Difficult not Impossible

 Difficult not impossible.

In Matthew’s gospel we read Jesus saying,

"Again I tell you, 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." Matthew 19:24.

This illustration makes the point that while something seems impossible. It can be done through the grace of God.

Earlier in this chapter of Matthew we read,

"Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life ?"...

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Matthew 19:16,20,21.

Life can be easy if you’re rich. If you have enough money to get anything you want. And there are many rich Christians that use their wealth to help others and the Lords work.

That being said there are many wealthy people who rely on their money. To whom money is a god.

In the wall street economic crash on 1929 men who’d put all their trust in materialism and wealth committed suicide because they’d lost everything. Their god had failed them and in their mind there was nothing left but despair.

Wealth can be a hindrance to getting to heaven. But it is still possible for a wealthy person to get to heaven. They must do exactly what everyone is asked to do. Put your faith in Christ Jesus.

The apostle Paul puts it this way,

"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.

As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."  

For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,  for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved Romans 10:9-13.

So do you believe Jesus is Lord? Do you believe that God raised Him from the dead? 

Please think about it.

Can you call on Him?

 Can you call on Him?

The Psalmist writes,

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4.

We all go through trials. Both mental and physical. Some trials even end in death.

Still if we are in a personal relationship with Christ Jesus we have Him to turn to. We know that no matter how hard the trial may be God is with us. Comforting and giving us strength to get through it.

In Psalm 139 we read,

“Where can I go from your Spirit?

 Where can I flee from your presence? 

If I go up to the heavens,

 you are there;

 if I make my bed in the depths, 

you are there. 

If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

 if I settle on the far side of the sea, 

even there your hand will guide me,

 your right hand will hold me fast.” 

                                                       Psalm 139:7-10.

Question; Is God an integral part of your life? Can you call on God in your time of need?

Please think about it.

Could you?

 Could you?

Jesus once said to a rich young man who asked the question,

"..."Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life ?" Matthew 19:16

"Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Matthew 19:21.

As true believers in Christ Jesus we must be willing to give up everything for Him. 

Now I can only speak for what I see here in North America from my perch here in Canada.

While I see around the world Christians suffering many living day to day with persecution. Many having to rely on God each day for their basic needs. I sadly see many pastors, evangelist and many sitting in the pews here in North America preaching a prosperity doctrine. Claiming falsely that God wants you to be health and wealthy, while God never promised this.

Sadly many pastors and evangelist who believe this doctrine pray on the poor. Encouraging them to give to their ministry saying God will reward them ten or a hundred fold.

God never promised this. Jesus and His disciples were not rich. 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.

Note here its not money that causes the problems. Money in and of itself is harmless. It’s what emphasis you put on it that causes the problem. If you love money more than God.

Jesus in Matthew 19:21 gave the perfect test to see who you liked most. When he said,

“If you want to be perfect, go sell you possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me.”

Thus I wander how many pastors and evangelist who preach the prosperity doctrine could do what Jesus is saying here?

How about you dear reader? Could you give up everything to follow Jesus?

I know of many around the world who have had to do that. Could you?

Please think about it.

Searching for

  Searching for

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” 2 Timothy 3:1-4.

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."

Now I can only speak for what I see in North America where I live, and sadly I see Christianity becoming "religious". At least I see many pastors, evangelist, and many sitting in the pews becoming religious. 

This is what the apostle Paul predicted in 2Timothy 3:1-4. Sadly such people are becoming the face of Christianity here in North America. And what Gallico and others are seeing.

The solution to the problem. The only solution is a personal relationship with Christ Jesus. Putting God first in ones life. Making the teachings of Jesus a reality in ones life. When we do so we will begin to exhibit what the apostle Paul calls the fruit of the spirit,

“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.

This is what Gallico was searching for, and I believe what many in the world today are searching for also.

Dear reader are you looking for this? Why not take a moment to ask Jesus into your life. Simply pray 

Dear Jesus I ask that you come into my life today. 

If you said this prayer and truly believe what you said. I would ask that you start reading the New Testament at the very least. It will tell you what the early Christians believed about Jesus and how to live a Godly life. The second is do your best to find a church congregation near where  you live. I recommend a Baptist or Salvation Army. Talk to the pastor and ask him any questions you might have. 

Please think about it.

As for me

  As for me

In the book of Joshua we read,

"Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.  

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. 

But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24: 14,15.

For me this sums things up. I and my household will serve the Lord.

I will as the Psalmist puts it,

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.

Dear reader will you join with me this day in serving and praising The LORD God Almighty?

Please think about it.

Perhaps

 Perhaps

In Proverbs we read,

"For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, 

and He examines all his paths."

                                                      Proverbs 5:21.

Whether we like to admit it or not everything we do is seen by God. It is something we must remember. 

That being said I don’t see God as a big old man with a big stick ready to club us over the head if we do wrong. Quite the opposite. I see God as a God who loves each individual and gives them all the freedom in the world. A freedom that extends to not believing in Him.

The God I believe in is spoken of by Jesus in John 3:16,17, when Jesus states,

"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 God I believe in is spoken of by the apostle Paul who said,

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8.

The God I believe in asks us to have faith that He exists. The writer of Hebrews stating,

"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.

And perhaps having faith in someone we cannot see is the hardest thing anyone can do. Which is perhaps why so many people don’t believe in God.

Do you believe in God?

Please think about it.

Better

  Better

In the book of Ecclesiastes we read,

A good name is better than precious ointment,

and the day of death than the day of birth.

It is better to go to the house of mourning

than to go to the house of feasting,

for this is the end of all mankind,

and the living will lay it to heart.

Sorrow is better than laughter,

for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,

but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

                                                              Ecclesiastes 7:1-4

From the commentaries I’ve read about this the death that is being talked about is not ones own but the death of another.

People react to death differently. But the death of a loved one or someone we know should make us question our mortality. 

Not so long ago my wife lost her youngest brother he was only in his forties. Everyone at the funeral said he died too young. That being said his funeral service was held in his favourite bar. His girlfriend and friends wanted to celebrate his life. And they did.

Our pastor conducted the service and gave a simple message of salvation to all who were there. Reminding them that life is short and finite. 

Somehow however I got the impression that the message was lost on most who attended. And that day I wondered how many even considered their mortality and where they would spend eternity.

But the way I see it and I believe the writer of Ecclesiastes seen it; every funeral should give us pause on where we will spend eternity.

Question; Where will you spend eternity?

Please think about it.

You and the Poor

  You and the poor.

In proverbs we read,

"A righteous man knows the rights of the poor; a wicked man does not understand such knowledge."Proverbs 29:7.

"Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done."Proverbs 19:17.

In Judaism there is an interesting concept Christians need to practice it’s called Tzedakah,

I got this explanation from a 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.

Giving to the poor is an obligation in Judaism, a duty that cannot be forsaken even by those who are themselves in need. Some sages have said that tzedakah is the highest of all commandments, equal to all of them combined, and that a person who does not perform tzedakah  is equivalent to an idol worshipper.”

The book of James states,

“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.

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.

What will God say to you when you stand before Him.

Please think about it.

God, you, and the poor

  God, you, and the poor.

In the book of Exodus we read,

"For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops, but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what they leave. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove. 

"Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest and the slave born in your household, and the alien as well, may be refreshed."Exodus 23:10-12.

This could be called “Gods welfare plan”. God tells the Israelites to leave the fields unplowed and unused. So that the poor may eat of what is in those fields. In book of Leviticus God states,

“ ‘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.  

Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 19: 9,10.

This is Gods way of providing for the poor.

Note also in Exodus God tells us to rest on the seventh day. And that means everyone in your household and the working animals. 

In Deuteronomy we read.

"There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land."Deuteronomy 15:11.

This is a commandment from God every believer I believe must follow. But sadly at least here in North America where I live, in society that goes twenty-four hours a day seven days a week, this is forgotten.

We as believers in Christ Jesus need to be doing what God is saying here. We need to be calling on our politicians, especially those who claim to be Christian to do more for the poor and needy.

Thus the question becomes, Are you doing what you can to help the poor and needy in y our community?

Please think about it.

Pour yourself out

  Pour yourself out

The prophet Isaiah states,

"If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday." Isaiah 58:10.

The apostle Peter writes,

“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 2:12.

Jesus said,

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

Are the people around you seeing your good deeds without you pointing them out to them?

As believers in Christ Jesus we should be doing our best to do good deeds whenever we can. Do they see God at work in your life.

Francis of Assisi said,

"The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon some persons will hear today" 

                                                                       Francis of Assisi.

So what are your deeds telling those around you?

Please think about it.

Beware of "the Formula"

  Beware of “the formula”

The apostle Peter said,

"And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'" Acts 2:21

Today in North America we have what amounts to a formula for getting into heaven. It consists of a simple prayer that states, 

“Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Saviour.”

The origins of this prayer are debated. Some claim it came out of the early protestant revival movement while others say it came from the late eighteenth century revival movement. While others place it in the early twentieth century. 

Irrespective of when it originated it does not originate from biblical times.

The late British/American evangelist Leonard Ravenhill said of the prayer,

“The sinners prayer has sent more people to hell than all the bars in America.” Leonard Ravenhill

And he’s probably right. The prayer had become so ingrained into North American Christianity that it gives a false sense of security.

We don’t see such a prayer in the Bible. What we see is what the apostle Peter states in the Book of Acts, “And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”

We see the apostle Paul writing,

"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.

This is what happened on the day Jesus was crucified. One of the men crucified with Jesus said,

"We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." 

Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.'" 

Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23:41-43.

There was no formula. Jesus did not ask the criminal to pray the prayer of salvation. It was simpler than that.

This criminal believed Jesus was who He said He was. And proclaimed it with his lips. Admitted his sin and simply asked Jesus to remember him when He came into His kingdom.

This is what God asks all of us today. 

He asks that we confess our sins to God.

He asks that we sincerely believe in our heart that Jesus is the Son of God. Saviour of mankind.

And He asks that we confess with out mouth Jesus is Lord.

Have you done this?

Do you truly believe Jesus is the Son of God. The Saviour of mankind. The Way to Heaven?

Please think about it.

He will

 He will?

As Jesus was being crucified Luke’s gospel records,

“Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.” Luke 23:34.

Sadly those who are persecuting believers in Christ Jesus around the world don’t know what they are doing. That however is no reason to persecute believers in Christ or anyone for that matter. Imprisoning, attacking, persecuting or murdering people for what they believe, the way they live, or their lifestyle is simply morally wrong. And I believe God will hold those who are persecuting others accountable for their crimes. 

The writer of Ecclesiastes stating.

"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 judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." Ecclesiastes12:13,14.

The apostle Paul writing,

For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” Acts 17:31.

Ultimately however the choice is each individuals. God has given each person freedom to choose what they believe. That includes believing the Bible and whether or not Jesus is the Son of God, Saviour of the world.  

Thus the question becomes; what do you believe?

Please think about it.