Do you sing?

  Do you sing?

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.

Here is something to think about if you claim to be a Christian a follower of Christ Jesus.

Do you praise The Lord with your whole heart?

Do you tell people about the wonders of God?

Do you rejoice in God?

Do you sing praises to the name of the Lord God Most High?

Do you do all of this with your whole heart without any kind of reservation?

Please think about it.

God did not

 God did not

In the gospel of John we read Jesus speaking of himself saying,

"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.” John 3:16,17.

I think quite often this is an overlooked portion of scripture. We hear from many quarters that God will one day judge the world, and He will. All people will be held accountable for their actions and be Judged by God. But that was not why Jesus came. 

Jesus came not to condemn the world but to save the world. To save all who would believe in Him.

It is very clear cut. Believe in Jesus and you will not perish but have everlasting life.

Question; do you believe this? 

Do you believe this?

 Do you believe this?

The apostle Paul writes,

“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 1:22-25.

God does not do things the way man does. God could have entered this world with all his power and might setting his throne physically on this earth destroying all evil and demanding people worship Him. That however is not how God works.

He chose to enter this world in the form of a child (Jesus) that grew up knowing all of what it is to be a man. Everything from the mundane such as the smell of a dusty road. Rain on his face. The love of friends and family. He also endured the worst of mankind could offer, a horrible beating followed by death on the cross.

Then after all that God asks us to believe that Jesus is the one and Only Son of God and that we should have faith in Him in order to get to heaven.

To our human way of thinking this seems foolish, illogical. Even crazy. Yet it is what God asks us to believe. What God asks you to believe.

Jesus put it this way.  Speaking about himself 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.

Thus my question to you do you believe this?

Please think about it.

No other

 No other

In the book of Exodus we read God as saying,

"You shall have no other gods before me.”

                                                            Exodus 20:3.

That is a pretty explicit statement. We are to have no other gods in our lives except The Lord God Almighty creator of heaven and earth.

What that means is very simple nothing should come before God in our lives. No matter how good or right a thing or activity seems, God must always take first place in our lives.

Please think about it.

What will you hear?

 What will you hear?

In the gospel of Luke we read,

"And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. 

His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.” Luke 1:46-50.

In the book of Ecclesiastes we read,

"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 

For God will bring every deed into judgement, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." Ecclesiastes12:13,14.

We live in a generation world wide where people do not fear God. And it’s not just people in the secular world. It’s people within the church. People claiming to be Christian.

Now I can only speak for what I see here in North America where I live. The North American church is losing its fear of God. It takes God for granted. It goes its own way mixing Gods word with politics and other things. That it thinks will help its cause.

We as believers in Christ Jesus cannot allow this to happen. 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.

That time has come. There are people, pastors, and evangelist, here in North America that are twisting the gospel message to align with what they believe should be. When it should be we who align our beliefs with that of the Bible.

The apostle Paul writing to Timothy 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.” 2Timothy 2:15.

The consequences for individuals who do not correctly handle the word of God. Who do not fear God is I believe simple. They will hear the words of Jesus recorded in Matthews gospel, who said,

“Many will say to me  on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  

Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:22,23.

Question; if you consider yourself a follower of Christ Jesus what will you hear when you stand before God?

Please think about it.

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.