Gods will any you

 Gods will and you

Jeremiah wrote,

“Then you will call on me 

and come and pray to me, 

and I will listen to you. 

You will seek me and find me 

when you seek me with all your heart.” 

                                                                  Jeremiah 29:12,13

Seeking God with our whole heart is I believe the key to truly finding what God wants for our lives. 

That being said many seeks God out for their own means. They call on him to do things for them in their way not His way. 

When God shows them what he wants for their life and they don’t agree with it they reject it. Saying it can’t be from God.

Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane just prior to his arrest and subsequent execution said,

"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."  

Luke 22:42.

The key phrase here being “...not my will, but yours be done.”

We as believers in Christ Jesus must always remember that we should put Gods will first in our life, whether we agree with it or not.

Thus my question to you; do you always put Gods will first in your life?

Please think about it.

Humility

 Humility. 

“To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable:  

“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  

The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.  

I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 

“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 

“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14.

I believe the Christian life is about being humble before God. 

The apostle Paul tells us,

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!" Philippians 2:5-8.

In the book of James we read,

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, 

and he will lift you up."

                                        James 4:10.

Humility will win more souls for Christ than arrogance and self-righteousness will any time.

Please think about it. 

What is good

 What is good

The Prophet Micah writes,

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.

 And what does the Lord require of you? 

To act justly and to love mercy 

and to walk humbly with your God." 

                                                             Micah 6:8.

This is a duty of every believer in Christ Jesus. Every believer in God. 

  We are

to act justly, 

to love mercy, 

to walk humbly with God.

These attributes are what God desires in a believer.

Thus my question to you. If you consider yourself a believer in Christ are these attributes visible in your life?

Please think about it.

Our duty as Christians

 Our duty as Christians

The Apostle Peter wrote,

"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.

Here is something for Christians to think about. If sinning is falling short of Gods ideal for your life. If sinning is not doing what God wants you to do. Is it sinning when you put your interest above that of others?

The apostle Paul wrote,

"Let each of you look not only to your own interests, 

but also to the interests of others." 

                                                                 Philippians 2:4.

As Christians, as believers in Christ Jesus, we like any other group in a secular democracy such as we have in the west only as many rights as the government grants us. It is therefore incumbent on us to as Peter states, “abstain from sinful desires...”

It is our job to glorify God at all times even when dealing with our enemies. Which at times means helping our enemy and anyone else we deal with. So that no matter what happens, people will see our good work and glorify God.

Please think about it.

The Bible or the Constitution

 The Bible or the Constitution

The apostle Paul wrote,

"Let each of you look not only to your own interests, 

but also to the interests of others." 

                                                                 Philippians 2:4.

The year is 2020 a year like no other for everyone on the planet. A year that tests Christians. A year in which I am amazed at some American Christians. They say they believe the Bible yet are forgetting the words of the apostle Paul who said,

"Let each of you look not only to your own interests, 

but also to the interests of others." 

                                                                 Philippians 2:4.

Instead they are demanding “their right to assemble in large groups without social distancing or masks”. 

As I understand it no one is stopping Christians or any other group from worshipping. All that is being asked is that they follow health guidelines to protect those around them. They are being asked to look to the interest of others.

Sadly all to often in the United States especially, the constitution written by fallible men, takes priority over the infallible word of God. With personal rights coming before the rights of others. This is certainly not what the apostle Paul taught. 

If you are an American reading this which is more important to you, The Bible or the constitution?

      If you are living outside the United States which is more important to you the constitution of your country or the Bible? And don’t say both your can’t serve two masters.

Please think about it.

False Christs

 False Christs 

Jesus said,

"For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible.  

See, I have told you ahead of time. 

"So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the desert,' do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. Matthew 24:24-26

As Christians we need to be on guard against false prophets and teachers, whom Jesus said “will perform great signs and miracles”

In my lifetime which now spans in excess of sixty years many false teachers have arisen leading people astray. Many times with tragic consequences. This is also true throughout the history of the church.

Sadly many Christians are easily fooled. They tend to be trusting to the point that they give anyone who claims to be Christian the benefit of the doubt. As a result many are led astray. 

The best way for a believer in Christ Jesus to know who to follow is through prayer and bible study. 

Prayer brings us closer to God. While bible study fills us with knowledge about God. The two compliment each other.

  When we pray we should also ask God to give us wisdom about the scriptures and how it relates to us and the world around us. That way we will not be led astray.

Thus my question to you the reader is; do you pray and study the Bible at least daily? OR do you simply trust anyone who claims to be a Christian? 

Please think about it.

Our Duty as Christians

  Our duty as Christians

The apostle Paul writes,

“Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.”1 Thessalonians 5:1,2.

As Christians we must be ready for the return of Christ. I know many people like to speculate when Jesus will return. There is nothing wrong with that. After all it’s a nice to consider a day when we will be in heaven with God.

The problem becomes when we obsess about the day of his returning to the point where we are not doing Gods work on this earth.

Remember 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 our duty as Christians to do anything less is to fail God.

Please think about it.

Where are your roots?

  Where are your roots?

The prophet Jeremiah wrote,

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. 

They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It dose not fear when heat comes; its leave are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7,8.

The psalmist wrote,

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." Psalm 1:1-3.

So my questions to anyone reading this who calls themselves a Christian. A believer in Christ Jesus is;

Where is your roots are they deep within the word of God? 

         Is your faith truly rooted in Christ? 

         Do you trust God in all circumstances?

Please think about it.

Our Job

 Our Job

In the book of Revelations we read,

“He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen” Revelations 22:20,21.

I don’t know when Jesus is coming but I do believe he is coming. It is therefor incumbent on all believers in Christ Jesus to keep our eyes on our primary duty. That duty given to us when 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.

All Christians should be doing what they can to win souls for Christ. It’s that simple. We should not be mixing our faith with politics, other philosophies or anything else. We should be telling the world,

"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.

We should be telling people that it is that black and white. Either you believe or you do not. The choice is always up to the individual.

Thus I ask you; if you consider yourself a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus, are you telling this to those around you?

Please think about it.

Come glorify the Lord with me

 Come glorify the Lord with me

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 nothing else the New Testament shows Jesus and his apostles experienced all that it is to be human. They attended weddings. The followed the rules set down in the Torah. They interacted with people of all walks of life.

They were also beaten, thrown in prison all but one dying for their faith. Yet through all of this they praised God. They praised him not only in the good times, but after they’d been beaten and while they were in prison.

They praised God because they knew that even in their darkest hour God was with them. 

How about you; do you praise God in the good times and in the bad?

Please think about it.

Revival

 Revival?

In 2 Chronicles we read,

“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles, 7:14.

I hear a lot of talk in church circles about revival. They say Canada and the United States need revival. I think if you were to ask most Christians sitting in the pew what revival meant they’d say, “there is a need for the country to turn back to God.”

I don’t see revival as a country turning back to God. Especially countries that were never Christian in the first place.

I see revival as the church turning back to God. Every revival in church history has come from within the church. 

Martin Luther made it clear that the church had turned away from the gospel of Christ and needed to return. This is true of every reformation movement. The reformations throughout history have all called for the church to return to the word of God.

The same is true today. The church has slowly drifted away from the pure word of God. Mixing it with politics, ritual, and other teachings that God never meant it to be mixed with.

We are living in the time the apostle Paul predicted when he said,

“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.” 2Timothy 3:1-5.

Thus I believe it is time for revival, revival within the church. God’s people need to obey,  the word of 2 Chronicles where we read,

“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles, 7:14.

Please think about it.

Do you?

  Do you?

The apostle Paul writes,

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.  

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone Colossians 4:5,6.

Sometimes I think Christians forget about wisdom, especially here in North America. They are too focussed on getting things their way. On protecting their rights.

They spend their time complaining that the duly elected secular government is giving rights to people they object too. Then when a group pushes back they complain even more loudly. This should not be so.

As Christians we should be asking for Gods wisdom in reaching the world around us. We should be engaging those we disagree with not in a positive none condemning way. We should remember the words of Jesus who gave us a bench mark to follow when dealing with others, when he 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.

When dealing with those outside our faith, we should be asking ourselves; would I like to be treated the way I treated that person?  

Thus my question is: Do you, in everything, you do, do to others what you would have them do to you?

Please think about it.