Your Faith

 Your faith

In the book of Exodus we read,

“And God spoke all these words: 

“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 

“You shall have no other gods before me. 

“You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.  

You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,” Exodus 20:1-5.

Do you have other gods? Looking at the United States over the past year I question if many claiming to be Christians leaders and others claiming to be Christians have truly put their trust in God. 

Sadly it seems to me that other things are being mixed with their faith in God. First among them their rights as written in the constitution. Others mix their faith, with their belief in a particular political party or individual politicians.

As Christians we need to be careful who or what we put first in our lives. We as Christians cannot hitch ourselves to anyone or anything however good and noble they might be.

God must always be supreme in our lives. We cannot mix our faith with anything period. Either we are 100% for God or we are not. There is no gray areas. As Jesus said,

"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 6:24.

So where is your faith? 

Please think about it.

Christian remember this

 Christians remember this

The Psalmist writes,

"For you created my inmost being; 

you knit me together in my mother's womb. 

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; 

your works are wonderful, 

I know that full well. 

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. 

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

 your eyes saw my unformed body. 

All the days ordained for me were written in your book 

before one of them came to be." 

                                                                      Psalm 139:13-16

Here is the reason why God and only God can judge anyone. Only God knows why we are the way we are. No one in this world has the right to judge where an individual will spend eternity. 

Jesus made it clear,

“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.

The apostle Paul telling Christians,

"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you." 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.

Even when judging those inside the church we need to be careful. The only judgement we are called to pass on those within the church deals with whether or not they are teaching true Christian doctrine. Where those who profess to be Christians will spend eternity is entirely up to God.

Please think about it.

Shout for Joy

  Shout for Joy

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 something for you to do right now. Take a few minutes to simply thank God for who He is and all He has done for you.

Please take time to Praise God.

Christ first

 Christ First

The apostle Peter writes,

"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.

The great evangelist Charles Spurgeon wrote,

"O Christian people, be holy, for Christ is holy. Do not pollute that holy Name wherewith you are named. Let your family life, your personal life, your business life, be as holy as Christ your Lord would have it to be."  Charles H. Spurgeon.

Sadly I see many calling themselves Christians here in North America not listening to either the apostle Peter or Charles Spurgeon.

When people from outside the church look at many who call themselves Christians they see everything from judgemental bigots, to charlatans, to hypocrites, to thieves, to oppressors, and all other kinds of evil.

Someone has said “if you want a good scandal just look in the church” sadly many times they are right. The church is not good at policing itself.  

The apostle Paul wrote,

"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you." 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.

Unfortunately this is another scripture those within the church do not follow. Even when false teachers are cast out of the church here in North America many simply start their own church.

That being said I believe irrespective of whether false teachers are tossed out of the church or not. I think it is incumbent on the individual believer to see that they are truly following God in spirit and in truth. As the American evangelist Billy Graham put it,

"Make sure of your commitment to Jesus Christ, and seek to follow Him every day. Don't be swayed by the false values and goals of this world, but put Christ and His will first in everything you do." Billy Graham.

Please think about it.  

Are you?

  Are you?

In the book of Revelations we read Jesus as saying,

"Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed." Revelations 16:15.

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.

It is said Martin Luther while hoeing weeds was asked the question, “What would you be doing if you knew Christ was returning today?”

He replied “I’d be hoeing weeds.”

When I first read that I thought how natural a reply. The garden needed tending to so he was doing it.

Luther didn’t know when Jesus would return. He understood it would be a surprise. As a result I’m sure Luther was ready to meet Christ. 

All who profess to be Christians, believers in Christ Jesus, should be ready at all times to meet Christ. 

Are you?

Please think about it.

To Save

 To save.

Jesus said,

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:17.

Here is something lost on many Christians be they in the pulpit or the pew. Jesus came to save the lost. Not to condemn them.

As such we should be presenting the love of God to all who will listen to us, be they family, friend, or foe.

Please think about it.

Coming Soon

  Coming soon

In the book of revelations we read,

"He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." 

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 

                                               Revelations 22:20.

In the midst of this pandemic I have heard many Christians with the best of intentions saying this is the prelude to Christs second coming. I don’t know if it’s true or not. Either way it shouldn’t matter to a Christian. We should be living as if Christ is coming within the next heartbeat. As a result we should be doing all we can to server God in spirit and in truth.

We should be following the advice of the apostle Paul who 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.

Thus my question to you the reader; Are you doing this?

Please think about it.

Respect

 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.

Are you ready to present the gospel of Christ to anyone who might ask you. Equally importantly is when you tell people about Christ are you respectful to those with whom your are speaking?

Sadly one of the things I have found here in North America is that those who are not Christians many time feel Christians do not respect them, their way of life or their faith.

They violate the command of Jesus who 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.

We can disagree with people and still respect them. Furthermore they will respect and listen to us if we do as Jesus commanded. 

"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.

Thus my question to you. Do you show respect to those you disagree with, be they family, friend or foe?

Please think about it.

Gods representatives

  Gods representatives 

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.

Question; do you live up to what the apostle Peter is saying here?

Francis of Assisi made two interesting statements. He said,

“Preach the Gospel at all times 

and when necessary use words.”

                                                            Francis of Assisi

"The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon some persons will hear today" 

                                                                               Francis of Assisi.

So what are your words and deeds telling those around you about Jesus?

Please think about it.

Revival or else

 Revival or else

In the book of Revelations we read Jesus speaking to the church Ephesus,

"Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.  

Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place" Revelations 2:4,5.

In his book "Essentials in Christian Faith" John B. Harrington, published in 1958, there is a quote that could have been written yesterday.

It's from Paul Gallico in Esquire Magazine in 1948:

"A writer in a popular magazine has written the following words; 'We are all, if you will pardon the expression, Headed for Hell in a handbarrow. If, ever the people of the world stood in need of a spiritual revival, it is now. We are beginning to poison the face of the earth with our miserable presence. The brakes are off. The cart of the world is sliding down the way greased with hatred, ambition, lies, self-seeking and avarice toward the pit.'"

Harrington notes that Gallico makes no pretense of being "a religious man" noting that "...for him it is precisely religion in its organized forms which has in part caused the situation he deplores. He is careful to state that it is not "religion" for which he is looking. For in his opinion, religion throughout the history of our culture has advanced its control over human beings by the investment of bigotry and persecution. 

Yet, out of despair over the current human situation he says; ‘The voice for which my heavy spirit is yearning must reach us all... For if it is not heard, we are lost. Something beyond our material enrichment and lust for power and position, some rewards founded on good will, selflessness, and the innate dignity of the human spirit...honour, humility, decency courage."

What Paul Gallico wanted in 1948 and what the people of the world are looking for in 2020 are what Christ offers. Jesus said,

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.

Sadly however the Church here in North America has become ‘religious’. It as the apostle Paul predicted when he wrote,

"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."2 Timothy 3:1-4.

If ever there was a time in the history of the church here in North America to repent it is now. For the church in its current state has lost the moral high ground. People know more about what the church is against than what it is for. 

The message of Gods love, mercy and understanding is lost in the cacophony of preachers, evangelist and others claiming to be Christian who spend more time condemning others than showing Gods love and mercy.

Thus I believe more than ever the Church in North America from the pulpit to the pew needs to repent like never before.

Please think about it.

Serve one another in Love.

 Serve one another in Love.

The apostle Paul writes,

“...serve one another in love." 

                                      Galatians 5:13b

If you consider yourself a Christian, are you serving your brothers and sisters in Christ in love?

Are the church leaders you support or follow truly serving in love?

If someone from outside your church community looked at you, your pastor, or those you support, would they say they are serving in love?

Sadly there are many from outside the church that would say love is lacking among Christians.

It’s time for those calling themselves Christians to realize this and do more to show unconditional love, to family, friend, and foe.

Francis of Assisi wrote a wonderful prayer I think all who call themselves Christians should pray in all sincerity. He wrote,

"Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love,

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life." 

                                                                       Francis of Assisi.

Pleases think about it.

    

Gods way or our way?

 Gods way or our way?

Jesus said,

“This, then, is how you should pray: " ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 

your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9,10.

Sadly I think many Christians forget this teaching of Jesus, especially the part that states,

“...your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Rather than saying that, they say, “God I want this” “God I want that” “God do this for me” “God I come against this thing or that thing.” then they wonder why their prayers are not answered. 

We must remember that God is not our servant. We are His. As such we should be willing to do His will.

We must accept the fact that God is in control. That ultimately in this world as it is in Heaven Gods will, will be done.

Please think about it.