What do they see?

  What do they see?

The apostle Paul writes,

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light  

(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)” Ephesians 5:8,9.

Do you walk as children of light? Does your life reflect the virtues of God? OR; Are you still in darkness?

If Christ is truly working in your life, those around you should see the fruit of the spirit working in your life. 

The apostle Paul tells us,

“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.

Being a Christian is like being a flower. The flower starts as a seed planted in the darkness of the earth. Eventually as it gets watered and receives nutrients from the ground it grows toward the sun where upon all those around can see its beauty.

All who become Christian converts start in darkness, but after being watered with prayer and receiving knowledge and wisdom from the Bible. They grow closer to the Son of God and the fruits of the spirit, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” become evident in their lives.

Question: When people see your life what do they see in you, is it darkness or light?

Please think about it.

Something to live up to

 Something to live up to

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.

There is no ands, ifs or buts about what the apostle Peter says here. Believers in Christ Jesus are called by Peter a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God. A people called out of darkness to Gods wonderful light.

Therefore we as Gods representatives on this earth are call to as Peter states, 

“To abstain from sinful desires”

Thus my question to you. Are you obeying what Peter is saying? 

Please think about it.

Something to do

The Psalmist says

The Psalmist states,

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.

Why not take sometime fight now to praise the Lord. You may not have any instruments or a great singing voice but everyone can praise The Lord in someway. Even if it’s simply saying the words silently or vocally.

Please think about it.

I will sing Praises

 I will sing praises

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 9:1,2.

When I read this portion of scripture I am reminded of the persecuted church. While we hear lots of stories of how Christians around the world are suffering for their faith. I also hear stories of some of those living under persecution telling others of the wonders of God. Lifting up Gods name even in the worst of circumstances. This to me is amazing and inspiring.

If Christians living under in some cases fear of being jailed or even death can praise God then we who are blessed to live in the free democracies of the world should be doing the same.

Please think about it.

Are you a good one or a bad one?

  Are you a good one or a bad one?

The apostle Paul writes,

"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us...."  2 Corinthians 5:20a

Are you a good ambassador or a bad one?

An ambassador represents a king, or a government of a nation. It is his or her job to represent the king or government correctly. An ambassador is a diplomat that promotes international relationships between governments. One of their jobs is to promote among other things cultural relationships between their government and other nations. 

As one website noted. Ambassadors, “ keep a diplomatic demeanour, with the goal of keeping a positive relationship between the country that is hosting them and their home nation.”

As Christians. As believers in Christ Jesus we, as the apostle Paul said are Christ’s ambassadors. Therefore it is important we keep a positive relationship with those in the world around us.

Jesus and all he represents will be judged by what people see us doing. As Francis of Assisi put it,

“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 the world around you? Are you a good ambassador or a bad one?

Please think about it

Something Hard

  Something hard

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

“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.

For many people believing in what they can’t see, feel, or hear, is difficult. Yet it’s what God requires of all who will come to Him.

Having faith however as I said can be difficult for many people. Perhaps that is why God asks us to have faith in him?

People who have faith in someone or something will quite often be willing to die for what they have faith in.

People of faith don’t waver in the face of adversity. They will endure everything from verbal abuse to physical abuse and even death, if they truly believe in something.

So here is my question are you willing to believe the words of Jesus who said,

"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.

Please think about it.

Can you say

  Can you say

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.

Do you do what the Psalmist is saying here? Have you studied the word of God and hid it in your heart? Do you pray earnestly asking God to teach you His decrees? Do you take time to meditate on the scriptures? Do you delight in the decrees of God?

Can you say to God with the Psalmist “I will not neglect your word”?

Please think about it.

Our

  Our

The Psalmist writes,

“I love you, O LORD, my strength. 

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; 

my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. 

He is my shield and the horn of my salvation,

 my stronghold.”

                    Psalm 18:1,2.

The way I see it as Christians. As believers in Christ Jesus we need to put God first in our lives. We should without doubting make God...

                    our strength

                                                             our rock

                                                             our fortress

                                                             our deliverer

                                                     our shield

                                                             our stronghold

                                                             our Salvation

                                                             The One we take refuge in.

Question; if you consider yourself a Christian, a follower of Christ Jesus is God truly all of the above mentioned things to you?

Please think about it.

Who are they afraid of?

  Who are they afraid of?

In Matthews gospel we read of this incident when the Magi arrived,

"Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.  

He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."... 

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.  

And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. 

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." 

So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son." 

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.” Matthew 2:7-16

Herod feared that Jesus was the Messiah that is why he ordered the murder of the children in the vicinity of Bethlehem in an effort to kill him.

In the twenty-first century we have governments and others who say God does not exist. They say Jesus was at least just a man. If so why are they persecuting those who believe in Him?

After all this was a man who preached love thy neighbour. Who said do to others what you would have others do to you. Who's disciples said pray for the government and rulers. 

  Around the world today thousands,... tens of thousands of believers in Christ Jesus are imprisoned for believing in Jesus. For believing in God almighty. Thousands of believers are being persecuted and even put to death for what they believe.

If everything about Jesus is untrue then why persecute people who believe in a myth. 

My only conclusion can be is that everything about Jesus is true and those who oppose him believe this. 

They believe Jesus when he said,

"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

As for me I have no doubt that everything the bible says about Jesus, about God is true and that he will one day bring all those who oppose him to justice. 

Please think about it.

My Strength and Salvation

  My Strength and Salvation

The Psalmist writes,

“The LORD is my strength and my song; 

He has become my salvation.” 

                                                     Psalm 118:14.

Question is God your strength? Is God your salvation?

Today is Sunday a good day to meditate on your relationship to God. Why not take some time today to pray, study, and meditate on the scriptures? 

Take time to as someone once said to me “review” your relationship with God. Ask yourself do you truly trust God daily? Pray and ask God to show you how you can draw closer to Him.

Please think about it.

Give Thanks

  Give thanks

"Give thanks to the LORD, 

for he is good; 

his love endures forever. 

Let Israel say: 

"His love endures forever." 

Let the house of Aaron say:

 "His love endures forever." 

Let those who fear the LORD say: 

"His love endures forever." 

                                               Psalm 118:1-4.

If you truly believe in God. If you truly believe in Christ Jesus. Why not take some time to do as the Psalmist says. Give thanks to the LORD.

Please think about it.

Only you

  Only you

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.

Can you in all honesty say what the apostle Peter is saying here? Do you have the living hope Christ Jesus offers? Do you have an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade?

If you are not sure of your relationship with God, with Jesus here is what the apostle Paul states.

The apostle Paul writes,

"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."  

For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,  for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:9-13.

Knowing if you are saved and going to heaven is as simple as believing in your heart that Jesus is Lord. 

Your relationship with God is a sacred thing. Only you know for sure if you have accepted the salvation God offers through His one and Only Son Jesus Christ.

So my question to you is; do you truly believe Jesus is Lord?

Please think about it.