A Radical Statement

 A Radical Statement

The apostle Paul wrote,

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.” 1 Timothy 2:5,6.

These are Pauls words not mine. What he states here however is a cornerstone of Christian belief. Jesus is the one mediator between God and men. Jesus gave himself as a ransom for all men. 

In order to be a Christian you must believe this.

Jesus himself states,

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6.

What Paul and Jesus said are radical statements that if false no one has anything to worry about. However if they are true, as I believe they are, those who do not believe what is said here have a great deal to think about.

Thus my question to you; who do you believe Jesus is?

        Please think about it.

Are you doing this?

 Are you doing this?

Jesus said,

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  

Five of them were foolish and five were wise.  

The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.  

The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.  

The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 

“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 

“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.  

The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ 

“ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 

“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 

“Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’ 

“But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’ 

 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” Matthew 25:1-13

     Someone once told me the whole meaning of this parable in two words, “be prepared.” They were right.

We do not know the hour or the time Jesus will return and we do not know the hour of our death. Thus we should be ready at all times to meet God no matter how we meet Him. 

Being prepared is a personal thing. No one else can prepare for us. We need to be in that personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

We need to have confessed our sins to Him and allowed him to come into our lives as Lord and Saviour. Our lives need to be dedicated to the Lord.

We need to be studying the scriptures and witnessing to the lost. 

Jesus said

“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 28:19-20.

This is the lot of the Christian, to tell the world about God’s love. To tell the world of the salvation that can only come through Christ Jesus. To teach the new converts all Jesus has taught us to until He returns in His Glory.

Are you doing this?

Are you prepared to meet God?

Think about it.

The spectrum of hearers

  The spectrum of hearers 

Matthews gospel records Jesus as saying,

“That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.  

Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed.  

As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 

 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.  

But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.  

Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.  

Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.  

He who has ears, let him hear.” Matthew 13:1-9.  

         Jesus then gave this interpretation to the parable,

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 

The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.  

But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.  

The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.  

But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” Matthew 13:18-23.

What Jesus is saying here is happening today. There are those who hears the message but fails to fully understand it and quickly falls away without trying to look deeper.

There are others who receive the word out of the emotion of the moment only to fall away when the emotion dies off.

Then there are those who receive the word but have a lot of earthly baggage. They fall pray to the worries of the world. And fall away as their worries in this world take precedent over the word of God.

Then there are those who truly believe who go forth and take the gospel to those around them producing more believers.

Where are you in this spectrum of hearers of the word?

Think about it. 

A Lesson from January 14th

  A Lesson from January 14th 

Jesus said,

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  

I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  

When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  

When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:34-40

The writer notes,

January 14th

“Outside the air is a warm, seventeen centigrade, unseasonable for this time of year in this part of the world.

A soft, soaking rain is falling from the sky.  Cars made a swishing sound as they travel along the almost empty street.

All around there is the noise of the city, slowing, rising to a crescendo, then equally slowly dying to a momentary silence.

Before me, lays a picture of the downtown edge.  At the corner, stands a service station.  Its bright lights illuminate the white wall of the restaurant across the street from it.  The smell of gasoline mingling with the smell of grilling meat permeates the still air.

My watch reads 2:00 am.

Near the corner an old woman, her torn dress visible below the dirty, shabby, gray winter coat, stumbles along, holding the wall for balance.

Finally, losing her fight to remain upright, she leans her back against the wall and slowly slumps down to the ground, coming to rest over a hot air vent.  Alone, she sits motionless as the rain falls.

Who will tell her of God’s love?

Who will love her?

Will you?

      James notes,

“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

Please think about it.

If you

  If you

The apostle Peter writes,

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  

Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;  and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.  

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  

But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 

Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall,  and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2Peter 1:3-11.

The Apostle Peter tells us plainly,

The ways of the world are filled with desires that quite often run contrary to what God wants for us. 

He is telling us that through Christ we have everything we need for life and godliness. That he has given us “his very great and precious promises. That we may “escape the corruption of this world”.

Peter then tells the believer,

“...make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;  and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.”

He notes,  

“For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Please think about it.

How to win favour with God and man

   How to win favour with God and man

In the book of Proverbs we read,

"Let love and faithfulness never leave you;

 bind them around your neck, 

write them on the tablet of your heart. 

Then you will win favour and a good name

 in the sight of God and man."

                                                       Proverbs 3:3,4.

As believers in Christ Jesus we must remember that Love of God, and love for our fellow man, be they family, friend, or foe, should take first place in our heart.

The results of love and faithfulness will, the writer of proverbs tells us,

“...win favour and a good name 

in the sight of God and man.”

So is this something you are doing?

Please think about it.

Christian Principle #1

 Christian Principle #1

Jesus 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.

My parents who grew up in the Church of England and Roman Catholic churches respectively taught me long before I became a Christian what I consider the prime Christian principle. Summed up by Jesus 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.

In the year 2021 Matthew 7:12 could be put this way,

If you are

demonstrating against anyone. 

You are telling them 

they can demonstrate against you.

If you are 

speaking out and trying to restrict the rights of others 

given to them by the lawfully elected government.

You are telling others 

they can try to restrict your rights.

If you are 

imposing your morals however good they may be on others.

You are telling them 

they can impose their morals on you, 

even if they are not as good as yours.

If you are 

trying to impose your faith on others 

rather than presenting your faith.

You are telling others 

they can impose their faith on you.

If you are

judging others.

You are telling others 

they can judge you in the same way.

If you 

Are telling the world,

I love you and God loves you

You are telling the world

God loves you and I love you

Unconditionally.

Please think about it.

A Christian principle for living

  A Christian Principle for living  

The Apostle Paul writing to believers in Christ Jesus 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.

Here is a simple test for anyone calling themselves a believer in Christ Jesus. Now keep in mind believers in Christ are far from perfect. We are all human with human frailties and failings. 

That being said however as believers in Christ we should be striving to be Christ like. We should be trying to make the fruits of the spirit part of our daily life. 

Francis of Assisi wrote,

“The deeds you do

 may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 

                                                                     Francis of Assisi.

If our lives are exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control, the sermon people will see in us is the Love of Jesus.

Question: When people see your life do they truly see the fruit of the Spirit of God?

Please think about it.

Your refuge and strength

  Your Refuge and Strength

The Psalmist wrote,

“God is our refuge and strength, 

an ever-present help in trouble” 

                                                     Psalm 46:1.

Is God the first person you go to in times of trouble? Think carefully about it. When you come up against adversity what is your first instinct? 

In first Chronicles we read,

“Look to the Lord and his strength; 

seek his face always.”

                                      1 Chronicles 16:11.

As believers in God. As believers in Christ Jesus we should be looking to God not only when we are in trouble, but at all times.

In proverbs we read,

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart 

and lean not on your own understanding; 

in all your ways acknowledge him, 

and he will make your paths straight."

                                                            Proverbs 3:5,6.

So I ask you; is God your refuge and strength?

Please think about it.

Faith

 Faith

Luke’s Gospel records,

“Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!  

Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." 

Those who heard this asked, "Who then can be saved?" 

Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God." Luke 18:24-27.

One commentary I read on this noted that many in the day of Jesus thought that the rich would get into heaven more easily than the poor. The thinking being the rich were blessed of God and the poor not so. 

Some calling themselves Christians even today say if you are not healthy and wealthy you are sinning and therefore cannot enter heaven.

Nothing could be further from the truth. The apostle Paul writes,

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9.

In the book of Hebrews we read,

“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

Scripture is filled with accounts of the poor getting to heaven. The parable Jesus tells of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) being an example.

In the eleventh chapter of Hebrews the writer tells us of great men and women of God who were all saved by their faith, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah.

Getting to heaven has nothing to do with the size of your bank account. Quite the contrary while there is nothing wrong with being rich it can have its down sides. The apostle Paul writing,

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:10.

It’s when your money or anything else for that matter comes before God that there’s a problem.

Jesus speaking to the Samaritan woman states,

“God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth.”John 4:23.

Do you? 

Do you worship God in spirit and in truth?

Please think about it.

Yes Lord I believe

  Yes Lord I believe

In John’s gospel we read this conversation between Jesus and Martha,

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

“Yes Lord” she told Him, “I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world,” John 11:25,26,27.

The world tries to make Jesus out to be a good person, even a good teacher. Which he was but he is more than that. 

He is the resurrection and the life. 

He is the Christ, The Son of God.

If He is not then for centuries Christians have believed a lie and continue to do so.

If He is all these thing however those who don’t believe in Him have a great deal to consider.

Please take time to read at least the New Testament and decide for yourself who Jesus is.

Please think about it.

Something hard

  Something hard

Peter referring to Jesus said,

“And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” Acts 2:21.

Getting into heaven is that simple. All you have to do is believe with your whole heart that Jesus is the Son of God, the Saviour of mankind. Then call on his name and you shall be saved.

As the apostle Paul puts it,

“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.  Romans 10: 9,10.

That being said having complete trust in anyone or anything is perhaps the most difficult thing we as individuals are called to do. 

Faith, as the writer of Hebrews put it,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see.”  

                                                           Hebrews 11:1

Perhaps that is why God asks us to have faith in Him and the Saving Grace that comes from Christ Jesus, because having faith in something we cannot see is a very difficult thing that only true believers have.

Please think about it.