Showing Pity

  Showing pity

The apostle John writes,

"This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.... 

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1John 3:11,17,18.

If you consider yourself a believer in Christ Jesus and have what you need for a comfortable life. Do you show pity on those who do not? 

In the book of Proverbs we have this warning, 

"Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor 

will himself call out and not be answered." 

                                                                       Proverbs 21:13.

So when you see someone on the street in need. OR know of someone who has a roof over their head but lacks the finances to get enough food, do you do what you can to help them?

Please think about it.

Presenting the gospel in Athens

Presenting the gospel in Athens

For me the greatest sermon ever spoken was by the Apostle Paul in Athens. Where he was invited by Epicureans and Stoic Philosophers, NOT other believer or other Jews. To present what he believed at the Areopagus.

This incident in Pauls life shows first of all how believers in Christ Jesus should present the gospel. In a non-threatening, non-judgmental way. If Paul had been doing it any other way he would most likely not have been invited. 

Instead he met the those seated in the Areopagus where they were at and presented the gospel message.

The book of Acts records,

"So he (Paul) reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.  

A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.  

Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?  

You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean."  

(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) 

Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.  

For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. 

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.  

And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.  

From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  

God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.  

‘For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.' 

"Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man's design and skill.  

In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  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." 

When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject."  

At that, Paul left the Council.  

A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others

Acts 17:17-34

Note her that some “sneered” not believing is raising from the dead. Some wanted to hear more. And some became believers.

Is this what happens when you present the gospel message to those around you?

Please think about it.

A question for you to answer

  A question for you to answer

Jesus was 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 here is echoing Deuteronomy. A portion of scripture repeated twice daily by faithful Jews. It reads

"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  

These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  

Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."  Deuteronomy 6:5-7.

It signifies total commitment to God and ones duty to follow all of Gods commands.

Thus my question to you. If you claim to be a true follower of Christ Jesus. A true believer in God; Are you truly serving God with your heart, soul and strength?

Please think about it.

Peace the Only Way

Peace the only way

The apostle Paul wrote,

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, 

live at peace with everyone." 

                                                           Romans 12:18.

Do you live at peace with those around you? 

Here in North America where I live. I find many calling themselves Christians do not live at peace with those around them. Quite often they don’t look at the consequences of their words and deeds.

They do what Jesus told us not to do. They judge those around them. 

Jesus said,

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  

For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Matthew 7:1,2.

As Christians. Believers in Christ Jesus we need to choose our words wisely. Coming out and telling someone they are going to hell if they don’t believe in Jesus, may be technically true but more often than not it pushes people away from God.

Where a person spends eternity is not the call of anyone living on this earth. It’s Gods call.

We as believers in Christ Jesus have a duty to present the gospel message. A duty where possible to sit down with non-believers and tell them what they believe. Then let the Holy Spirit work in their lives. Let the person we presented the Gospel message to decide for themselves if what we are saying is true.

The only way we can do this. At least the easiest way to do this is if we are living at peace with those around us.

Are you living at peace with those around you?

Please think about it.

An Unmerciful act

  An unmerciful act

Jesus said,

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:36.

I am not a fan of the so called “hellfire and brimstone” preachers. I find their tactics may work well among believers. Although that’s up for debate.

That being said I believe the most unmerciful act a Christian can do is telling someone they are on the way to Hell. Simply because it makes them defensive and can push them away from God

Billy Graham once said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God's job to judge

 and my job to love,” 

                              Billy Graham.

Another American Evangelist Tony Campolo said,

"We ought to get out of the judging business. We should leave it up to God to determine who belongs in one arena or another when it comes to eternity. What we are obligated to do is to tell people about Jesus, and that's what I do." Tony Campolo.

If you claim to be a Christian do you show mercy to those your witnessing to?

By showing mercy I mean presenting the Salvation message of Christ Jesus in a positive and precise way without judgement?

Please think about it.

To fall in love with God

  To fall in love with God

Jeremiah the prophet wrote, 

“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:12,13.

The trouble in twenty-first century North America at least is that many if not most people are not seeking God.

God to many is irrelevant in modern society. Making it worse are high profile preachers and evangelist claiming to be Christians who are not. 

For those of us who truly do love God however no greater love could we have. Raphael Simon wrote,

"To fall in love with God is the greatest of all romances; to seek him, the greatest adventure; to find him, the greatest human achievement." Raphael Simon.

Thus the challenge to those of us who truly love and serve God is to reach out to a lost and dying world with the life changing love of Christ Jesus.

If you truly love God. If you truly love Christ Jesus, are you reaching out to those around you with the Love of Christ?

Are people around you seeing God’s love in action in your life without you saying a word?

Please think about it.

Forgiveness the hardest thing

  Forgiving the hardest thing

Jesus in what is commonly known as the Lord Prayer said,

“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors..... 

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, 

your heavenly Father will also forgive you

 But if you do not forgive men their sins, 

your Father will not forgive your sins.”

                                                      Matthew 6:12,14,15.

Forgiveness is one of those things that can be hard to do. Yet we must. 

C. S. Lewis wrote,

“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable 

because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you." 

                                                                                  C.S. Lewis.

Truth is if you have unforgiveness in your heart. You don’t have peace. And that can tear you up inside. It may even be bad for your health. There are individuals who have many people who have passed through their lives and offended them. Men and women whom they need to forgive.

Forgiving someone who has wronged you can be difficult but we must do it. We must forgive. It’s a commandment from Jesus.

If you consider yourself a Christians a follower of Christ Jesus, do you harbour unforgiveness in your heart for anyone?

If so take a moment to ask God to forgive you. And even if you can’t meet with the person who has wronged you, take time to pray and ask God to accept your prayer for forgiveness. 

Please don’t just think about it. Do it.

Love described

 Love described

In the book of James we read,

"If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbour as yourself," you are doing right." James 2:8

So just what is Christian Love. The apostle Paul defines it this way,

"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 the obvious question to those who would call themselves a Christian a true believer in Christ Jesus is; 

Is the love you show as described by the apostle Paul?

Please think about it.

Do to others

Do to others

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.

As Christians. As believers in Christ Jesus we are called to follow this rule. Think of it this way,

In the year 2022 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

Salvation for all

  Salvation for all

The apostle Paul writes,

“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.

Here the apostle Paul makes thing very clear as to how we are saved and get to heaven.

“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. “ Romans 10:9.

He makes it clear that there is no difference between Jew or gentile (non-Jews) “...the same Lord is Lord of all” 

This is what I and Christians like me believe. It is the cornerstone of our belief. Thus I present it here for anyone reading it to decide for themselves whether it is true of false.

Please think about it.

One Mediator

  One mediator

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.

Jesus is reported 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.

These are two statements that Christians believe. If we Christians are wrong in believing we will have lost nothing. We simply will have lived a good life.

If on the other hand those two statements are true. Those who do not believe as we do have at the very least a lot to think about.

Please think about it.

Are you doing your best?

  Are you doing your best?

The apostle Paul writing to Timothy wrote,

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 2Timothy 2:15.

If you claim to be a Christian. A true believer in Christ Jesus are you doing your best to correctly handle the Gospel message?

As believers in Christ Jesus it is up to us to do our best to live a life in a way that glorifies Jesus.

We need to hold the scriptures with such high regard that we do our best never to misinterpret what those scriptures are saying.

We need to hold God and Jesus in high esteem. So much so that it hurts us when we see their names maligned in any way. Especially if that person claims to be a Christian.

We need to truly live in spirit and in truth what the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy,

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2Timothy 2:15.

So are you doing your best? Are you a workman who is not ashamed of how you handle the word of truth?

Please think about it.