Choice

Choice
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.

Here is a simple statement. “I believe God exists and I will worship Him as long as I live.” What others believe about God is between them and God.
God in creating mankind did not make robots programmed to follow him without question.
God gave mankind a freewill to choose to do what he wished. That freedom extends to what they believe about God.
In the book of Joshua we read that Joshua gave the Israelites a choice he said,
"Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshipped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.  
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24: 14,15.
Our choice in 2020 is no different. We must chose whom we follow. Either God the creator of heaven and earth or other things.
Thus the question becomes; who will you follow?
Please think about it.

If we are right

If we are right
The Psalmist writes,

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

                                                                Psalm 14:1

“The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

                                                       Psalm 19:1

Voltaire wrote,

“I cannot imagine how the clockwork of the universe can exist

 without a clockmaker.”

                                    Voltaire

Billy Graham stated,

I can't prove it scientifically, 

that there's a God, 

but I believe. 

                         Billy Graham.

We may not be able to prove scientifically today in the twenty-first century that there is a God but that does not preclude His existence.
I was born in the 1950's. at that time black holes, planets in other star systems, many sub atomic particles, that we know of today were unknown. It didn’t mean they didn’t exist. It just meant scientist hadn’t discovered them.
Scientist speculated on their existence because of what they seen in the world around them postulated a theory and quite often had to wait for science to advance to prove they existed.
      Some of Eienstein’s theories were not proven until long after his death. Yet Einstein and others like him believed in their theories. They believed that they would one day be proven. In short they had faith in their theory.
The writer of Hebrews states,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for

 and 

certain of what we do not see.”  

                                          Hebrews 11:1

So it is with believers in God. We look at the orderly universe around us. We see that everything from the largest galaxy to the smallest sub-atomic particle is perfectly in sync with one another to produce life as we know it on this planet.
The conclusion we come to is that there is a Creator God behind it all.
If we are wrong we have nothing to fear.
If we are right we enter into eternity knowing the very maker of the Universe.
Please think about it.

Your faith should

Your faith should

“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?  
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.  
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?”  James 2:14-20.
Christianity is very much a faith of both, faith and works. Our faith should compel us to do righteous works.
It’s easy to say by faith we are saved, but our faith must go further than that.
Sometime ago the youth group at my son’s church were challenged to make a difference. So they decided to find some people with no affiliation to their church that were in need of help.
They in one case helped fix up a house both inside and out. They did it without cost or obligation to the people they were doing it for. They did it without fan fair. All they got for their work was the appreciation of the people they did the work for, and the good feeling that they received for a job well done.
This is how we as Christians should work. Tony Campolo the American evangelist states,
“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.” Tony Campolo
He’s right we should be showing our faith through our deeds every day. Remember the words of Francis of Assisi,

“The deeds you do

 may be the only sermon 

some persons will hear today”

                                     Francis of Assisi

Think about it.

Fixed exclusively

Fixed exclusively.
The apostle Paul wrote,
"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.    Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8
C. S. Lewis said,
"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.
Things however did not end with the death of Jesus. For he arose from the grave walked the earth for awhile before ascending into heaven.
Thus to believers in Christ Jesus the writer of Hebrews tells us,
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” Hebrews 12:2.
If you consider yourself a believer in Christ Jesus are your eyes fixed exclusively on Jesus?
Please think about it.

In Spirit and in Truth

In Spirit and in Truth
The apostle Paul writes,
"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.
One of the biggest missteps made by Christians here in North America is their failure to question what they are taught.
Many Christians listen to anyone who calls themselves a Christian and believes them. They never check the scriptures spoken by the pastors, evangelist or others calling themselves Christian teachers. They believe them at face value.
Many who have gone to church all their lives cannot tell you what the doctrinal statement of their church is or if it lines up with the word of God.
The result is that many people are being led astray.
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.
We need to do this.
There is nothing wrong with questioning a pastor or evangelist or any other Christian teacher about what they say or teach. An honest teacher or preacher will be willing to sit down with you and tell you how he came to believe what he or she believes.
Jesus speaking to the Samaritan woman said,
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.  
God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23-24.
We who call ourselves Christians should be doing this as should anyone calling themselves a servant of God.
Thus my question to you the reader are you and the Christian leaders you follow truly worshipping God in spirit and in truth?
Please think about it.

Gods way

God's way
The apostle Peter writes,
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade kept in heaven for you" 1Peter 1:3-4.
The apostle Paul wrote,
"But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit" Titus 3:4,5.
Christians do not believe we can live good enough lives to get to heaven on our merit. We believe that God in His mercy reached down to mankind from heaven in the form of His one and only son Jesus to die for our sins and to show us the way to heaven.
While it may sound foolish it is what we Christians believe. The apostle Paul explaining,
"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.  
For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." 
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?  
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.  
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,  but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,  but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.”1 Corinthians 1:18-25.
God does not do things the way man thinks things should be done. He does things his way as is his right.
If we as humans do not want to believe what God has set before us that is our right. For God in making mankind did not make robots. He made individuals with the freedom to do whatever they wish.
Thus the choice is yours do you believe Jesus is the Saviour of mankind or not.
Please think about it. 

With respect

With respect
The apostle Peter writes,
“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,”1 Peter 3:15.
As Christians, as believers in Christ Jesus, Jesus must always be an integral part of our life. People should know by the way we live our lives that Christ is very much a part of our lives. AND we don’t need to do this by constantly spouting scripture to do this.
Francis of Assisi tells us,

Preach the Gospel at all times

 and 

when necessary use words.

                                               Francis of Assisi

Francis also reminds us that,

"The deeds you do

 may be the only sermon some persons will hear today" 

                                                                                 Francis of Assisi.

The apostle Peter tells us,
“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,"1 Peter 3:15b.
So my question to anyone who considers themselves a Christian, a follower of Christ Jesus is;
Is your life and lifestyle, your words and deeds, glorifying God at all times, and are you presenting the gospel message with gentleness and respect?
Please think about it.

In word and in deed

In word and in deed
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.

In my previous blog post I asked the reader to take time to praise The LORD. Here in Psalm 34 we read that we should be “Extolling The LORD at all times”. I take that to mean in all parts of our daily life.
Someone has said Christianity is not so much a religion but a way of life. I think it’s true. Sadly however many calling themselves Christians do not have a lifestyle that is acceptable to God. A lifestyle that quite often gives The Lord a bad name.
Within secular society Christians are quite often seen as being uncaring, prejudice, and even bigoted. And from my perch here in Canada I can see how it would seem so especially here in North America.
There needs to be an awakening among those who call themselves Christians here in the United States and Canada. There needs to be a turning back to the pure word of God.
We need to read and heed the words of the apostle Peter who said,
"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 2:11,12. 
We need to read and heed the words of James the half brother of Jesus who said,
"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.
We need to do as Jesus commanded us to do,
“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 need to glorify The LORD in word and in deed everyday of our lives.
For if we as Christians. As believers in Christ Jesus, don’t do this we will never win a soul for Christ.
Please think about it.

I will Praise The LORD

I will Praise The LORD
The Psalmist writes,

“I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;

I will tell of all your wonders. 

I will be glad and rejoice in you; 

I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.” 

                                                         Psalm 2:1,2.

I firmly believe that as Christians. As a true believers in Christ Jesus we must take time as often as possible to praise The Lord.
In Psalm 150 we read,

“Praise the LORD. 

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.

If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus a believer in God why don’t you take sometime right now and praise God.
Please don’t just think about it. Do it.

Are you faithful?

Are you Faithful?
The apostle Paul writes,

“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 consider yourself a Christian. A believer in Christ Jesus. Are you a faithful servant of Christ and steward of the mysteries of God?
As believers in Christ Jesus we must be a faithful servant and a good steward of God.
A steward is “a person employed to manage a large house or estate.” Joseph was a steward to Potiphar. He was in charge of Potiphar’s household.
The most important quality of a steward is to be completely honest in all his dealings. Not only that he should be completely faithful to his master.
This is how it should be with believers in Christ Jesus. We should be completely faithful to God, and good stewards of the word of God.
We should never pollute our faith by mixing it with other things. We should never twist it to say what we want it to say.
The apostle Paul warns,
"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.
This is happening today. People both in the media and out of it. Men and women calling themselves pastors, evangelist and Christian teachers are twisting the word of God for evil intent.
    Many times they are using the Bible to enrich themselves monetarily. Quite often to the detriment of others. 
There are many people especially here in North America that mix their politics with their faith.
Jesus and his apostles never mixed politics and faith. They never tried to line their own pockets with money.
The apostles of Christ stayed true to the word of God which is what we must do.
Thus my question to you.
Are you a faithful servant and a good steward of the word of God?
Please think about it.

Of infinite importance?

Of infinite importance?

Luke's gospel records what happened just days after the birth of Jesus when he was brought to the temple to be dedicated. Luke states,
"Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.  
Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, 
a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." 
The child's father and mother marvelled at what was said about him.  
Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, Luke 2:25-34.
In the book of Hebrews we read,
"In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.  
The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven." Hebrews 1:1-3.
In the gospel of John we read,
"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.
This is what all true believers in Christ Jesus believe. We believe Jesus is God incarnate, God in the flesh who entered the world He created to pay the price of our sins and show each individual the way to heaven.
C. S. Lewis said of Christianity,
“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.
Thus the question comes down to you the reader; Is Christianity true of false?
Please think about it.

Madman or God?

Madman or God?
In Matthews gospel we read of this conversation between Peter and Jesus. Matthew records,
"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Matthew 16:,15,16,
In John’s gospel we read of this conversation between Martha and Jesus. John records,
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
“Yes Lord” she told Him, “I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world,” John 11:25,26,27.
In John’s gospel we also read,
"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6.
All of what I have mentioned above are part of the foundation of Christianity. You cannot be a Christian without believing these scriptures. Jesus was no ordinary man.
C. S. Lewis said of Jesus,
"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to." C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.
If what Christians, believers in Christ Jesus, say is false then anyone who disagrees with have nothing to fear.
If on the other hand we are right then it has eternal consequences.
Please think about it.