Fruit

Fruit

The apostle Paul wrote,

“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.

If you claim to be a Christian, a follower of Christ Jesus are the above fruit of the Spirit showing in your life?

When those around you look at your life are they seeing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control?

If not they should be, because it is only by showing these qualities that we will attract people to Christ. 

Perhaps one of my favourite quotes from outside the Bible come from Francis of Assisi who said,

"The deeds you do

 may be the only sermon some persons will hear today" 

                                                                                Francis of Assisi

The other thing Francis of Assisi is know for is what is commonly called the prayer of St. Francis. It is a prayer anyone who claims to be a true follower of Christ Jesus, a Christian should consider praying and taking to heart. It reads,

"Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love,

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life." 

                                                                          Francis of Assisi

Please think about it.

Have them do to you?

Have them do to you?

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

Put this way in the year 2021 this means;

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 on others

however good they may be.

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 you are a Christian

You should be telling the world 

I love you as Jesus loves you,...

unconditionally.

Please think about it

Reaching others

 Reaching others.

  In Marks gospel we read of this incident in the life of Jesus,

"While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.  

When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners'?" 

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Mark 2:15-17

Today there are many calling themselves Christians who are acting exactly the way the Pharisees were acting. 

The Pharisees it seems from the text would not sit with “sinners”. Which is a problem. It was a problem then, and it is equally a problem today.

Jesus told his disciples and through them us,

“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.

As followers of Christ we cannot pick and choose who we reach for Christ. Not only that if we criticize, or try to restrict a persons lawful rights given them by a secular government we will push people away.

As believers in Christ Jesus we must always remember the words of Jesus who 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.

Only then will we be able to reach souls for Christ.

Please think about it.

Who are you relying on?

 Who are you relying on?

The Psalmist writes,

"I lift up my eyes to the hills— 

where does my help come from? 

My help comes from the LORD,

 the Maker of heaven and earth.”

                                                   Psalm 121:1,2.

If you consider yourself a Christian. A follower of Christ Jesus, where does your help come from? Are you sure you are truly relying on the Lord, The Maker of heaven and earth?

In Psalm twenty we are reminded,

"Some trust in chariots

 and some in horses, 

but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." 

                                                                            Psalm 20:7.

It is so easy for a person to slip from relying on The Lord to relying of our material possessions. Quite often we do it without even realizing it.

So I ask you again, if you truly believe you are a Christian, a follower of Christ Jesus; Are you relying on God or something else?

Please think about it.

There is only one

 There is Only One 

The apostle Paul writes,

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.

What the apostle Paul is saying here is what all true Christian, what all true believers in Christ Jesus believe. 

Jesus is the one mediator between God and men.

Jesus himself is recorded as saying, 

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

As a Christian I believe I am obligated to tell anyone who will listen to me this fact. Then let them decide for themselves if it is true or false.

If it is false there is no need for worry. 

If it is true then at the very least the individual reading this needs to consider following Jesus and making Jesus Lord of their life.

Thus the choice is yours.

Please think about it.

Where?

 Where?

In the book of Hebrews we read,

"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.

If you consider yourself a Christian where are your eyes fixed? Are they fixed on a political figure? Are they fixed on the things this world can offer? Are they fixed on particular teacher, or preacher? 

According to the writer of Hebrews they shouldn’t be. Believers in Christ Jesus should have their eyes firmly fixed on Jesus who is the Author and Perfecter of our faith.

So I ask you again where are your eyes fixed?

Humility and you

 Humility and you

The Apostle Paul wrote,

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” Philippians 2:3-4.

Christians are called to a life of humility. In the gospel of Mark we read,

"Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Mark 9:35.

Are you a servant? Are you humble? When others look at your life would they consider you humble? Do you look out for the interest of others?

The apostle Paul wrote of Jesus,

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:5-8.

So are you humble and at the very least willing to be the servant of all?

Please think about it.

Faith Alive

 Faith Alive

In the book of James we read,

“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their 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.

Is your faith dead? 

If your faith is alive you should be doing what you can to help the poor. Even if its only giving a few dollars to a local charity.

If I’m interpreting what James is saying here correctly. Christians have an obligation to help the poor anyway they can.

So is your faith alive? 

Are you doing what you can to help the poor?

Please think about it.

Start by doing

 Start by doing

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

Jesus even went one step further saying,

"You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,..."Matthew 5:43,44.

Looking around the world today love seems to be lacking. Wars, social unrest, terrorist attacks. Love just seems to be lacking. Even some politicians in the western democracies appear to lack love.

So what should a Christians do in such a world? Answer,... Love.

As the great evangelist JohnWesley said,

Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can

In all the ways you can

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

To all the people you can,

As long as ever you can.

                               John Wesley.

Creating a better world is not impossible if we try. All it take is the will to do so. Francis of Assisi wrote,

"Start by doing what is necessary, 

then what is possible, 

and suddenly you are doing the impossible." 

                                                           Francis of Assisi

Please think about it.

Your light

 Your light

Jesus said,

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16.

The apostle Peter 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.

Francis of Assisi wrote,

"The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon some persons will hear today" 

                                                                           Francis of Assisi.

What is your sermon telling those around your. If you claim to be a Christian. A follower of Christ Jesus. Is your light shining and leading people to Christ. OR are your words and deeds turning people away from the love of Christ?

It’s a simple yes or no answer. Your words and deeds are either leading a person to Christ or turning them away from Christ.

Please think about it.

Praising God and telling others

 Praising God and telling others

Isaiah the Prophet said,

“With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.  

And will say in that day:

Give thanks to the Lord call upon his name,

make known his deeds among the peoples,

proclaim that his name is exalted.” 

                                                        Isaiah 12:3,4

Are you drawing water from the well of salvation, Jesus Christ? 

Is that joy causing you to give thanks to God?

Are you making known the deeds of God among the people around you?

Are you proclaiming and exalting Gods name?

Mary the mother of Christ said it all when she said,

"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.

Mary’s joy at having a child was magnified by the knowledge that she had born the Messiah. The saviour of mankind. As a result she rejoiced and gave praise to God.

When we accept Christ into our hearts we should be full of praise. We should want to go out and tell people about the mercy, and salvation that comes by the Grace of God through Christ Jesus.

If you consider yourself a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus, are you praising God and telling others about him?

Please think about it.

Teach me

 Teach me

The Psalmist writes,

“Teach me to do your will, 

for you are my God; 

may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” 

                                                                 Psalm 143:10.

Here is a simple truth. In order to know the will of God we need to study the word of God. We need to read the Bible every day. Additionally we need to take sometime each day to pray and ask God for direction in our lives.

Question; If you claim to be a Christians. A follower of Christ Jesus are you doing this?

Please think about it.