Are You?

Are you?
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.
This is what Christians call the great commission. Christ telling his disciples and through them all believers in Christ Jesus to make disciple of all nations.
In order to do this effectively we must follow the teachings of Christ.
1. We must 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 neighbour as yourself.'  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40.
2. We must not judge anyone especially if they are not believers in Christ Jesus, Jesus said,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  
“For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Matthew 7:1,2.
Billy Graham the American evangelist said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God's job to judge

 and my job to love,” 

                       Billy Graham

3. We must obey 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.

It is only by remembering these three things that we can be effective witnesses of Christ.
   It is only by making these three scriptures active in our daily life that we will win souls for Christ.
If you claim to be a Christian are you living the truths of these three scriptures in your daily life?
Please think about it.

What comes out of your mouth?

What comes out of your mouth?
Jesus said,
"Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body?  
But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.'  
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.  
These are what make a man ‘unclean'; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him ‘unclean.' " Matthew 15:17-20.
As believers in Christ Jesus we have an obligation to watch what we say and do. Jesus in the above quoted scripture tells us it is not what we eat, what we put in our bodies that make us unclean it is what comes out of our mouths.
Francis of Assisi wrote,

"The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon some persons will hear today" 

                                                                         Francis of Assisi

I am reminded of a news story of a bakery owned by people claiming to be Christian. The owners of which would not bake a wedding cake for a same sex marriage. They said it was their right not to make the cake as they believed homosexuality to be a sin. These people I’m certain, probably without realizing it pushed that gay couple away from Christ.
And the owners of the bakery are not alone. There are many Christians who will not have anything to do with those of a different lifestyle or faith. Which is precisely the opposite of what Jesus would do. Jesus sat with sinners Mark’s gospel tells us,
“When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:16,17.
In Acts chapter ten we read of the apostle Peter’s encounter with the Roman centurion  Cornelius. ‘Technically’ Peter, a Jew, should according to the law not have sat with him, but God showed Peter it was the right thing to do. God in a vision telling Peter,
"The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." Act's 10:15.
As a result Peter went to the house of Cornelius. While speaking to him Peter said,
"He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean." Acts 10:28.
The ultimate result of this encounter was that not only Cornelius but his family and close friends came to accept Christ as their Saviour.
So my question to you the reader is. If you claim to be a Christian a believer in Christ Jesus, are your words and deeds leading to the Salvation of those around you or are they pushing people away?
Please think about it.

Which world

Which world
Jesus quoting Deuteronomy 8:3 said,
“It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’’” Matthew 4:4.
To my way of thinking Jesus and the writer of Deuteronomy is making it clear. Individuals are spiritual beings. We cannot live on the things of this world alone. They will never truly fill that longing in mans heart.
I know a lot of people that buy a new car every few years. Their old one still works well but they like to get a new version every few years. Likewise people especially here in the west like to up grade their electronic devices every few years even if the old one works well. It’s the same with fashion many people are constantly throwing away perfectly good clothing in order to get the latest fashion.
Our materialistic society calls out from every corner telling us in order to feel good and look good we need the latest thing. If we just get the latest thing not only will we impress those around us but it will make us feel good.
Now there is nothing wrong with owning the latest things. The problem comes when we think that will give us lasting happiness and the things of this world is all there is.
Things are just that, inanimate objects, that offer little comfort when things go wrong. You can have all the money you’ve ever wanted. All the material possessions you’ve ever dreamed of, but when hard times come they are of little comfort.
This world, this life we live is fleeting. We live but a handful of years. Then all that we have gained in this world says here while we move on to the next.
One day we will all stand before God. If you don’t believe me you can wait and see. The trouble is at that point it will be too late. We must believe in God in this world in order to enter heaven. 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 telling us,
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."  Hebrews 11:1.
The apostle Paul said,
“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.
As a Christian I believe that it is through belief in the saving grace that come through Jesus Christ God’s One and Only Son. That we get to heaven. 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 is yours. C. S. Lewis wrote,
“If you live for the next world you get this one in the deal; but if you live for this one, you lose them both." C. S. Lewis.
So my question becomes, which world are you living for?
Please think about it.

Live good lives

Live good lives
The apostle Peter states,
“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.
Do you do this?
Many years ago I was told by my first pastor to memorize 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.

He told me if you sincerely believe what Jesus is saying you will always remember to present the gospel of Christ in a respectful manner to all who will listen.
In following these words of Christ you will find yourself respecting those of different faiths, lifestyles, and positions in life.
Not only that you will find yourself being respected by others. And those who have the respect of others find it easier to present the gospel of Christ to non-believers.
The writer of Hebrews states,

“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.

Put it this way

Put this way
Jesus taking 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.

Put it this way in the year 2019 this means,

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.

Put it this way in the year 2019 this means,

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.

Put it this way in the year 2019 this means,

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.

And you might not like their faith.

Put it this way in the Year 2019 this means,

If you are

judging others.

You are telling others 

they can judge you in the same way.

Put it this way in the year 2019 this means,

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.

Jesus also said to all who believe in Him,
“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.  
If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.  
Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.  
Do to others as you would have them do to you. 
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them.  
And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that.  
And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full.  
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.  
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:27-36.
Please think about it. 

To the Lukewarm

To the Lukewarm
The book of Revelations records Christ speaking to the Church at Laodicea. A Church referred to as the Lukewarm Church.
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.  
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!  
So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.  
You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.  
I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.  
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 
To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.  
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelations 3:14-22
Here Jesus addresses a church that thinks it is doing well. It is a rich church that thinks it needs nothing. In reality it is as Jesus puts it, it is,
“Wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”
As someone once told me in deep need of spiritual healing.
The call of Jesus is to turn to Him that they may receive that healing.
Churches and individuals today especially I find here in North America think they are rich. They may be in a material sense rich. They are however if you look closer at them spiritually “Wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” They need deep spiritual healing.
They need to turn to God. To pray and study God’s word as often as they can. They need to take the teachings of the Scriptures to heart.
Jesus tells us,
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Revelations 3:20.
One thing I have learned over the years is that no matter how close we think we are to Jesus we can get even closer. We must never think because we appear to be rich that we are.
Just because we may appear to be rich especially in a material sense does not mean we are spiritually rich.
Our cry to God should always be “Draw me closer to you Lord.”
Please think about it.

To the Faithful

To the Faithful
In the book of Revelations we see Jesus speaking to the church in Philadelphia saying.
“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: 
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.  
I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.  
I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.  
Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. 
I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.  
Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.  
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelations 3:7-13
Here we have what scholars call the faithful church. Jesus says to this church,
“I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” Revelations 3:8
Jesus tells this church
“I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.” Revelations 3:9.
Jesus tells them,
“Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.” Revelations 3:10 
He tells them the reward for their faithfulness. Saying
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.  
Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.”  Revelations 3:11,12.
The message of Jesus here to faithful believers is,
1. That those who oppose them will one day fall at the feet of the faithful believer and acknowledge that Christ has loved them.
2. That the true believer will be kept from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the world.
3. That the true believer will become a pillar in the temple of God. The strongest part of the temple.
4. That they will never leave it.
5. That Jesus will write on the faithful believer, the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.
The question is are you such a believer?
Many in the Christian world would like to think that they are like the church at Philadelphia but in reality are not.
The key however here is to know that we can be like the church of Philadelphia. In order to do so we must put Christ first in everything we do.
Jesus acknowledged that the Philadelphia church had little strength yet they remained faithful. Thus if they can do it. We can also.
Please think about it.

The Dead Church

The Dead Church
The book of revelations speaks of the Church at Sardis. It states,
“To the angel of the church in Sardis write: 
These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.  
Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.  
Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. 
Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.  
He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.  
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelations 3:1-6. 
Here is a church that appears to be alive but is in fact dead.
It is possible for a church to seem to be doing all the right things yet not be doing what God wants them to do.
There are many churches that hold great orchestrated praise services. That follow a systematic study of the Bible. That even have prayer meetings. These churches on the outside look fine but all they are doing is following an empty scripted program. They are ministering to their congregation but not doing what God wants them to do.
That’s true for people to. An individual can seem like they have got it all together. They attend church both on Sunday and during the week. They go to prayer meetings even go to other Christian events. The trouble is they are simply doing it because they feel this is what a person should do. They are not doing what God wants them to do.
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.
The church has a duty to perform. That is presenting the gospel to all the world and to teach new converts all that Jesus taught them.
If a church or individuals are not doing so they are dead. Thus the  call of Christ to such churches, is to waken up and serve Him to the fullest.
We must always remember that the job of evangelism will not end until Christ returns to earth. That we must continually work for Christ until His return. The reward for people who do this is as Jesus said,
“He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.”
Question. If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus, are you truly serving Him?
Please think about it.

On Immorality

On Immorality
Here in the book of Revelations we read a letter to the church at Thyatira
“To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: 
These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.  
I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. 
Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.  
I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.  
So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways.  
I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.  
Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): Only hold on to what you have until I come. 
To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery’— 
just as I have received authority from my Father.  
I will also give him the morning star.  
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Revelations 2:18-29
The churches in the book of Revelations as I have said in previous blogs can be taken as relating to individual church congregations and denominations today and throughout history.
The church at Thyatira is commended for their love, faith, service and perseverance in the faith. That they were even doing more that when they first believed in Christ.
That being said, Jesus states,
“...I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality...” 
This church is tolerating a woman named Jezebel. Some say that may be a real name or a nickname equating her to Jezebel in first and second Kings in the Old Testament. Either way it doesn’t matter what this person is doing is teaching leading people into sexual immorality.
As believers in Christ Jesus we cannot tolerate sexual morality in any form.
Sadly for many years churches and denominations have covered up sexual immorality in their ranks. This should not be so.
Our church congregations, denominations, our pastors, evangelist and teachers should as far as is humanly possible be examples of good moral behavior.
The apostle Paul tells us,
“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 Paul also makes it clear,
“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.
James the half brother of Jesus wrote,
“Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” James 1:21.
The reward for following the moral path and keeping our faith strongly rooted in Christ Jesus is that we will rule with him. Jesus saying the Church at Thyatira
 “To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations” Revelations 2:26.
Thus I would ask this question.
Do you tolerate immorality in any form?
Please think about it.

The compromising Church

The compromising Church
The book of Revelations states,
“To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: 
“These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.  
I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives. 
Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality.  
Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.  
Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.” Revelations 2:12-17.
As I have said in previous blogs many scholars say that the churches in Revelations can be taken several ways. They can represent various churches or denominations throughout history and even today. They can also be seen as speaking to individuals.
Here Christ realizes that the Pergamum church “where Satan has his throne”. That they did not renounce their faith even when Antipas a member of their congregation was put to death.
Still this church has a problem they are compromising with the teachings of Balaam and the Nicolaitans heretical groups.
As believers in Christ Jesus we cannot compromise our beliefs. We must live by our beliefs.
Today in the twenty-first century the Nicolaitans and believers in Balaam are not much of a threat to the church but other things are. Things quite often we may not think are compromises. The big one I see is mixing politics with our faith for example. It happens it seems all the time in the United States. Christians genuinely believing one political party is “more Christian” than the other.
Now there is nothing wrong with believers in Christ Jesus getting involved with politics in a democratic society. I believe every believer in Jesus that can vote, should vote.
We must however put away the childish notion that the Governments of Canada and the United States or for that matter any government, anywhere are Christian. They are not. As someone has said they are like the Roman empire. As such they secular governments that offer freedom to believe as you wish. They are not bastions of Christian morals.
By holding the view that any government is Christian places one on a slippery slope leading to disaster.
It’s tantamount to believing as the Romans did that Emperors were gods.
God must be the centre of our lives not politicians or anyone else.
Other things that tend to be mixed with the Christian faith, is the acquisition of wealth and possessions, the job or profession we choose in life, even the entertainment we choose to watch. All of which for the most part is fine. The problem however comes when these things pull us away from our faith or causes us to dilute or compromise our faith.
We as believers in Christ Jesus must also be aware of false teachers. Remember what the apostle Paul said about teachers in the church can also apply to politicians seeking the vote of Christians. Paul said,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2Timothy 4:3,4.
Within our church congregations and denominations we must also be careful that the pastors, evangelist and teachers we listen to are not as the apostle Paul puts it, gathering, “around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”
Teachers, pastors, and evangelist that are turning to myths.
It is very easy to use the bible to say what you want it to say. To take things out of context which is what the Nicolaitans were doing. This is what is happening in some churches today.
The call of Jesus to the church at Pergamum and to any who would call themselves followers of Christ Jesus is to turn away from compromise. To stand firm on the teachings of the scriptures, of the apostles and of Jesus. To as Jesus says,
“Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”
Thus the question for those who would call themselves believers in Jesus Christ is:
Am I compromising my beliefs in any way shape or form?
If so, Am I willing to repent?
Please think about it.

The Church in Smyrna

The Church in Smyrna

The book of revelations records,
“To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: 
These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.
   I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.  
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. 
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.”Revelations 2:8-11
As I noted in my previous blog through the book of Revelations Jesus speaks to seven churches.
Scholars have noted that these churches can be taken in several ways. They can speak to individual churches and denominations both throughout history and today and they can be personalized by individuals.
The Second church mentioned is Smyrna. That was located at a major port city just north of Ephesus. The Imperial Roman cult was presence in the city as was a large number of Jews. Both of who may have persecuted early believers in Christ.
Here Jesus identifies Himself as “the First and the Last, “who died and came to life again.”
He notes that the church has gone to affliction and poverty yet is rich. That they are slandered.
Today around the world there are churches and individuals who are as one person said “dangerous neighbourhoods”. Areas of the world where being a follower of Jesus Christ can get you put in jail, attacked or even murdered.
Jesus in addressing the church at Smyrna is addressing them. He calls on them not to be afraid. That while they may be put in prison and suffer persecution they will be given a crown of life.
For anyone going through persecution it can be hard. No one deserves to go persecution for their faith not matter who they are. That being said however as believers in Christ Jesus we have the assurance that in the end we will receive the victors crown and live eternally in Heaven with God.
If you are a Christian living in the west that is not undergoing persecution take time to remember the persecuted church. Men and Women who are suffering for their faith. Take time to pray and if you are in the western democracies especially write to your member of parliament, or prime minister. Ask them to bring up the plight of persecuted Christians. It can’t hurt but it may just do a lot of good.
Perhaps even bring up to your pastor and Church congregation the need to keep praying and doing what you can to help believers in Christ that are being persecuted.
Please think about it.

First Love

First Love
The book of Revelations widely believed to be written by the apostle John speaks of seven individual Churches.
The first Church addressed is Ephesus John writes,
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: 
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lamp stands: I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.  
You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.  
Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place.  
But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” Revelations 2:1-7.
It has been said that each church addressed in the book or Revelations is representative of Churches that have existed throughout history and are around today. Further more one can personalize these churches.
Thus we can look at what is said to the church and see if it is like the church congregation or denomination we attend. At the same time we can look at ourselves and see if we are acting like the church described.
Here the Ephesian church is commended for what they have gone through, for their hard work. He commends them for not tolerating wicked men. For their testing of false prophets. He even commends them for hating the practices of the Nicolaitans a group of heretics.
He then says,
“I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.”
Our first love as believers must be God.
It is possible for a church or an individual to seem to be doing everything right yet not be truly following God.
Church congregations can hold bible studies, prayer meetings, help the poor, do all a Christian is suppose to do, yet not have God as their first love.
There are Churches and denominations today that require a believer in Christ to follow a very strict set of rules in order to be a member of their group.
The Pharisees in the time of Jesus were a good example of this. Intellectually they believed in God. But God was not their first love. They believed that in order to follow God correctly one had to follow a carefully crafted set of rules. Following the rules became more important to them than worshipping God.
Recently here in Canada there was a minister who said she was an Atheist but still wanted the denomination she was ordained in to keep her on as a minister.
This person was a good person doing everything a minister does. Which to this persons mind meant she could still qualify as a minister. She missed the point.
In order to be a Christian cleric, one must first believe in God. Our faith in God must come first.
If our church congregations, denominations, ministers or even we as individuals do not have God at the root of our faith. Do not have God as our first love, we are falling short of what Jesus wants for our lives.
This is the lesson to be learned from Ephesians. The church in Ephesus had gone through a lot. For a time they were a shining light. But at the writing of the Book of Revelations they had lost their first love.
We as believers in Christ Jesus go through a lot in life. However we should never let what we are going through take us away from our first love.
Why not take some time to evaluate your relationship with Jesus, with God. Is He truly the first love of your life?
Please think about it.