Decide for yourself

Decide for yourself

In the gospel of Luke we read,

"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.

From the above portion of scripture we can see that Mary was a woman of great faith or a delusional lunatic because she seen and conversed with an angel. Not only that she believed throughout her entire life Jesus was the Son of God, The Saviour of all who would believe in him.

Today is Christmas eve and the question all who read and hear about Jesus must decide for themselves is who is Jesus?

C.S. Lewis states,

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to." C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.

Please think about it.

Truth or the biggest lie in human history

  Truth or the biggest lie in human history.

The apostle Paul writes,

"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." 1Corinthians 1:18.

Christmas is but a few days away. The day Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus. Whether He was born on the 25th of December is unimportant. The point is Christians around the world choose to celebrate the birth of Christ Jesus on that day.

There are many who say Jesus was a good man. They are even some who say he never existed. Choosing to think Christians are foolish in what they believe.

The apostle Paul knew this and admitted that from a strictly human standpoint a faith that believes their founder was born in a stable and eventually died on a Roman cross looks foolish. Perhaps even more foolish is to believe Jesus rose from the grave. 

For me I believe the New Testament narrative about Jesus. I believe Jesus when he was talking about himself said,

"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.  

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son". John 3:16-18.

And I am not alone. There are over two billion  Christians in the world that believe this also, and our numbers are growing.

What this ultimately comes down to is do you believe this. Because if it is true people who hear the message about Jesus have at the very least a lot to think about.

If the message of Christ is false, then Jesus and His disciples have pulled off the greatest lie in human history.

Please think about it.

Make an effort

  Make an effort

In the book of Hebrews we read,

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.

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?

The only way we will ever win a soul for Christ is if we live at peace with those around us and show unconditional love toward them.

If you consider yourself a Christian, a follower of Christ Jesus are you making every effort to live at peace with those around you?

Please think about it.

I Pledge

 I Pledge 

"Whoever does not love does not know God, 

because God is love." 

                                       1 John 4:8

"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 3:17,18.

In my nearly seventy years on this earth never have I seen so much hate exhibited. Sadly even men and women calling themselves Christians are exhibiting hate. Love seems to be lacking in everywhere in 2022. 

If we consider ourselves to be true followers of Christ Jesus we need to make a pledge to God to shun evil and hate. It is of paramount importance that all Christians living today wherever they live need to Pledge to Love, God, Family, Friends and Foe alike.

To that end I have written this. The Believers Pledge. It is my hope that anyone reading it will pass it on to others.

As a believer in Christ Jesus,

I pledge...

To Love.

I Pledge...

As far as it depends on me...

To live at peace with all people.

I Pledge...

Never, Never, Never! To attack anyone...

Physically, or verbally.

Even if I vehemently disagree with them in any way.

I Pledge...

Never to demean anyone.

No matter their race, their ethnicity, their religion, or their lifestyle.

I Pledge...

As far as humanly possible,

To uphold the dignity of all whom I come in contact with.

I Pledge...

To obey the words of Christ Jesus who said,

"So in everything, do to others what you would have others do to you 

for this sums up the law and the prophets." 

                                                                 Matthew 7:12.

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

As a Child

  As a child

Jesus said,

“I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Mark 10:15.

A few days ago as I write this, an elderly woman in our church named Anne went to be with the Lord. She had, had a full life, rising from poverty to the middle class. 

Throughout her life God had provided for her. And she gave God the glory for all He had provided for her.

Anne had a simple faith. She read her Bible through many times. Her family noting she’d worn out many bibles in her eighty plus years on this earth.

During the service in our small church you could hear Anne singing. During the pastors sermon she’d call out an unabashed “praise the Lord!” when she agreed with him.

It wasn’t until after she passed away into Glory that I remembered this scripture Mark 10:15.

I know Anne was an adult when she came to know The Lord, but she accepted Him as a little child. Believing the Gospel of Christ without doubt. 

An example in my mind to all who would chose to follow Christ Jesus. An example of what Jesus meant when He told us to accept the Kingdom of God as a Child.

Do you have a Childlike faith in Christ?

Please think about it.

An obligation to serve

  An Obligation to Serve 

Jesus said,

"Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  

Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.  

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:42-45.

This is an important part of scripture. Notice here Jesus dose not mention a Christians rights. Many Christians living here in North America tend to believe they have rights be in under the constitution or some law.

Jesus however never mentions having rights. 

Jesus here in Mark 10:42-45 is telling Christians you have obligations to serve others. Jesus make it clear the greatest among us is the one who serves. 

As I’ve grown as a Christian I’ve found that I have obligations,

To serve God,

To serve my wife and family

To serve those around me however I can.

Please think about it.

A Caution to the Wealthy

  A Caution to the wealthy

Jesus told this story,

"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.  

At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores  and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 

"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried.  

In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  

So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' 

"But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.  

And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.' 

"He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' 

"Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' 

" ‘No, father Abraham,' he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' 

"He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' " Luke 16:19-31.

The message here I believe is quite strait forward. It is aimed at those who are rich and I believe at those in political power who have the means to help the poor.

We are not told here whether the rich man during his life believed in God. He however knew about what Moses and the Prophets said and obviously didn’t listen choosing to go his own way. A way that ended in torment.

Thus the question becomes; If you who are reading this are wealthy, or have political power, what are you doing for the poorest of in society?

Please think about it. 

Helping those in need

  Helping those in need

Jesus said,

"Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.  

For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,    I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' 

"They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' 

"He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' 

"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." Matthew 25:41-46.

Here is a warning to all those who call themselves Christians. As Christians we are called to help those in need.

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.

If you consider yourself a Christian are these your issues?

Read what Jesus said in Matthew 25:41-46 carefully. Do you fall into this category?

Please think about it.

The King will say

  The King will say

"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.' Matthew 25:34-36.

When you stand before God what will He say about you?

Will He note that you have helped the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, those who needed clothing. Will he note you remembered the prisoner and visited him?

We as individuals cannot necessarily do all of these things, but we can do some of them. We can give to a food bank or even offer to volunteer at the food bank. We can volunteer with a prison ministry.

There are many little things we can do even if it’s only dropping some spare change at a Salvation Army kettle during Christmas. 

The question however is are you willing to do this? You many this side of eternity never get recognition for what you do. But God sees what you do and in the long run that is all that is important?

So what are you doing to help those in need around you? Pray and ask God to show you what you can do.

Please don’t just think about it. 

Do it. 

What are you noted for?

  What are you noted for?

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.

What are you noted for? Your faith? Your good deeds? What?

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.

So does your deeds reflect your faith?

Do you do what you can to help others?

Please think about it.

Your best

 Your best

The Apostle Paul writes,

“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.” 2 Timothy 2:15.

We are human. We make mistakes. That being said the apostle Pauls admonition to Timothy and through him to us is to do our best when presenting the word of God to those around us.

God understands we are human and all the frailties we have. That’s why I firmly believe He will judge us justly, based on what we know.

So, are you doing your best to present the word of God in spirit and in truth?

Please think about it.

Remember them

 Remember them

Jesus said,

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.  

If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.  

Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.  

They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.  John 15:18-21.

We will from time to time suffer for our faith. There are many Christians around the world as you read this suffering for their belief in Christ Jesus. These men, women, and children in prison or prison camps. Men women and children forced to leave their homes because they believe in Christ.

We who believe in Christ Jesus living here in the western democracies have a lot to give thanks for. At the same time we need to be praying and doing what we can to help the persecuted Church around the world.

Are you doing this?

Please think about it.