It's incumbent

  It’s incumbent

The apostle Paul writes,

“For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18.

People say that the Christian message is not logical. Why would God in the form of His one and only Son enter the world? 

My answer would be why wouldn’t He? There’s no rule forbidding God from entering the world He created.

Jesus however sums up why God in the form of His one and only Son entered the world 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.” John 3:16,17.

The world we live in is degenerating into the abyss. Going down a path that leads to hell. We only have to look around the world to see this. Wars, riots, civil disobedience, governments putting people who disagree with them in jail, labour camps or murdering them. We have politicians around the world who are believing and propagating lies.

There are even men and women claiming to be Christian leaders that are not.

The apostle Paul writes,

“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 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

We are living in such times. Thus I believe it is incumbent on all those who truly believe in Christ Jesus to pray and reach out with the love of God to all those around them. To present the Love of God in Christ Jesus to anyone who will listen.

Please think about it.

Do you agree?

  Do you agree?

The Psalmist writes,

“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.

Do you agree with this statement? If so why not take a few minutes right now to sing or say words of praise to God?

Please think about it.

Where's your hope?

  Where’s your hope?

The Psalmist writes,

“Show me your ways, O LORD,

 teach me your paths;

 guide me in your truth and teach me, 

for you are God my Saviour,

 and my hope is in you all day long.” 

                                                      Psalm 25:4,5.

If you are a believer in Christ Jesus is this true of you? Do you pray and ask God to teach you His truths? Is your hope truly in God? OR Is you trust in some pastor, preacher or evangelist?

Do you even take time to study the word of God for yourselves? Do you take time not just to read the scriptures but about biblical history the customs of the people in Christs time?

These are questions only you can answer.

Please think about it.

What kind of love?

  What kind of Love?

Jesus when asked,

 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 

Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  

This is the first and greatest commandment. 

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40

Christian love I believe is defined by the apostle Paul when he wrote,

“Love is patient, love is kind. 

It does not envy, it does not boast,

 it is not proud.  

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, 

it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil 

but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails....

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love.”  

                                                                   1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.

So my question to you dear reader is; Is the kind of love you practice the kind of love the apostle Paul defines here?

Is the kind of love you practice the kind of Love God wants you to practice, unconditional love?

Please think about it.

Don't pick fights

  Don’t pick fights

The writer of Hebrews states,

"Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14.

The Apostle Peter who 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.

Sadly here in North America where I live there are many calling themselves Christians who are picking fights with those they agree with. They try to impose their moral values on people who don’t want them.

Jesus never told us to impose our beliefs and morals on anyone.

Both Jesus and the apostles live in a multicultural world, the Roman Empire. A secular world where many gods were worshipped. Where moral codes were the opposite of what they believed. 

Can you imagine what the apostle Paul and the others thought of temple prostitutes in Corinth? What they thought of when it came to the blood sports that happened in Roman arenas around the empire?

Can you imagine Paul entering Athens and seeing the various temples to various gods all of which espoused beliefs far different to what he believed?

Paul seen all these temples yet never spoke against any of the gods worshipped in Athens. Instead he presented the Athenians with the one true God.

It was the same with the other apostles they presented the word of God in as pure a form as they could. As a result they changed their world around them in under a century. 

As believers in Christ Jesus in 2021 we should be doing the same. We should be presenting the good news about Jesus to anyone who will listen and not pick fights with those who do not believe as we do.

Please think about it.

Negative or Positive

 Negative or Positive 

The writer of Hebrews states,

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” Hebrews 12:2.

Here is sound advise from the writer of Hebrews to all Christians. To all who believe in Christ Jesus.

So my question to you is your eyes on Jesus or is it wandering to look at other leaders be they spiritual or political?

As believers in Christ Jesus we cannot afford to mix our faith with anything. Our faith must be completely in Christ. Not wavering to the left or the right.

The apostle Paul tells us,

“We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.”  2 Corinthians 5:20.

It is through the lense of our life, our words and deeds that people will see Jesus. If our actions reflect negatively on Him people will see Jesus in a negative light. If our actions are positive people will be attracted to Jesus.

So what are your actions telling people about Jesus?

Please think about it. 

Going to Hell?

 Going To Hell? 

The apostle Paul wrote,

“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.

Perhaps its because we are in an information age and we see more things happening because of it. But I think not. I believe our society is degrading. People are becoming lovers of self.

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 Gallico is speaking about is what the apostle Paul predicted. In 2Timothy 4:3,4. And the solution to the problem. The only solution is the Love of God.

Sadly the church particularly here in North America where I live is turning away from its first love. Especially in the light of the current political situation in the United states many claiming to be Christians are becoming political. 

They are putting political figures ahead of God. Claiming political leaders are Christians when their actions prove otherwise. Bringing Gods word into disrepute.

If ever there was a time for revival within the Church it is now.

I believe that each individual who claims to be a Christian needs to look at themselves and ask God to show them what it is to be Christian in 2021.

For if they don’t and they continue in a way that is not pleasing to God they will one day here the words of Jesus who said,

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  

“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 7:21-23

Please think about it.

Will you be answered

 Will you be answered

In the book of Proverbs we read,

“Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor

 will himself call out and not be answered.” 

                                                      Proverbs 21:13.

What do you do when you pass a homeless person on the street? What do you think of them?

What do you do when you see a single mother and realize she’s struggling to make ends meet?

Do you do anything to help the poor even if it’s only giving a few dollars, or food to a food bank?

Are you’re ears open of closed to the plight of the poor in your town or city?

If you’re a Christian a believer in Christ Jesus you have an obligation to those who are less fortunate than yourself.

I know the Talmud is a Jewish book but what it has to say about the relationship between the rich and the poor makes sense.

 In the Talmud we read,

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.

Question; Are you making the world a household of love?

When you cry out to God will you be answered?

Please think about it.

Give of yourself

  Give of yourself

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. 

But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.  

You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 

You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” James 2:14-20.

As believers in Christ Jesus our faith should spur us on to do all we can to help those in need. This is what James the half brother of Jesus is telling us here. If we can help someone we should help them. 

Even if you cannot help materially you can always help. Even if it’s just showing kindness. Or giving a person someone to talk to. 

In these dark days of the Covid pandemic where doctors tell us mental health issues are on the rise a listening ear is always appreciated.

Anne Frank a Jewish girl in hiding from the Nazis in occupied holland during world war two wrote,

“Give of yourself, give as much as you can?  And you can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness!  If everyone were to do this and not be as mean with a kindly word, then there would be much more justice and love in the world.  Give and you shall receive, much more than you would have ever thought possible.  Give, give again and again, don’t lose courage, keep it up and go on giving!  No one has ever become poor from giving!” Anne Frank. 

So if you consider yourself a Christian. A believer in Christ Jesus are you giving in some way to those around you?

Please think about it.

You should

  You should

Jesus said,

“Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”Matthew 5:42.

Give to those who asks? Do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you? Really? Is this what a Christian suppose to do?

According to Jesus it is.

Thus my question to anyone who would consider themselves a Christian. If it is in your power to help anyone who aks you for help, do you help? Do you lend to those who asks to borrow something from you?

The answer to those questions according to Jesus is you should be.

Please think about it.

Speak for

  Speak for

In the book of Proverbs we read,

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, 

for the rights of all who are destitute. 

Speak up and judge fairly; 

defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

                                                              Proverbs 31:8,9.

These are words from the bible not mine. Notice they don’t give the reader the an option. It states clearly 

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, 

for the rights of all who are destitute. 

Speak up and judge fairly; 

defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

                                                              Proverbs 31:8,9.

 Sadly when I look around North America where I live there are many calling themselves Christians, especially politicians, who are not following this call of God.

We as believers in God are called to help those in need period. Even if it is in just a small way. 

I like the way the American Evangelist Tony Campolo put it,

“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.” Tony Campolo.

So if you consider yourself a Christian a believer in Christ Jesus what are you doing to help those in need around you?

Please think about it.

Can you truly say?

 Can you truly say?

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 simple question I would ask of anyone who claims to be a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus is; 

Can you truly say say with the Psalmist.

"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.

Please think about it.