

One of the things we as Christians must do if we are obeying Christ’s command to do to others what we would have others do to us, is tell people about the most important thing in our lives. That being the Love of Jesus. The Saving Grace God offers to all people through Christ Jesus.
So I would ask you. If you do not believe Jesus is the Son of God. If you have not accepted God’s Saving Grace that comes through Christ Jesus. Please consider doing so.
C. S. Lewis once wrote,
“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.” C.S. Lewis.
That means he died for you dear reader. All you have to do is accept this. The apostle Paul telling us,
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."
  Romans 10: 9,10.
Please think about it.