"Ephesus and you?

  Ephesus and you?

In the book of Revelations we read,

"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands:  

I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.  

You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 

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.  

But you have this in your favour: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.  Revelations 2:1-7.

It is said each church represented in the book or Revelations can refer to a church, a church denomination or even a person in the present day.

Here while the Lord comments on their deeds and hard work. That they have not tolerated wicked men. And that they have hated the practices of the Nicolaitans an heretical group. The Lord also notes,

• “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”. 

Some scholars note that this could mean that they have lost their love of God, of Christ. Some have even said they have lost their love of each other. While others say they have lost their love of both.

Either way The Lord makes it clear if they don’t repent they will loose their status before God.

As individuals we need to look at ourselves; Is God truly my first love? Do I truly love those around me. Family, friends, and foe alike?

Do I need to repent?

Do you?

Please think about it.

Speaking up

  Speaking up

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.

Here is a clear directive from God to all who believe in Him. 

“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.

Here is something we Christians in North America need to get into our brains. We are to help the needy in any way we can. Speaking up for those in need means confronting our political leaders. Telling them they need to implement programs that will offer a living wage, free access to good health care, and affordable housing. In short giving the poor basic human rights.

Jesus stood up for the rights of the poor. In Luke 16:19-31 Jesus tells the story of the rich man who had everything this world had to offer but would not help a poor man. The result was the rich man ended up in hell while the poor man ended up in heaven. This should be a warning to all who are rich and to all who are not standing up for the rights of the needy.

Thus my questions to you; Are you speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves. For those in need?

Are the politicians and religious leaders you support standing up obeying what is said in Proverbs 31:8,9?

Please think about it.

No souls won

  No souls won

The apostle Paul writes,

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  

If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing."1 Corinthians 13:1-3

In this blog I’m talking mainly to Christians in North America where I live. I firmly believe many who call themselves Christians don’t listen to those around them. There is especially a lack of love and respect toward those with whom they disagree. 

Too many who call themselves Christians criticize those they disagree with, calling them sinful, judging their lifestyle. Jesus never did this.

Jesus was accused by the religious leaders of sitting down with sinners. Something I don’t think would have happened if Jesus criticized and judged those He was sitting with.

When I talk to non-Christians, I hear time and time again. Christians judge them and don’t love them. That Christians don’t listen to them.

I think that Christians need to take a look at themselves. They need to listen to their critics and see how they can show the Love of Christ towards those they disagree with. 

For if this does not happen no souls will be won for Christ.

Please think about it.

A Moral Responsibility

  A Moral Responsibility 

In the book of Leviticus we read.

“‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.’ ” Leviticus 23:22.

The American evangelist Tony Campolo said,

“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.

I believe as Christians we have a moral obligation to help those in need and scripture backs this up. 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.

In the Jewish faith there is a concept known as Tzedakah. I got this explanation of tzedakah from Jewish web site it states,

"Tzedakah is the Hebrew word for acts that we call charity in English: giving assistance and money to the poor and needy or to other worthy causes. However the nature of tzedakah is very different from the idea of charity. The word "charity suggests benevolence and generosity, a magnanimous act by the wealthy and the powerful for the benefit of the poor and needy....

In Judaism giving to the poor is not viewed as a generous, magnanimous act, it is simply and act of righteousness, performance of a duty giving the poor their due.

We have no way of knowing why a person is poor and in need. And its not our place to judge the poor. 

It is however, our moral obligation to help the poor when we can.

Please think about it.

Perhaps its true

  Perhaps its true

“In the beginning God 

created the heavens and the earth.” 

                                             Genesis 1:1

Here’s an interesting thought. C. S. Lewis noted,

"Atheist express their rage against God although in their vew He does not exist", C. S. Lewis.

Around the world today there are Atheist, people who say that God does not exist yet they rage against Him and those who believe in Him.

There are atheist governments that ban Christianity yet they say God does not exist. It defies logic. How can someone or something that doesn’t exist hurt you.

And when it comes to Christianity the apostle Paul tells Christians,

“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,  to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.”Titus 3:1,2.

True Christians make model citizens. They pray for the their government officials. They pray that God will guide their country.

Yet still around the world Christians are thrown into prison, into labour, camps even murdered, simply because they express belief in God.

Like I said it defies logic.

perhaps it’s true what Thomas Aquinas said,

“To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.” Thomas Aquinas.

Please think about it.

I will, will you?

  I will, will you?

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.

If you claim to be a Christian a true believer in Christ Jesus, will you take some time right now to Praise God?

Will you take time in your day to tell others of the wonders of God?

Please think about it.

Because

 Because

Because...

"He (God) first loved us."

1 John 4:19

I will...love God

Because...

The Bible says,

"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

I will...Have faith in God..

Because...

according to Romans 5:1,2: 

"...having been justified by faith, we have peace with God

 through our LORD Jesus Christ, 

through whom also we have access by faith into this grace 

which we stand, and rejoice in hope of glory of God."

I will rejoice in the glory of God...

Because...

"God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, 

that whoever believes in Him should not perish 

but have everlasting life."  

John 3:16

I will...love God

Because...

The Bible says, "Love suffers long and is kind: 

love does not envy; loves does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, 

is not provoked, thinks no evil; 

does not rejoice in iniquity, 

but rejoices in the truth; 

bears all things; believes all things, 

hopes all things, 

endures all things...

"Now abides faith, hope and love, 

these three; 

but the greatest of these is love.   

 I Corinthians 13:4-7 

I will love Gods way.... Unconditionally.

Because... 

Jesus said,"A new command I give you: 

Love one another. 

As I have loved you, 

so you must love one another.  

By this all men will know that you are my disciples,

 if you love one another." 

John 13:34,35

I will...love my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Because...

Jesus said, "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 

bless those who curse you, 

and pray for those who spitefully use you."   

Luke 6:27,28

I will...love  my enemies.

Because... 

Jesus said in Matthew 22:37-40:

"...you shall love the LORD your God 

with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  

This is the first and greatest commandment.  

And the second is like it: 

"You shall love your neighbour as yourself.  

On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

I will love God, my family, my friends and my foes.

Because...

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

I will like her rejoice in God my Saviour.

This is why

  This is why

The Apostle Paul wrote,

“For the message of 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.

There are many in our world who look at the New Testament and see it as unbelievable. Many who call its message foolishness. Why after all would God enter the world He created in the form of Christ Jesus only to die on a Roman cross? It doesn’t seem logical. But it’s what Christians believe.

My answer is simple God does not do things mans way. 

God asks all who see the life of Jesus, His death, His resurrection and His ascension to heaven, to accept this by faith. 

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.

The key word in Hebrews 11:6 being faith. 

Faith for many people is very difficult. Faith according to the writer of Hebrews is,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and 

certain of what we do not see.”  

                                     Hebrews 11:1.

I believe when someone has true faith in something they will continue to believe in it even to the point of death and beyond.

This is why I believe God asks us to have faith in the message of the cross.

Please think about it.

Are you nothing?

  Are you nothing?

The apostle Paul writes,

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  

If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.”1 Corinthians 13:1-3.

In my previous blog post I wrote about the apostle Pauls definition of Christian love. To my way of thinking if you cannot show love to those around you there is something wrong with you. 

This is especially true if you claim to be a Christian. You cannot be a Christian and hate another human being. You cannot be a Christian if you are not showing unconditional love to those around you.

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 neighbour as yourself.'  

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

So the question becomes, especially if you claim to be a Christian; are you showing Gods unconditional love to those around you, family, friend, and foe alike? Or are you as the apostle Paul states, “nothing”

Please think about it.

A Definition of Christian love

  A definition of Christian love?

The apostle Paul writes,

“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.

I don’t think there is a better definition of love than this definition of Gods love by the apostle Paul. This is the kind of love God wants each of us to display to those around us. It is truly unconditional love.

Are you showing this kind of love?

Please think about it.

God will render

God will render

The psalmist writes,

“Once God has spoken;

twice have I heard this; 

that power belongs to God,

and that to you, O Lord belongs steadfast love.

For you will render to a man

according to his works”

                                                              Psalm 62:11,12.

While it is true Christians believe you are saved by the Grace of God, through Jesus Christ. It is also true that one day God will judge each individual by their works. Thus I believe we need to examine ourselves to see if we are living a good moral life. A life pleasing to God.

Are you?

Please think about it.

From Him comes my Salvation

  From Him comes my Salvation

The Psalmist writes,

“For God alone my soul waits in silence;

from him comes my salvation.”

                                                   Psalm 62:1.

There is but one God. The Lord God Almighty. Creator of heaven and earth. This is what I firmly believe.

If there is no God then my believing in Him has not harmed me. If anything my belief in God has enriched my life.

Do you believe in God? W

Why or why not?

Please think about it.