Monday, 22 June 2020

Want to be first?

Want to be first?
Marks gospel records,
“Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve (disciples) and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Mark 9:35.
What Jesus is saying here is just the opposite of what the world thinks. To the secular mind to be first is to excel in a given area. To be the best of the best. To be foremost in position, rank, or importance. Yet Jesus states,
“If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” 
Having a servants heart is difficult for many people. It means you are quite often at the beck and call of others.
If this pandemic has shown us anything it is that there are many people who serve that go unnoticed. Men and women who work as janitors, garbage collectors and other service job. Jobs that quite often are low paying. Yet are jobs essential to the health and well being of our society.  Jobs many people would not apply for considering such professions to be beneath their dignity to work at.
Yet Jesus tells us that to be first, we must be servant of all.
Thus my question to you especially if you consider yourself a Christian, a follower of Christ Jesus. Do you have a servants heart? Are you willing to be servant to all?
Please think about it.

Sunday, 21 June 2020

A Choice

A choice

Jesus told this Parable,
“Someone in the crowd said to him (Jesus), "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." 
Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?"  
Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." 
And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.  
He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' 
"Then he said, ‘This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.  
And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." ' 
"But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' 
"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." Luke 12:13-21.
When you leave the city where I live along a certain major road you pass through the centre of a huge cemetery. Almost as many people are buried in it as are in the city. Most of the time no one thinks anything about it. Still it is a reminder that you don’t get out of this world alive.
Rich and poor are buried in that place. A place where all are equal their wealth or lack there of in this world, left behind to be divided up between relatives friends and even strangers.
Back when I was a new Christian in the early seventies my pastors wife use to say,
“We have but one life, that will soon be past. 
Only what is done for Christ will last.”
Truer words were never spoken. You may have all the riches in the world. Be part of the so called 1% but ultimately all you have will mean nothing unless you have given your life to Christ Jesus.
You have but two choices in this life. You can either believe in God, and the Saving Grace that comes through Christ Jesus or you do not.
From my perspective as a Christian the decision you make about God, and Christ Jesus will determine your eternal resting place.
If I am wrong there is nothing to fear. If I am right those who don’t believe in God and the Saving Grace that Comes through Christ have a lot to worry about.
Thus it is up to you.
Please think about it.

Saturday, 20 June 2020

Do You?

Do you?
The Psalmist writes,
“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 
Worship the LORD with gladness; 
come before him with joyful songs. 
Know that the LORD is God. 
It is he who made us, and we are his; 
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; 
give thanks to him and praise his name. 
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; 
his faithfulness continues through all generations.” 
                                                                                  Psalm 100.
If you consider yourself a Christian. A believer in Christ Jesus do you shout for joy to the Lord?
Do you worship the Lord with gladness?
Do you come before God with joyful sons?
Do you truly believe the Lord is God and it is He who made us?
Do you truly believe you are one of His people?
Do you enter His gates with thanksgiving and praise?
Do you believe God’s love endures forever?
Do you believe His love endures forever?
Do you believe His faithfulness continues through all generations?

Please think about it.

Friday, 19 June 2020

It must be true

It must be true
The apostle Paul wrote,
“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.
I can see where people who do not believe in Christ Jesus, would think it is foolishness to believe that in a man who allowed himself to be crucified could be God and Saviour. It seems counter intuitive for the Saviour of mankind to do such a thing. After all would it not be better for God to show Himself in all His power and might? This would certainly make people believe in Him.
I’m certain that if God had come in His power and might it would have produce believers. After all seeing is believing.
But using force to make people believe in anyone does not create passionate believers. If force was used to make people believe it would quite likely create false believers. Individuals who believed strictly out of fear. This is something God does not want.
God wants people who have complete faith in Him. 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
People of faith are the strongest of believers. Such people will follow the person they believe to the gave. Such faith is a hallmark of Christianity.
The other thing when it comes to the death and resurrection of Jesus. If it is not completely true it would be counter intuitive to the cause of the gospel. So if it were not true why would the writers of the New Testament mention it.
The only conclusion we can come to is that the New Testament writers must have believed it to be true.
Thus my question to you is do you believe in God and the saving grace that comes through Christ Jesus?
Please think about it.

Thursday, 18 June 2020

Place your bet

Place your bet
The apostle Paul writing to Timothy said,
“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1:17.
As a believer in Christ Jesus, I believe there is a God. It’s that simple. As a result I will honour Him in all I do. I will praise him and glorify His name. I will as the psalmist states,
“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.
Those who do not believe in God may think I’m foolish, but so be it. In worshipping God I have lost nothing but will one day receive eternal life.
As Blaise Pascal put it.
“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.
So where do you place your bet?
Please think about it.

Wednesday, 17 June 2020

I will extol The Lord

I will Extol The Lord
The Psalmist writes,
"I will extol the LORD at all times; 
his praise will always be on my lips. 
My soul will boast in the LORD; 
let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 
Glorify the LORD with me; 
let us exalt his name together." 
                                                  Psalm 34:1-3.
If you consider yourself a Christian do you lift up Gods name at all times? Do you praise Him enthusiastically?
Do you praise the Lord in your troubles?
We don’t praise God because we are having afflictions. Rather we praise God because we know that he will bring us through our troubles.
The book of Acts tells us of a time when Paul and Silas were in prison. It states,
"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.” Acts 16:25.
I’m sure they weren’t praising God because of the bad situation they were in. They were praising God for who He is, knowing that no matter what we go through God was there for them.
Thus my question to anyone who considers themselves a Christian, a true believer in Christ Jesus; do you praise the Lord at all times?
Please think about it. 

Tuesday, 16 June 2020

We need to

We need to
The apostle Paul wrote,
“The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.  
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:19-25  
Here the apostle Paul shows how you can tell a true believer in Christ Jesus from one who is only giving lip service. He notes sinful acts are obvious
“sexual immorality, 
impurity and debauchery; 
idolatry and witchcraft; 
hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, 
selfish ambition, 
dissensions, factions and envy; 
drunkenness, orgies, 
and the like.”  
Then he points to the fruit of the spirit.
love, joy, 
peace, 
patience, kindness, 
goodness, faithfulness,  
gentleness and self-control.
Which of these characteristics are evident in your life?
Which of these characteristics are evident in the religious or secular leaders you choose to follow?
As believers in Christ we need to pray and ask God to show us how we can experience more of the fruit of the spirit in our life.
At the same time we need to ask God to show us what Characteristics are being shown in the life of the leaders we follow be they religious leaders or political leaders.
We need to remember at all times the words of the apostle Peter who said,
"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.
Are you doing this?
Please think about it.

Monday, 15 June 2020

By this

By this
Jesus said,
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34,35.
Here is a clear statement from Jesus about how people will know we are his disciples. If we love one another. Plane and simple.
The apostle Paul wrote,
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."  Galatians 5:22,23. 
These are characteristics of a true believer in Christ Jesus. So here is a simple question to anyone who would call themselves a Christian. A believer in Christ Jesus; are these fruits evident in your life?
Please think about it.

Sunday, 14 June 2020

Away from me

Away from me
Jesus 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.
Here Jesus makes things clear. Not everyone claiming to be a Christian, a follower of his really is. They will make claims that they did miracles, and drove out demons and even prophesied in Jesus name. Yet they will not get into heaven. Jesus saying “away from me you evildoers.”
The apostle Peter warns,
"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.
The apostle Paul warns,
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  
People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,  without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,  treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—  having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them." 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
This has happened throughout the history of Christianity and is still happening today.
Here in North America where I live we have incredible freedoms. Sadly there are many claiming to be Christians who use that freedom for their unholy ways. Men and women who are everything the apostle Paul warned Timothy about.
Sadly also many who truly believe in Christ Jesus are being led astray by these people.
As believers in Christ Jesus it is up to us to study the bible. To use trusted commentaries on the bible that are not just from one point of view.
We need to carefully listen to what the preacher, evangelist, or teacher is preaching and compare it to what is said in the Bible. We need to pray and ask God to give us guidance. To look at the scripture they are quoting and see if it is not taken out of context. Check and see if it is truly the truth being taught and not a lie.
It can be a daunting task I know for many people. But I believe if we pray with sincerity asking God to show us what is right and what is wrong He will show us.
The key is reading the bible for yourself. Get to know what the bible says well. Take the advice of the apostle Paul who writing to Timothy said,
“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.”  2 Timothy 2:15.
Please think about it.

Saturday, 13 June 2020

Do you Love

Do you Love?
The apostle John said,
"We love because he first loved us.  
If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.  
And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother." 1John 4:19-21.
I heard a true story of a man who’s brother disagreed with him becoming a Christian so passionately that he entered the mans house while he was doing devotionals with his family. The brother trashed the house and beat up the man.
The man should have called the police and had his brother charged.
What impressed me however was the man that was beaten up told the police that he didn’t want to charge his brother. Then asked fellow Christians to pray for his brothers salvation.
The man could have easily let hate fester inside of him and justifiably had his brother arrested for assault.
That man exemplified what the apostle John is saying in the above scripture. He loved his brother so much he wished no harm to him.
A lot can be learned from how we react in circumstances especially bad ones. As believers in Christ we are called to Love in the way God loves, unconditionally.
When it comes to Godly love no greater example can be shown that the fact that Jesus layed down his life for us.
For me the best definition of love was written by the apostle Paul when he wrote,
“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.
This is the kind of love God requires of all who love him. It is the kind of love even those who are not Christian can agree with.
So my question is, if you claim to be a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus, do you show this kind of love to those around you.
Please think about it.

Friday, 12 June 2020

Every Deed

Every Deed
James the half brother of Jesus said,
"Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you.  Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.  
Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.  
Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.  
You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.  
You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you." James 5:1-6
Christianity is at its core not only the way to heaven but it is very much concerned with well being of the individual. James in the above scripture issuing a warning to the wealthy who have not been honest. Men and women who have lived in luxury and self-indulgence at the expense of others.
Jesus also issued such a warning saying,
“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.
This is something anyone who has power be it political, religious, or a business owner employing people, needs to consider carefully. You might get away with mistreating those under you in this world but as the writer of 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. 
And Gods judgement is just, final, and eternal.
Please think about it.

Thursday, 11 June 2020

Seek Him

Seek Him
"But if from there you seek the LORD your God, 
you will find him 
if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul."  
                                                                                            Deuteronomy 4:29.
I truly believe this. Anyone who has an open mind will find God. The reason many Atheist don’t believe in God in my opinion is that they have closed minds. They have made their decision that God does not exist and refuse to admit they just might be wrong.
Someone once said,
“Maybe the atheist cannot find God for the same reason a thief cannot find a policeman.” Author Unknown.
To say adamantly there is no God an individual would have to have been everywhere and know all things. Which is an attribute of God. Thus the Atheist would be God. Meaning God exists. Defeating their argument.
We as mere mortals cannot know all things. The universe and everything in it is too vast for us to comprehend.
Not only that to be absolutely sure God does not exist one would have to have gone beyond the gave and returned to tell us.
We know no one except Jesus has gone beyond the grave and He tells us God exists.
Ultimately belief in God comes down to the individual. Each individual must have faith that God exists.
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.
God however does not ask for blind faith as such. He shows Himself in the world around us. The Psalmist saying,
“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.
We only have to look at the world around us to see God’s handiwork. The earth and the Universe in perfect harmony from the smallest subatomic particle to the largest galaxy all in perfect harmony, to allow life as we know it to exist.
Still as I said belief in God is the choice of each individual. God in making the universe did not make robots. He made human beings giving each individual the freedom to choose what they believe.
So it is up to you, do you believe God exists or not?
Please think about.