Are you willing?

Are you willing?
Jesus said,
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also....
No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money’. Matthew 6:19-21,24.
Where is you treasure? Is your treasure in this world or in heaven? 
Many people who go to church here in North America where I live quite often try to have their feet in both worlds. This world and heaven.
Mathews gospel records,
“Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” 
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.” 
“Which ones?” the man inquired. Jesus replied, “ ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony,  honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbour as yourself.’’” 
“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” 
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.” Matthew 19:16-22.
Here is the test for a true follower of Christ Jesus. Are you willing to give up everything for Him?
Here in North America materialism is king. People are striving for the so called “American dream”. A nice house, money in the bank, a nice car. And there is nothing wrong with having any of this. Jesus did not tell this man that being rich was bad.
The problem comes when you have to choose having the riches or following God. The true test of faith in Christ Jesus, in God, is when you are willing to give up everything you own for him.
While in North America with all our freedoms we may never be asked to give up everything. We still must choose which comes first. God or riches?
Around the world today hundreds of thousands of Christians are making that choice everyday. Many have to choose between following Christ, being persecuted for their faith, or going to jail or even being put to death.
It is estimated that 500,000 plus Christians live under the threat of persecution, imprisonment, or death each day.
Thus my question to those who claim to be Christians living in the western democracies is are you willing to give up everything for your faith?
My next question is if you are, are you at the very least, praying that God will protect and strengthen those brothers and sisters in Christ who are under persecution around the world?
Please think about it.

Do you? Are you?

Do you? Are you?
The apostle Paul writes,

“Flee the evil desires of youth,

 and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, 

along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart”

                                                                           2 Timothy 2:22.

Do you flee from evil?
Are you truly pursuing righteousness, faith, love, and peace?
Are you calling on the name of the Lord out of a pure heart?
                                                 Or
Do you only call on God when it is convenient for you?
Do you only call on God when you need something?
Are you willing to ask God, as the Psalmist did,

"Search me, O God, and know my heart;

 test me and know my anxious thoughts. 

See if there is any offensive way in me, 

and lead me in the way everlasting." 

                                               Psalm 139:23,24.

Please think about it.

It's self explanatory

It’s self explanatory
The Apostle Paul writes,
"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.
As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."  
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,  for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”Romans 10:9-13 
The apostle Paul make it very clear for all who can read. “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.”
This is a cornerstone belief of Christianity.
If this statement is wrong, no one has anything to fear if it is on the other hand a true statement then everyone who reads it has a lot to think about to say the least.
As C. S. Lewis stated,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. C. S. Lewis.
Please think about it.

Do you

Do you?
In the book of Exodus we read,

"You shall have no other gods before me."

                                                           Exodus 20:3.

Thus the question becomes do you have any other gods in your life?
A god is not merely a wooden or stone carved idol. A god particularly in the twenty-first century can me many things, money, a political party or politician, material possessions, religious leaders. Someone even mentioned to me it can even be your countries constitution or “your” constitutional rights.
Other god’s are things that you put ahead of God Almighty the Creator of heaven and earth.
Thus my question, do you have any other gods in your life?
In order to be a true believer in God. In order to be a true follower of Christ Jesus. God must take first place in your life. You must have complete faith in Him. As 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.
Thus my third question, do you have any other gods in your life?
Please think about it.

To show mercy

To Show Mercy
James the half brother of Jesus wrote,
“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.
As Christians. As believers in Christ Jesus we must be careful how we act. We must not use our freedom to judge anyone. We must be merciful to those around us.
As James said, “...judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.”
As Christians we have no right to judge anyone. Jesus made that clear when he 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.
If we believe what 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.
Then when we judge others we are saying to them they have the right to judge us.
It is not the job of any Christian. Of any believer in Christ Jesus to judge the world. That is God’s job.
Our job as Christians was summed up by Jesus when he 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 our job as believers in Christ. To show the mercy of God to those around us.
      To evangelize, to make disciples of all nations and to teach them to obey everything Jesus commanded.
If you consider yourself a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus, are you doing this?
Please think about it.

Draw near

Draw near
In Psalmist speaking of God wrote,

“You are my refuge and my shield; 

I have put my hope in your word.” 

                                              Psalm 119:114.

Isaiah the prophet states,
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tiered or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He give strength to the weary and increase the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary they will walk and not faint."Isaiah 40: 28-31.
The writer of Hebrews states,
"...let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.  
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:22,23
Every Christian. Every believer in Christ Jesus, needs to take time each day to draw near to God. To study the scriptures and pray. For it is only by doing this that we will have the assurance that God is with us no matter what our situation. That we never have to worry about tomorrow for tomorrow is in God’s hands.
Please think about it.

Trust

Trust
The writer of Proverbs states,

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart 

and lean not on your own understanding; 

                                                    Proverbs 3:5.

Here is a biblical truth that many people cannot do. Trusting, having faith in God is perhaps the hardest thing to do. Yet we must do this. 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.

The writer of Hebrews defining faith as,

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see." 

                                                                    Hebrews 11:1.

Someone has said “A person with true faith in anything will not easily be turned away from what they believe in.”
This is the kind of faith God asks anyone who believes in Him.
Is this the kind of faith you have in God?
Please think about it.

Something for a Christian to do

Something for a Christian to do

I pledge...

To Love.

I Pledge...

As far as it depends on me...

To live at peace with all people.

I Pledge...

Never, Never, Never! To attack anyone...

Physically, or verbally.

Even if I vehemently disagree with them in any way.

I Pledge...

Never to demean anyone.

No matter their race, their ethnicity, their religion, or their lifestyle.

I Pledge...

As far as humanly possible,

To uphold the dignity of all whom I come in contact with.

I Pledge...

To obey the words of Christ Jesus who said,

“So in everything, do to others what you would have others do to you

for this sums up the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12.

   Please if you are a Christian a believer in Christ Jesus don't just think about doing this. Do it.

A thought

A thought

Please think about it.

Do Good

Do Good
The Psalmist writes,

“Trust in the LORD and do good; 

dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.” 

                                                          Psalm 37:3.

Here is something we as Christians should be doing. Trusting in God and doing good. This is what we should be remembered for.
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.
Here in North America many times Christians are remembered for what they are against or who they have attacked or for who’s rights they are trying to take away or for their political stance. This should not be so.
In terms of eternity it dose not matter what a government or anyone else says or does. God will one day bring everyone to account including Christians.
What does matter is that Christians, those believe in Christ Jesus trust in the Lord and do good. The apostle Paul writes,
"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."Romans 12:18.
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.
That being said I think it can be safely said that all Christians. All those who believe in Christ Jesus would want to live in peace. Would want others to do good toward them.
The reward for living in peace with those around you, is that we will enjoy safe pasture. A place where we can tell others of the Love of God and the salvation God offers through Christ Jesus. Which is exactly what Jesus expects of all those who believe in Him.
Please think about it.

I lift my head up

I lift my head up
The Psalmist writes,

"I lift up my eyes to the hills— 

where does my help come from? 

My help comes from the LORD, 

the Maker of heaven and earth." 

                                                Psalm 121:1,2.

Where does your strength come from? Those around you? Your abilities? God?
Isaiah the prophet writes,

“Even youths grow tired and weary 

and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. 

They will soar on wings like eagles; 

they will run and not grow weary they will walk and not faint."

                                                                                                   Isaiah 40:30,31.

Speaking through personal experience I can say that the above quotes are true. God is truly there for anyone who trusts him even in the darkest times.
All I can say to anyone who doesn’t believe what I say is to read the Bible.
Starting with the New Testament, pray with and open mind and ask God to show himself to you.

What will God Say?

What will God say?
Jesus told this parable,
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.  
At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores  and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.  
In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  
So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ 
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.  
And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ 
“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house,  
for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 
“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 
“ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 
“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”Luke 16:19-31.
Here we have a warning not just to the rich and powerful in this world but to anyone who can help those less fortunate. You may get away without helping those less fortunate but one day God will justly judge your actions in this world.
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.
Question; on the day you stand before God what will He say about your deeds? What will God say about the things you hid?
Please think about it.