From the Psalms

 From the Psalms

The Psalmist writes,

“How can a young man keep his way pure? 

By living according to your word. 

I seek you with all my heart; 

do not let me stray from your commands. 

I have hidden your word in my heart 

that I might not sin against you. 

Praise be to you, O LORD; 

teach me your decrees. 

With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. 

I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. 

I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. 

I delight in your decrees; 

I will not neglect your word.” 

                                                                               Psalm 119:9-16.

If you consider yourself a Christian. A believer in Christ Jesus. Why not make these words from Psalms a reality in your life today?

Please think about it.

Gods word

 Gods word

The psalmist writes.

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." 

                                                                                  Psalm 119:105

Thus my question to you dear reader is; Is it? Is the word of the Lord a guiding light to you in all your ways?

Sadly for many claiming to be Christians today Gods word is not their primary guiding light. They mix the word of God with other things, everything from philosophies, other faiths, and even the constitution of the country in which they live. This should not be so.

If we are true followers of Christ Jesus our guidance should come directly and unadulteratedly from the Bible. 

You cannot pick and choose what you believe in the bible and disregard the rest. St. Augustine said,

“If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.” St Augustine.

The bible is the inspired Word of God. The apostle Paul telling us,

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,  so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”2 Timothy 3:16,17.

So I ask you again; is the Bible your guiding light?

Please think about it.

About the poor, A Christian perspective.

 About the poor. A Christian perspective. 

In the book of Acts we read,

“He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly" Acts:10:2.

Here in North America we live with freedoms that are the envy of the world. We also live in a very materialistic society. And materialism has infiltrated the church. There are many evangelist and pastors out there saying if we truly love God we will be healthy and wealthy. Yet the reality is quiet the opposite. There are many who love God who are just making ends meet.This is also true for many around the world who believe in Christ Jesus. 

Why does this happen? 

I think the best explanation comes from of all places the Jewish Talmud that states,

Rabbi Akiba was asked by a Roman general, "Why does your God who loves the needy not provide for their support Himself?"  He answered, "God the Father of both the rich and poor, wants the one to help the other so as to make the world a household of love."  The Talmud.

This statement is true the apostle Paul writing to the Romans said,

"Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality." Romans 12:13.

The apostle John writes,

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1John 3:17,18.

In the book of James we read,

"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. James 2:14-17.

I firmly believe all who claim to be Christian, all who claim to be true followers of Christ Jesus need to be helping the poor in anyway they can. We need to do it because in this world we are the hands of Christ.

Please think about it.

May the name of The Lord be praised

 May the name of the Lord be praised.

In the book of Job we read,

"The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; 

may the name of the Lord be praised."

                                                                    Job 1:21

Job went through many hardships. Hardships that included the loss of his family and possessions. Yet through it all Job praised God. He remembered just who was in control.

I wonder how many people who call themselves Christians in the North American church today could praise God if they went through what Job went through?

What about you dear reader; if you were in Job’s position do you think you could praise God?

Please think about it.

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.