Good works and Charity

  Good works and Charity

In the book of acts we read,

“Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity.” Acts 9:36.

In Judaism there is a term called, “Tzedakah”

The simplest definition I can find is this,

“The word "tzedakah" is derived form the Hebrew root Tzadei-dalet-Qof, meaning righteousness, justice or fairness. 

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...

According to Jewish law, we are required to give one-tenth of our income to the poor. Although those in need do not necessarily need to give this much. And one should never give so much as to make one in need of financial help.”

I think Tabitha mentioned in the book of acts was a Tzaddik. Someone who openly helps the poor.

In the book of James we read,

"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."  James 2:17,18.

I think what James, a Jew, is describing here is a Tzaddik. One who is full of good works and charity. Something all who believe in Christ Jesus should be practising.

Question; If you consider yourself a true Christian, a true follower of Christ Jesus are you full of good works and charity?

Please think about it.

Pray Continually

  Pray Continually

One of the apostle Pauls closing remarks to the Thessalonians was,

“...pray continually;” 

                                  1Thessalonians 5:17.

Do you pray continually? By this I don’t mean do you stand in public and pray with many words. 

Prayer as I noted in my previous blog ,Jesus said should be done in private (Matthew 6:6-8). If possible. But we should as the occasion arrises be at least whispering a prayer as we walk down the street on when driving, even in church.

Question; have you ever whispered a prayer asking God to direct your pastor and the church service you’re about to enter into?

That being said when the chance arrises you should also be involved in payer meetings at church or in house fellowships. This is what the early church did. Luke noting in the book of Acts, 

“They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”Acts 2:42

The early church met as often as they could to be taught by the apostles, to partake of communion, even a fellowship meal, and to prayer.

If you claim to be a true follower of Christ Jesus are you doing this?

Please think about it.

When you pray

  When you pray

Jesus said,

"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.  

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.  

Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Matthew 6:6-8.

How do you pray. With many words or few? What I believe Jesus is saying here is simple. Don’t be showy with your prayers. Go to a place where you can pray in secret and present your petitions to God. Then leave them there and trust God to answer them.

Please think about it.

Without regret

  Without regret 

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.

Who do you serve? There are many people calling themselves Christians today who are not serving God. They are serving the Gods of this world. Materialism and money being chief among them.

Now there’s nothing wrong with having a lot of money and possessions. It’s the emphasis you put on them that can make them gods.

Matthews gospel tells of a rich young man who came to Jesus. Matthew records,

"Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." 

"Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, " ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony,  honor your father and mother,' and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.''" 

"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?" 

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 19:16-22.

I think every one who claims to be a Christian. A follower of Christ Jesus needs to ask the question; “could I give everything I own away and still follow Jesus with no regrets?”

Could you?

Please think about it.

There is a way

  There is a way

In the book of Proverbs we read,

"Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. 

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. 

Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. 

Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honour you. 

She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendour."

Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her." Proverbs 4:5-11.

When I look at the world around me here in North America be it at political leaders, religious leaders or the average person on the street. It seems to me that wisdom is lacking.

It seems particularly politicians and religious leaders lack wisdom and understanding. Everything they do it seems is a knee jerk reaction to things going on around them.

These leaders don’t it seems take time to evaluate to consequences of their actions and sadly the average person is following their example and doing the same thing. The result I feel is our society is running toward the abyss that is filled with fire and brimstone.

In Proverbs we read this warning,

“There is a way that seems right ot a man 

but in the end it leads to death.”

                                                            Proverbs 14:12.

Please think about it.

Running for the Crown

  Running for The Crown

The writer of Proverbs states,

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."Proverbs 3:5,6.

We may not know what life has in store for us. We may go through many trials, tribulations and temptations but through it all we must trust God.

The apostle Paul equates our life in Christ as running a race. He states,

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.  

"Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."  1Corinthians 9:24,25.

Are you racing for the crown of life Jesus offers?

Please think about it.

Do you truly have faith in God?

 Do you truly have faith in God?

 The Psalmist writes,

 “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 

 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 

 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. 

 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23.

  Is the Lord truly the shepherd of your life or, do you only give intellectual consent to his existence?

  Many people say they believe in God but they do not truly trust in Him? Do they truly have faith in Him?

  I had one pastor that came from the so called bible belt states, in the United States, that note that it was hard in some areas to tell if people truly had faith in God. Whether a person had truly given their life to Christ.

  It was hard because going to church was part of the culture. People simply went to church on a Sunday and said they were Christian because it was the thing to do. These people knew what he called “church speak”. They knew what to say, how to say it, when to say it and how they were expected to act.

  I see it with politicians in the United States in particular. They say “God bless America” they even go to church while in office. Presidents and politicians attend Prayer breakfasts and other religious things yet are they truly saved?

  I have a feeling there are many people who go to church, perhaps even the majority in some areas of the world, that say they believe in God. That say they believe in Jesus, that are not going to heaven because  they have not truly made Jesus the Lord of their life.

  Following God is truly an act of faith, and while many may think they have faith in God. What they really have is the intellectually belief that God exists. Which is far different from faith. 

Thus the question becomes do you truly have faith in God and do you truly believe that Jesus is the Son of God Saviour of all put their trust in Him.

Please think about it.

There is a Lord God Almighty

  There is a Lord God Almighty

The Psalmist writes,

"The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 

Day after day they pour forth speech; 

night after night they display knowledge. 

There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard." 

                                                                                       Psalm 19:1-3.

I have heard it said we live in the “goldilocks zone” in the universe. The one place where life as we know it can exist. 

Even Stephen Hawing arguably one of the greatest scientific minds of the twentieth century noted,

“The universe and the laws of physics seem to have been specifically designed for us" Stephen Hawking.

Louis Pasteur said,

“A bit of science distances one from God, but much science nears one to Him... The more I study nature, the more I stand amazed by the work of the Creator" Louis Pasteur.

There are many notable scientist that believe in God,

William Philips Nobel prize winner in Physics stated,

“I believe in God more because of science than in spite of it" William Philips

Werner Heisenberg, father of Quantum Mechanics, a Nobel prize winner in Physics stated,

“The first gulp from the glass of natural science will make you an atheist, but at the bottom of the glass God is waiting for you" Werner Heisenberg.

I believe there is a Lord God Almighty. Creator of the universe. I also believe that science done correctly will prove that.

Please think about it.

Anyway you can

Anyway you can

The Psalmist writes,

“Praise the LORD. 

Praise God in his sanctuary; 

praise him in his mighty heavens. 

Praise him for his acts of power; 

praise him for his surpassing greatness. 

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, 

praise him with the harp and lyre, 

praise him with tambourine and dancing, 

praise him with the strings and flute, 

praise him with the clash of cymbals, 

praise him with resounding cymbals. 

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. 

Praise the LORD.”

                                       Psalm 150.

Why not take a few minutes now and praise The LORD anyway you can?

Please think about it.

God has your back

 God has your back

The Psalmist writes,

“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.

Someone once said no matter where we go “God has our back”. The above quote from Psalm 139 certainly backs that statement up.

For me personally through the years God has shown this to be true. In my darkest hours and in times of my greatest happiness I have always known God is with me.

If you haven’t already done so. Why not take some time right now to ask God to come into your life and guide you?

Please think about it.

To be Praised

  To be praised

The Psalmist writes,

"From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised." Psalm 113:3.

Some one once told me the intent of this verse from Psalm 113 is simple. God is to be praised everywhere.

I firmly believe this is true. Today around the world there are billions of Christians who are praising The Lord God Almighty. It may be quietly in a secret house church. In a country where Christians are persecuted. It may be in a prison cell. OR it may be in churches on the streets and in the media of the free nations of the world.

No matter where Christians are. They will find a way to praise the Lord today and every day.

If you are a Christian that lives in the free democracies of the world don’t just praise God. Take time to ask God to protect and give wisdom to those around the world who are persecuted for being Christians and must worship and praise Him in secret.

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

Can you say this?

 Can you say this?

The Psalmist writes

"How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. 

I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. 

Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees. 

With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. 

I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. 

I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. 

I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word." 

                                                                                         Psalm 119:9-16

if you consider yourself a Christian. A true believer in Christ Jesus, take sometime to read the above quote from Psalm 119. Then ask yourself am I honestly living out what this is saying?

Please think about it.